Robin Silvester is stepping down as CEO of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority after more than a decade.

Silvester will be staying on “to support the leadership transition” and the port’s board of directors begin a global search for a new president and CEO. He has led the organization for more than 14 years.

“It is time for a new challenge for me, and to make space for a new leader at the port authority after the recent federal environmental assessment approval of the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project, the most significant strategic priority of the last decade,” said Silvester.

In his 14 years, the authority said investments in the Vancouver port have “helped drive around 40% growth in international trade through the Port of Vancouver, by far Canada’s largest port.

Silvester’s departure comes as environmental groups have launched a combined legal challenge against the port expansion plan at Roberts Bank, south of Vancouver, that was approved by the federal government in April.

READ MORE: Environmental groups launch legal challenge against B.C.’s Roberts Bank port project

The coalition, which includes the David Suzuki Foundation, the Georgia Strait Alliance, the Raincoast Conservation Foundation and the Wilderness Committee, says in a statement that it has filed an application in Federal Court for judicial review of Terminal 2’s approval.

It said the project, which involves using landfill to add a three-berth marine container terminal, would disrupt “critical habitat” for the roughly 70 endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales.

– With files from The Canadian Press

READ MORE: Ottawa cites jobs, capacity, approves B.C.’s Roberts Bank Terminal 2 port expansion