Shellburn Berthing Dolphin Replacement
Project status
Permit amendments issued
In March 2023, amendment PER No. 20-012-05 was issued to Shell Canada Products Ltd. (“the Applicant”). The amendment approved the request to extend the expiry date of PER No. 20-012 to February 28, 2024. The project is located on the south shore of Burrard Inlet in Burnaby, British Columbia on federal lands managed by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.
About the amendment:
Shell Canada Products Ltd. willto carry out physical activities related to the replacement of four existing berthing dolphins and the installation of a fifth berthing dolphin at the Shellburn facility up until February 28, 2024. This would required an extension to the approved project permit (PER 20-012), which had an expiry date of June 30, 2023.
In-water works have been planned to occur during least-risk windows for the protection of fish and fish habitat in 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023. Based on the latest schedule, a fourth in-water construction season is needed to complete the project. There are no changes to construction activities or the scope of the work outlined in the approved permit (available here).
In February 2022, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority issued amendment PER No. 20-012-04 approving the continuation of works 24 hours a day, from Monday to Friday. A construction notice was sent to the community prior to work commencing.
About the approved amendment:
Approved works include formwork removal, fender panel installation, works to support installation of in-water piles such as splicing or welding pile sections together, and deck re-instatement activities, and placement of pre-cast concrete and associated formwork. No pile driving activity (installation or removal) will be conducted outside of regular construction hours. No works and physical activities shall take place on Sundays or holidays. Construction notification will be issued to the community prior to works commencing.
In July 2021, amendment PER No. 20-012-03 approved works outside of standard construction hours, 24 hours a day, Monday and Friday, between August 2021 and February 2022. A construction notice was sent to the community prior to work commencing.
In March 2021, amendment PER No. 20-012-02 approved an extension to the permit (which was due to expire June 30, 2022) to June 30, 2023. In-water works have been planned to occur during least-risk windows for the protection of fish and fish habitat in 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. Based on the latest schedule, a third in-water construction season is needed to complete the project. There are no changes to construction activity or the scope of the work.
In January 12, 2021, a minor amendment, PER No. 20-012-01, was approved by Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. The amendment approved work outside of standard construction hours (as set out in Permit condition No. 23) for specific works. These include formwork removal, fender panel installation, works to support installation of in-water piles such as splicing or welding pile sections together, and deck re-instatement activities. No pile driving activity (installation or removal) will be conducted outside of regular construction hours.
Permit issued
In June 2020, a project permit was issued to Shell Canada Products Ltd. (the Applicant), to replace four existing berthing dolphins and install a fifth berthing dolphin as part of repair and maintenance of the existing wharf structure at the Shellburn facility in Burnaby, British Columbia on federal lands managed by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. A construction notice was distributed to the community prior to the start of works.
The project was approved subject to 44 permit conditions that Shell Canada Products Ltd. must meet to ensure the project does not result in significant adverse environmental effects.
About the project
The project consists of the removal of 185 creosote-treated timber piles and the installation of 65 creosote-treated timber, and 25 concrete-filled steel pipe piles. Eight temporary 457 mm timber fender piles will be installed to secure construction-related support vessels, these temporary piles will be removed once construction is complete. All waste materials will be collected within the immediate project area, and transported to an appropriate facility for recycling or disposal.
Pile installation and removal will be carried out from a floating barge using a spud barge, materials barge, vibratory pile driving hammer, and impact pile driving hammer. Existing decking will be removed where necessary to facilitate the replacement of each new dolphin. Staged removal of sections of the existing decking will be performed with marine based equipment and the decking components will be removed, placed on a barge, and subsequently taken from site for disposal at an approved facility. Once construction of each dolphin is complete, the corresponding section of deconstructed decking will be reconstructed using new materials. The proposed deck removal and replacement work will be carried out either from a floating barge or from the top of the wharf. Marine vessel traffic would include a barge-mounted crane for pile installation, and tugs to assist in barge movement.
Works will be conducted in two phases focusing on each of the dolphin structures from east to west in sequence, with each phase occurring during the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) least-risk window during the 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 seasons (Area 28 – Burrard Inlet: August 16 to February 28). Phase 1 consists of the works associated with the eastern section of the berthing facility and the fifth new dolphin installation with in-water works conducted in the 2020-2021 least risk window. Phase 2 consists of the demolition and installation works associated with the western section of the berthing facility, with in-water works conducted in the 2021-2022 least risk windows.
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.