Columbia Containers | Rebuilding Project

May 21, 2015

Project status

Permit issued

On October 2, 2015, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority issued a project permit (PP BP 2013-123) to Columbia Containers for their New Grain Transloading Facility and Silos project, a part of their larger Rebuilding Project. Columbia Container facilities are under lease with the port authority and are located on Commissioner Street on the South Shore of the Burrard Inlet in Vancouver. The four other associated project permits, including conditions are available below.

New Grain Transloading Facility & Silos – PP issued October 2015;
Demolition of System II – PP issued in October 2014;
Sheet Pile Wall Realignment – PP issued in September 2014;
Two Storey Corporate Office Building – PP issued in August 2015; and
Installation of a 24’ x 48’ Modular Office Building (PP BP 2015-059) – Application cancelled

About the projects

On October 2, 2015, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority issued a project permit (PP BP 2013-123) to Columbia Containers for a new grain transloading facility and silos at its existing terminal.

Columbia Containers currently operates an existing grain transloading business at 2775 Commissioner Street that facilitates the movement of inbound railcars and outbound truckloads, which are then distributed to surrounding deep water docks for overseas shipment. The current site utilizes a grain elevator, container storage yard, rail unloading and truck loading facilities, and associated conveyor distribution facilities. Eight (8) storage silo bins were demolished in 2006. Approximate elevator dimensions are: height of 33.5 m (110 ft) x width of 10.7 m (35 ft) x depth of 13.78 m (45 ft).Columbia Containers proposes to modernize the facility and increase the existing throughput from 735,000 metric tonnes (MT) per year (2014) to 750,000 MT per year (2017).

Specifics of the proposal include:

New container transloading facility (grain elevator)

located to immediate northwest of existing grain elevator (which will be removed at a later date and as a separate permit)
comprised of a tandem bucket elevator, a below ground dumping pit, and associated conveyor system
equipped with a modern grain dust-suppression system
approximate dimensions of 33 m (height), 27.3 m (length), 18 m (width)
maximum excavation depth is approximately 12 m

New railcar dumper building (track shed)

located to immediate north of proposed new transloading facility
comprised of an above ground shed and a below ground dumping pit and associated conveyor system
approximate dimensions of 8 m (height), 29 m (roof length), 10 m (width)
maximum excavation depth is approximately 10.2 m

Excavation methodology for proposed transloading facility and railcar dumper building

construction of a sheet pile coffer dam via vibrating hammer or possibly impact hammer (depending on soil resistance). Anticipated noise levels < 80 db (vibratory hammer) or <= 110 db (impact hammer)
excavation of material within the sheet pile coffer dam, with an excavation volume of 4,130 m³, excavation area of 432 m², and a maximum excavation depth of 12 m
export of approximately 200 truck loads of excavated material, which is to be disposed of at an approved landfill site in North Vancouver
sheet pile placement will take place over a five-to-six-week-period, and excavation work will take place over a two-to-three-week-period

New fully-enclosed dust-tight silos/bins

located east of proposed new transloading facility
3 (three) 330 metric tonne (MT) silos, each with approximate dimensions of 9.6 m (diameter), 14.9 m (height)
one 1,200 MT silo, with approximate dimensions of 14.8 m (diameter), 14.4 m (height)
two 1,400 MT silos, each with approximate dimensions of 16.5 m (diameter), 13.8 m (height)
three 2,900 (MT) silos, each with approximate dimensions of 22.9 m (diameter), 15.6 m (height)
foundations comprised of shallow concrete footings with approximate maximum excavation depths of 5 m. The 2,900 MT and 1,400 MT silos also utilize deeper concrete piles with approximate insertion depths of 14 m

Pile insertion methodology for proposed silo foundations:

placement of 1 m diameter concrete piles below the three (3) 2,900 MT silos and the two (2) 1,400 MT silos
utilization of an auger to drill out holes to a maximum depth of 14 m
insertion of rebar cage via crane, followed by concrete via cement truck (an estimated 50 trucks of concrete will be required)
export of approximately sixty (60) truck loads of excavated material, which is to be disposed of at an appropriate off-site facility

Work is proposed to take place between 7:00 and 17:00, Monday to Friday. Concrete pile placement will take place over a three-month period.

Electric conveyor network

utilization of overhead conveyors and transfer towers to move grain from the new railcar dumper building pits, via the elevators, to either trucks (directly) or to the silos
utilization of return conveyors to move grain back from the silos to the transloading facility for loading onto trucks

Rail tracks

realignment (slightly to north) and extension of on-site rail tracks to access the new rail dumper building

Office building

removal of an existing portable one-storey office building (40 m x 8 m) to an appropriate facility off-site

Resources

On October 2, 2014, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority issued a project permit (PP 2014-147) to Columbia Containers for the Demolition of System II Project at its terminal. Columbia Containers’ proposal included the demolition of a group of buildings and associated structures situated to the north of the existing grain elevator. Specifics of the proposal included:

demolition of system II building, scale room, shop, stores room, and auger shoot
temporary requirement for 10 full-size disposal scrap bins
removal and disposal (via truck) of scrap bins, scrap metal and other construction inventory off site
hazardous material removal, in accordance with WorkSafeBC procedures
re-grading the area with a gravel surface

Resources

June 2014 – Demolition of System II Application [PDF]
October 2014 – Approved project permit (PP 2014-147) [PDF]

On September 30, 2014, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority issued a project permit application (PP 2014-102) to Columbia Containers for the Sheet Pile Wall Realignment Project at its terminal. Columbia Containers’ proposal included accommodating the Commissioner Street northward realignment by moving the east end of the retaining wall that is against the “bite” slightly north to sustain safe and efficient access across the site. Specifics of the proposal included:

pulling back a portion of existing rip rap shoreline protection to facilitate installation of approximately 80 m of sheet pile
proposed fill area is approximately 210 m²
rip rap will be restored seaward of sheet pile, utilizing locally stockpiled rip rap
sheet pile and associated fill works will be undertaken above the high water mark

April 2014 – Sheet Pile Wall Realignment Application [PDF]
September 2014 – Approved project permit Sheet Pile Wall Realignment (PP 2014-102) [PDF]

Columbia Containers submitted a project permit application (PP BP 2015-059) to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority for the Installation of a 24 ft x 48 ft modular office building at its existing terminal. Columbia Container’s proposal includes the installation of a single 48 ft X 24 ft modular office building to add office space for their expanding trucking and container yard business. Specifics of the proposal include:

single storey structure
required utility connections include power, water, and sanitary

August 2015 – Approved project permit Modular Office Building (PP 2015-059): Columbia Containers Ltd. Rebuilding Project [PDF]
March 2014 – Installation of a 24’ x 48’ Modular Office Building Application: Columbia Containers Ltd. Rebuilding Project [PDF]

Contact information

To learn more about Columbia Containers’ project and construction activities, please go to their project webpage or contact Dean Giles, General Manager, Columbia Containers Ltd. by email or by phone at 604.254.9461.

For questions regarding the port authority’ s Project and Environment Review process, please contact us by email or phone at 604.665.9047.