Seaspan | Ship Load-Out Gravel Bed and Shoreline Protection

January 27, 2020

Project status

Permit amendment under review

In June 2024, Seaspan submitted a request for a permit extension and change of scope for project PER No. 17-407. The proposed Ship Load-out Gravel Bed and Shoreline Protection – Amendment 02 is located at 10 Pemberton Avenue, North Vancouver, BC, British Columbia on federal lands and waters managed by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.

As part of the Project and Environmental Review  for the proposed project under the Impact Assessment Act, the proposed project was posted on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry with an opportunity for public comment between June 7, 2024 and July 6, 2024. The port authority will conduct formal consultation activities with stakeholders and Indigenous groups. 

About the proposed amendment:

Seaspan is looking to amend its existing Ship Load-out Gravel Bed and Shoreline Protection project by proposing to install an outfall within the port authority’s jurisdiction required as part of their stormwater collection and discharge system (outside the port authority’s jurisdiction) that would manage stormwater runoff from their future platen facility at the northeast end of their shipyard basin.

The installation of the outfall would consist of:

  • Excavation of recently placed granular filter rock and riprap armouring
  • Installation of one pre-cast concrete headwall, including a portion of the outfall pipe and the outfall check valve and bladder (see figure below)
  • Re-installation of granular filter rock and riprap armouring below the high-water mark

Construction activity is anticipated to take place during the Port Authority’s standard work hours of Monday to Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (excluding Sundays and holidays). However, some activities are dependent on tidal conditions. Therefore, work may need to take place outside standard hours.

As part of this amendment, the validity of the permit will also be extended.

Project status

Permit amendment issued

In May 2022, amendment PER No. 17-407-01 was issued to Seaspan ULC. The amendment approved the request to extend the expiry for PER No. 17-407 – Ship Load-out Gravel Bed and Shoreline Protection, generally located at 10 Pemberton Avenue, District of North Vancouver, BC, British Columbia on federal lands and waters managed by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.

About the amendment
Seaspan submitted an amendment request to extend the expiration date for the works approved under PER No. 17-407 to December 31, 2024. The permit holder requires additional time to finalize design specifications and to complete shoreline protection berm replacement. The scope of the project remains unchanged.

Permit issued
On September 28, 2020, a project permit was issued to Seaspan ULC to construct a ship load-out gravel bed in Burrard Inlet adjacent to their facility located at 10 Pemberton Avenue in North Vancouver on federal lands and waters managed by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.

The project was approved subject to 52 permit conditions that Seaspan ULC must meet to ensure the project does not result in significant adverse environmental effects.

Construction is anticipated to begin in August 2021 and be completed by March 2022. For more information about the project and construction activities, please go to the applicant’s website.

About the project

Seaspan ULC proposes to construct a ship load-out gravel bed in Burrard Inlet adjacent to their facility in North Vancouver. The gravel bed (7,500 m2) is proposed in order to launch newly constructed Canadian Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy vessels. Vessels will be launched by submerging a careen to rest on the gravel bed, allowing the vessels to launch. Seaspan also proposes to install slope protection using rip-rap (1,500 m2) as part of a proposed infill of the east basin at the site. The project will require marine habitat offsetting under a Fisheries Act Authorization. The proposed marine habitat is designed to enhance kelp and juvenile salmonid habitat at the estuary of MacKay Creek.

The proposed project works include:

  • Removal of any large wood/concrete debris in the gravel bed footprint by crane
  • Installation of a 7,500 m2 gravel bed by infilling with approximately 24,000 m3 of 25 to 50 mm gravel
  • Slope protection (3000 m3) of the gravel bed with larger grade rocks (260 mm)
  • Installation of concrete channels in the gravel bed to limit scour from the careen propeller wash
  • Installation of rip-rap slope protection for the east basin infill (1,500 m2)

The proposed habitat offsetting location is east of the project site at the estuary of MacKay Creek. The proposed works to construct the habitat area include:

  • Installation of a rock berm to an elevation of approximately -1 Chart Datum (CD)
  • Place sand fill material behind the rock berm to create elevated pocket beaches
  • Place cobble and small boulders to provide suitable substrate for kelp and salmonids.

Project works are proposed to be conducted by barge using a clamshell bucket and crane. No dredging is proposed as part of this project. Should the proposed project be approved, the project construction phase is anticipated to commence in August 2021 and take up to three months to complete. All marine construction works will take place during the fisheries least risk window for Burrard Inlet.

Resources

September 2020 – Approved Project Permit (17-407): Seaspan Ship Load-out Gravel Bed Shoreline Protection [PDF]
September 2020 – Project and Environmental Review Report: Seaspan Ship Load-out Gravel Bed Shoreline Protection [PDF]

January 2020 – Project Permit Application Form: Seaspan Ship Load-out Gravel Bed Shoreline Protection [PDF]
January 2020 – Project Permit Application Report: Seaspan Ship Load-out Gravel Bed Shoreline Protection  [PDF]
(updated June 2020)
January 2020 – Project Permit Application Drawings: Seaspan Ship Load-out Gravel Bed Shoreline Protection  [PDF]
(update June 2020)
January 2020 – Project Permit Application Construction Environmental Management Plan: Seaspan Ship Load-out Gravel Bed Shoreline Protection [PDF]
(updated June 2020)
January 2020 – Project Permit Application Seismic Considerations Memo: Seaspan Ship Load-out Gravel Bed Shoreline Protection [PDF]

Contact information

For more information about Seaspan’s project and construction activities, please contact George Geatros by email or phone at 604.992.3541.

For questions regarding the Project and Environmental Review of the project, or to get in touch with our team, please contact us by email or phone at 604.665.9047.