Seaspan Vancouver Drydock Water Lot Expansion
Project status
Permit application under review
Vancouver Drydock Company Ltd. Partnership (the Applicant – Seaspan) has proposed a Vancouver drydock water lot expansion. A project permit application is currently under review.
In June 2021, Seaspan submitted a project permit application to expand their water lot, and install a work pontoon and two additional drydocks. The proposed drydocks would be located at Vancouver Drydock, 203 East Esplanade, North Vancouver, British Columbia on federal lands and waters managed by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.
Public engagement activities took place over the summer of 2021. Based on community feedback, the port authority requested that the Applicant conduct additional public engagement regarding the proposed mitigations. The application was put on hold from December 2021 until July 2022 while Seaspan prepared for additional public engagement. Additional public engagement occurred between June 23 and September 14, 2022.
The port authority will consider all comments from Indigenous groups, the public and stakeholders before making a decision on the permit application.
Canadian Impact Assessment Registry Posting
As part of the Project and Environmental Review under the Impact Assessment Act, the proposed project was posted on the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry for public comment between June 25 to August 12, 2021. The registry posting included opportunity for public comments for both the Transport Canada and port authority determinations.
Applicant-led public engagement
As part of the project and environmental review process the applicant is required to perform public engagement.
In 2021, the applicant began public engagement on the proposed project. The public was invited to provide comments between June 25 and August 12, 2021, in addition to the applicant hosting information sessions on July 13 and July 17. A follow-up meeting was held with neighbouring residents on July 28, 2021. The online platform for comments was extended by ten days to accommodate the summer holiday season.
Based on feedback from the public, in late 2021 port authority determined that the applicant would be required to perform supplementary public engagement focused on proposed mitigations. The port authority placed the project and environmental review process on hold until the supplementary engagement commenced.
Supplementary public engagement on the proposed mitigations commenced June 23, 2022. The port authority took the project and environmental review off hold in July. Engagement on the proposed mitigations has included two public workshops, a site tour, and inviting public comment from July 27 until September 14, 2022. If you would like more information, to view the recorded public sessions, or to provide comments to the applicant on the proposed mitigations, please visit the Applicant’s website.
The port authority will consider all comments submitted to us directly or to the applicant. All public comments submitted to the port authority during public engagement periods are provided to the applicant for their consideration and inclusion in their public engagement and consideration report. This report will be available to the public upon completion.
The port authority will consider all comments received from the public prior to making a determination.
About the project
Seaspan is proposing to consolidate ship repair activities at their Vancouver Drydock facility by adding new infrastructure to better accommodate and service smaller vessels. The proposed project involves the installation of a floating work pontoon and two additional drydocks on the west side of the existing deep-water outfitting pier.
The work pontoon will be used to access the two new floating drydocks. The new drydocks would be purchased on the global market, and are fabricated from steel plate. The larger drydock would be approximately 100 m long x 30 m wide x 10 m deep, and the smaller drydock would be approximately 55 m long x 22 m wide x 8 m deep.
To make room for the proposed new infrastructure, the existing Careen would be relocated 40 m to the south of its current position and the Seaspan’s water lot lease area would be expanded by 40 m to the west.
Project activities and components include:
- Expansion of Seaspan’s water lot lease area by 40 m to the west
- Installation of six (6) new steel piles
- Installed by a barge mounted crane vibratory hammer
- Impact hammer may be required if necessary
- Relocation of the existing Careen (the smaller of the existing two drydocks) 40 m to the south from its current location
- Installation of two (2) new drydocks
- Large drydock measuring approximately 100 m long x 30 m wide x 10 m high
- Small drydock measuring approximately 55 m long x 22 m wide x 8 m high
- Installation of a new work pontoon measuring 98 m long x 13 m wide x 4 m high
- Installation of three (3) ramps to connect the work pontoon to the drydocks, and the work pontoon to the pier
- Other miscellaneous works such as the location of utilities and lights on the new or relocated structures
Should the proposed project be approved, construction is expected to take approximately three to four months to complete. The drydocks and work pontoon would arrive fully constructed by water.
Visit the Applicant’s website for more information about the proposed project.
Resources
Public engagement materials
November 2021: Public engagement summary report [PDF]
November 2021: Public engagement summary report appendix A part 1 [PDF]
November 2021: Public engagement summary report appendix A part 2 [PDF]
November 2021: Public engagement summary report appendix B [PDF]
Project information guide
June 2021: Seaspan Vancouver Drydock Water Lot Expansion: Project Information Guide [PDF]
Information session recording and transcripts of all questions
Project description and drawings
Project description
June 2021: Seaspan Vancouver Drydock Water Lot Expansion: Project Description [PDF]
June 2021: Seaspan Vancouver Drydock Water Lot Expansion: Appendix 3 – Seaspan Contact List [PDF]
Location plan
June 2021: Seaspan Vancouver Drydock Water Lot Expansion: Existing Lease Plan [PDF]
June 2021: Seaspan Vancouver Drydock Water Lot Expansion: Expanded Lease Area Plan [PDF]
Drawings
June 2021: Seaspan Vancouver Drydock Water Lot Expansion: Appendix 1 – Engineering Drawings [PDF]
June 2021: Seaspan Vancouver Drydock Water Lot Expansion: Appendix 5 – Utilities Plan [PDF]
June 2021: Seaspan Vancouver Drydock Water Lot Expansion: Appendix 14 – Bathymetry Chart [PDF]
June 2021: Seaspan Vancouver Drydock Water Lot Expansion: Seaspan Water lot Fire Safety Plan [PDF]
June 2021: Seaspan Vancouver Drydock Water Lot Expansion: Seaspan drydock expansion – Fire Access Plan [PDF]
Studies and reports
Construction Environmental Management Plan
June 2021: Seaspan Vancouver Drydock Water Lot Expansion: Appendix 4 – Draft CEMP [PDF]
Habitat assessment
June 2021: Seaspan Vancouver Drydock Water Lot Expansion: Appendix 9 – Habitat Assessment [PDF]
Lighting report
June 2021: Seaspan Vancouver Drydock Water Lot Expansion: Appendix 6 – Lighting Report [PDF]
Noise assessment
June 2021: Seaspan Vancouver Drydock Water Lot Expansion: Appendix 7a – Noise Screening Worksheet [PDF]
June 2021: Seaspan Vancouver Drydock Water Lot Expansion: Appendix 7b – Noise Assessment [PDF]
(Updated October 2021)
View and shade renderings
June 2021: Seaspan Vancouver Drydock Water Lot Expansion: Appendix 8a – View and shade renderings [PDF]
Contact information
For more information about Seaspan’s proposed project, please go to their website or contact George Geatros, by email or phone at 604.990.1847
For questions regarding the Project and Environmental Review of the proposed project, please contact the port authority by email or phone at 604-665-9047.
Please note, when receiving public feedback as part of the PER process, the port authority may collect your personal information, i.e., your name, contact information and personal views and opinions, to inform the PER process for a proposed project or amendment. Your personal information may be disclosed to third parties, such as our tenants, in order for them to respond directly to you or help inform our response. You are entitled to submit a complaint to the Privacy Commissioner office here.