Halifax’s Envision-Rated Marine Container Examination Facility Opens

Envision Canada is excited to celebrate the opening of Halifax’s new Marine Container Examination Facility, a project that earned an Envision Verified Award for sustainable infrastructure achievements in 2023. An event celebrating the opening on July 16, 2025 was attended by the MP for Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, on behalf of the Minister of Public Safety, along with senior officials from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Halifax Port Authority and the Africville community. The building is owned and operated by the Halifax Port Authority, and is used by the CBSA.

At the time of the award, the facility was referred to as the Fairview Cove MCEF. It has been renamed to honor the contributions of the historic black community of Africville in Nova Scotia. Community members and descendants chose the name Africville Seasides Marine Container Examination Facility at the Port of Halifax to honour the historic Africville Seasides hockey team.

CBSA News Release 
Port of Halifax News Release

The backgrounder CBSA provided on the Africville Seasides Marine Container Examination Facility noted the following:

The Marine Container Examination Facility is an Envision-Verified infrastructure project, scoring 26% above industry standards under the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure rating system. The building has many sustainable features including:

* A solar photovoltaic system
* A rainwater harvesting system
* Development of a Construction Sustainability Checklist that all contractors were required to submit as part of their tender submission
* Development of a Contractor Tracking Tool for earthworks, materials, energy use, and water use, motion-activated LED fixtures
* In-floor radiant heating
* Building generator for backup power
* Security fence rear compound for holding all containers marked for examination
* EV charging stations

View the Envision Award Announcement / Project Profile from August 2023