The Port of Sydney handled about 1.2 million tonnes of cargo in both 1999 and 2000. In 1999, international cargo amounted to 980,000 tonnes, with a further 263,000 tonnes of domestic cargo (likely petroleum) handled as well. In 2000, 1.2 million tonnes of international cargo (likely coal) was handled and only 55,000 tonnes of domestic cargo.

Cruise ships also comprise an important element of shipping activity in Sydney Harbour. A port corporation has been formed in order to market the Port of Sydney. The Sydney Port Corporation Inc. would like to manage and promote the four major port facilities in Sydney Harbour, including: SYSCO Wharf, Emera International Pier; Sydney Marine Terminal; and Sydport. To date, only the owners of the Sydney Marine Terminal (CBRM) and Sydport (Laurentian Energy) are involved in the port corporation.

There are a number of potential uses for the SYSCO wharf and backup lands, including: Bulk Commodities Terminal; Offshore supply Base; Container and Breakbulk Cargo and Project Cargo. Based on the market data, the favorable option for the SYSCO lands is to develop a bulk commodities terminal. This potential was confirmed by American Metals and Coal Incorporated (AMCI) in the fall of 2001 when they signed a lease with the province for use of the lands to trans-ship coal.

Although there is some demand for containerized shipping and project cargo, according to industry sources, Sydney would need to identify a unique product that needs to be shipped from the area in order to attract this type of business. Sydport has made it known that their facility is being positioned as a fabrication facility for the offshore. This makes sense, although the potential for Sydney Harbour as an offshore supply base is still tenuous, as it is currently re-moved from areas that are actively under exploration and when exploration begins in the Laurentian Basin, Newfoundland and the Strait of Canso will be tough competitors.

Good long term planning for the port should encourage and promote off-shore uses. However, good planning should also promote diverse port activities, and there is nothing to suggest that holding the SYSCO assets for this “potential” should out-weigh current opportunities, especially given Sydport and their market focus.

There is good potential to move other bulk commodities, including coal, coke and iron ore, gypsum, salt, fly ash, bulk resin, and dolomite across the SYSCO wharf. A detailed discussion of these commodities and potential customers is included in Appendix D