The Port Metro Vancouver’s 2016 cruise season was officially launched yesterday with the arrival of Princess Cruises’ 2002-built Star Princess at Canada Place.

Canada’s port said that it is expecting some 830,000 passengers on 228 calls during this cruise season.

The number of international cruise passengers coming to Vancouver this year reflect a forecasted 3 percent increase in passenger volume over 2015.

The increased percentage was first established following a joint passenger survey by Port Metro Vancouver, Tourism Vancouver, Destination B.C., and Vancouver International Airport, which was conducted in 2015.

Separately, the Port Metro Vancouver is currently trying to find a terminal operator to be in charge of the proposed Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project, a new three-berth container terminal at Roberts Bank in Delta, British Columbia.

Canada’s Asia-Pacific gateway port has shortlisted five candidates out of more than ten companies and consortia which had initially submitted their bids to operate the terminal on Canada’s west coast, as well as five bidders for development of and concession for the project.

Port Metro Vancouver also initiated the project procurement in parallel with the environmental assessment process to ensure that the capacity provided by the project can be available when it is required in the mid-2020s.