Kurt Slocombe Named New President and CEO of Port of Prince Rupert

Kurt Slocombe, a seasoned executive with deep roots in Canadian port operations, has been appointed to lead the Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) as President and Chief Executive Officer. The appointment marks a significant leadership transition for the Western Canadian port as it pursues ambitious infrastructure expansion and volume recovery objectives. Slocombe brings extensive experience from his prior roles at the PRPA and as an executive with Fairview Terminals, positioning him with insider knowledge of the port's operations and regional maritime dynamics. His appointment comes at a critical juncture for Prince Rupert, which has worked to rebuild market share and operational momentum following pandemic-related disruptions to global shipping patterns. ## Strategic Priorities Under Slocombe's leadership, the PRPA will advance development of a new transload and logistics facility—a project designed to enhance the port's competitive positioning in North American supply chains. The transload capability would allow for increased flexibility in cargo handling and supply chain optimization, potentially attracting new customer relationships and commodity flows. A central focus of Slocombe's tenure will be stimulating a rebound in commodity exports, particularly in resource-based sectors that have historically anchored Prince Rupert's traffic base. The port's recovery agenda reflects broader challenges facing Canadian ports in reasserting their role in continental logistics networks. ## Market Context Prince Rupert Port Authority, located in British Columbia's northwest coast, has long positioned itself as the closest deep-water port to Asian markets for containers and break-bulk cargo serving North America. However, like many North American gateways, the port faced volume pressures during pandemic disruptions to global trade flows. The appointment of a leader with established port and terminal experience underscores the authority's commitment to strategic execution on infrastructure development and market development. Slocombe's familiarity with both port authority governance and commercial terminal operations may prove advantageous as the PRPA navigates capital projects and competitive positioning in the container and breakbulk sectors. The transload facility represents part of broader industry trends toward supply chain flexibility and regional distribution hub development, allowing shippers greater optionality in consolidation and deconsolidation of containerized and general cargo. As Prince Rupert pursues these initiatives under Slocombe's direction, the port joins peer Canadian and U.S. gateways in competing for commodity export volumes and positioning for increased cross-border supply chain traffic in the post-pandemic environment.