Section 3.10: Site Plans and Technical Data - Rick Neufeld Comments

Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc.
Section 3.10: Site Plans and Technical Data
Table of Contents
2.2.2.3 Oil Tanker Approach and Departure Manoeuvres
Inbound oil tankers arriving in a ballasted condition will normally berth with their starboard sides to the
loading platform. As indicated by Vessel Manoeuvre No. 3 in Figure 2-3, the approach from the
navigation lane to the berth will require the ballasted oil tankers to make a 180 degree turn before
berthing. This is advantageous, as it will allow for a straight departure course, as indicated by Vessel
Manoeuvre No. 4, when the vessel leaves the terminal in its fully loaded condition. Port-side berthing
may be required for the oil tankers depending on meteorological conditions and preferences of the pilots,
in which case the arrival and departure approaches will be the reverse of that shown in Figure 2-3.
Although Figure 2-3 shows the oil tanker berthing at the South Berth, the approach and departure vectors
for the North Berth would be similar.
2.2.2.4 Proposed Anchorage Areas near Kitimat Terminal
Kitimat Harbour is the closest possible anchorage area in the immediate vicinity of the marine terminal.
However, this anchorage area either does not meet the minimum TRP requirements for swing circle
radius with respect to the design vessels, or it exceeds the maximum recommended water depth; thus
Kitimat Harbour should only be considered as a temporary or emergency anchorage area (see TERMPOL
Study 3.12). It is conservative to assume that tankers which are committed to Douglas Channel, and
which are unable to berth at the marine terminal, will be required to remain in a holding pattern, within
the south portion of Kitimat Arm (see TERMPOL Study 3.12), or in a worst case scenario, be turned back
to potential anchorages outside Douglas Channel.
One such potential anchorage is Anger Anchorage located off the NW side of Anger Island in Principe
Channel (see TERMPOL Study 3.12). This site potentially has enough area, water depth, and proper
seabed conditions for anchoring large VLCC tankers. Although this anchorage is located outside of
Douglas Channel, with proper vessel scheduling, it may be a suitable location for anchoring “staged”
vessels before they commit to the final leg of their transit through the inner passages to the marine
terminal.
2.2.3 Dredge and Fill
The steep bathymetry and exposed rock faces along the sides of Douglas Channel provide a technical
challenge for the installation of the foundations for the marine structures. Construction of the marine
structure foundations may require dredging of overburden soil and/or blasting and removal of rock.
Additional dredging or blasting may be required to provide adequate underkeel clearance for moored
vessels.
The amount of material to be removed is highly dependent on the specific berth location, alignment,
structural configuration, and construction methodology. Structures with small foundation footprints, such
as those with individual piles that are drilled and socketed into the rock face, may require only minor rock
surface preparation to initiate drilling operations. For structures with larger foundation footprints, such as
jacket or caisson structures, rock shelves or “benches” may be required to be blasted into the rock slope in
order to provide a flat and level surface upon which the jacket structure can rest and be anchored to.
January 20, 2010 FINAL - Rev. 0 Page 2-5