Vancouver Tanker Arrivals Hit Record High Amid Pipeline Expansion

The Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion has led to a record number of tanker arrivals in Vancouver's Burrard Inlet, according to data from marine traffic analyst David Huntley.

Huntley reported that July marked the first month since the pipeline expansion opened in mid-2024 that more than 30 tankers arrived in the inlet. Of these shipments, most were heavy crude oil bound for China and South Korea, followed by the US.

The Trans Mountain pipelines can carry up to 890,000 barrels of oil per day, with the federal government-owned company having access to 26 storage tanks holding a total of 5.5 million barrels.