At the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, we work to ensure the safe, secure, and efficient movement of goods and passengers through the Port of Vancouver. We do this by:
- staffing our land and marine operations centre 24/7
- operating card-only gate access at port roadways
- monitoring continuous video surveillance of port roadways
- overseeing passenger and baggage screening at the Canada Place cruise terminal
- responding to perimeter security and intrusion concerns on port properties
- tracking suspicious activity through our incident reporting program
- collaborating with security, law enforcement, and emergency management stakeholders
Security access and clearance
Access to all roadways, terminals, and facilities at the Port of Vancouver is administered by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s Port Pass program and, when required, Transport Canada’s Marine Transportation Security Clearance (MTSC) program.
Learn more about the Port pass and MTSC program
Access operations and security assistance 24/7
Our operations centre is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Office staff, harbour patrol officers, and our security team are responsible for:
- Monitoring activities within the Port of Vancouver’s jurisdiction
- Helping coordinate emergency response efforts
- Communicating with partner agencies
To reach the operations centre, please call 604.665.9086
Note: This number is for operational port matters. For emergencies, please call 911 first. Community inquiries should be submitted through our [ community feedback line ].
Managing emergencies and security
Municipal and federal first responders such as police and firefighters generally manage emergencies that occur on federal port lands. As a Canada Port Authority, we are not first responders in emergency situations, but we do provide operational assistance when needed. We do this by:
- working with first responders and other agencies
- providing information on a situation through our 24/7 operations centre, security cameras, and patrol resources
In an emergency, we follow the British Columbia Emergency Management System, which provides a framework for standardized emergency response and recovery activities across the province. The system allows us to collaborate effectively and efficiently with other response agencies in emergency situations.
Other ways we prepare for emergencies include:
- Participate in and contribute to federal and provincial response plans
- Develop, maintain and test emergency response plans with port stakeholders
- Coordinate multi-agency emergency exercises with local fire and police departments, the Canadian Coast Guard, and other emergency response agencies
- Participate in exercises led by external agencies, organizations, and port terminals
- Attend regular stakeholder meetings to ensure that municipal and federal governments and critical infrastructure owners understand our responsibilities and capabilities
In the case of a report of pollution in the water, including oil or fuel spills, Canada operates under the National Oil Spill Preparedness Regime, which specifies that the Canadian Coast Guard is responsible for all spill response and recovery. In Vancouver, recovery operations are provided by Western Canada Marine Response Corporation. The port authority can be called upon by the Coast Guard to conduct an initial inspection in response to a pollution report in our jurisdiction.
Security and policing on our waterfronts is a multi-jurisdictional responsibility. Security and access at port terminals is the responsibility of their independent operators. Transport Canada oversees and determines security clearance needs.
The port authority works closely with local police forces, the RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency to ensure the safety and security of the Port of Vancouver. We routinely coordinate security efforts with 29 law enforcement and regulatory agencies whose mandates include jurisdictions inclusive of the port, including the local police forces of the 16 municipalities bordering our jurisdiction.
Security and partner agencies
For more information about how we manage safety and security at the Port of Vancouver, please contact [EMAIL ADDRESS].