Hazardous materials incident temporarily shuts down Fairview Terminal

The DP World Fairview Container Terminal in Prince Rupert was temporarily evacuated on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, after workers detected a chemical odour traced to two shipping containers containing ammonium [...]

Hazardous materials incident temporarily shuts down Fairview Terminal Published 9:27 am Monday, July 13, 2026 The DP World Fairview Container Terminal in Prince Rupert was temporarily evacuated on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, after workers detected a chemical odour traced to two shipping containers containing ammonium bifluoride. According to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Canada, one worker was taken to the hospital for treatment and later released.

A second worker reported feeling unwell but did not require medical care. “Workers first noticed the odour during the overnight shift at approximately 3 a.m.,” ILWU Local 505 President Keith Cociani said. “It appears that the substance was in a container, probably got wet.

Somehow, we don’t know how. They’re still investigating.” Ammonium bifluoride is a toxic, corrosive chemical commonly used in industrial applications such as glass etching.

When exposed to moisture, it can release hydrogen fluoride gas. According to Cociani, workers raised concerns with supervisors early in the morning. He added that while the issue was identified during the 1 a.m. shift on July 8, workers were not sent home until about 10 a.m., after another shift had already begun.

“Personally, I think the site should have been shut down a little bit quicker, but that’s what we will evaluate”. The terminal remained closed for the rest of Wednesday, and the evening shift was cancelled. “We’re not letting anybody go back to work until after a hazmat unit has cleared the site to be safe,” Cociani said.

The Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) said it is aware of the disruption to operations at the Fairview Container Terminal on July 8, 2026, following an odour reported on site. “Two containers were isolated as a safety precaution, and the cause of the disruption remains under investigation,” the authority said. According to the PRPA, risk to the public or the environment has been identified, and it was working with its port partners to resolve the situation.

DP World confirmed operations at the Fairview terminal were temporarily disrupted after an odour was detected from two containers. The company said a hazardous materials team assessed and cleared the affected area on Wednesday evening. “The safety of our employees, contractors, and the surrounding community remains our highest priority,” DP World said in a statement.