Strait Of Georgia News

In a typical year, the waters surrounding British Columbia’s Port of Vancouver host approximately 3,000 deep sea commercial vessels and 19 of the 35 ferries operated by BC Ferries, one of the largest ferry operators in the world. These waters are also home to a wide variety of aquatic wildlife, including the southern resident killer whales (SRKW), which have been listed as endangered in Canada since 2003.With vessel-generated acoustic disturbances identified by Fisheries and Oceans Canada as one of four key threats to the SRKW…

The future Capt. Jacques Cartier, the second of three Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels (OFSV) to be designed and built by Seaspan at its Vancouver Shipyards (VSY), began sea trials on October 10, 2019 from Seaspan’s Vancouver Drydock where final outfitting, set to work and commissioning has taken place since its launch in June.“With the future Capt. Jacques Cartier headed out to sea today, excitement in our NSS program is growing,” said Mark Lamarre, CEO, Seaspan Shipyards.

Underwater noise has been identified as a key threat to at-risk whales. In order to better understand and manage the impact of shipping activities on whales throughout the southern coast of British Columbia, a hydrophone listening station has been deployed by the Port Metro Vancouver, with support from the University of Victoria’s Ocean Networks Canada and JASCO Applied Sciences, to monitor underwater vessel noise in the Strait of Georgia. The hydrophone listening station deployment and monitoring activities are part of the Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) Program…

Aquatic Engineering and Construction Ltd. has been awarded a contract to lay power cables for the main provider of electricity in British Columbia, Canada. The contract will see Aquatic deliver a multi-reel solution, making the operation faster and supporting its partners to manage costs and resources, the company said. The shallow water project will commence later this week in the tidal estuary of the Strait of Georgia. Aquatic will lay approximately 15 kilometers of 87 millimeter diameter electrical power cable…

OceanWorks International announce the successful re-deployment of the VENUS coastal network in the Strait of Georgia after repairs. Placed in Canadian waters in the Strait of Georgia, VENUS is part of the Ocean Networks Canada Observatory, is a cabled undersea laboratory with nodes that provide live video, acoustic images and real-time data for ocean researchers and explorers. VENUS delivers real time information from seafloor instruments via fiber optic cables to the University of Victoria, BC.

As the new year approaches, NOAA ships and independent contractors are preparing for the nation’s 177th hydrographic surveying season, aiming to collect critically needed ocean and coastal mapping data for 2,525 square nautical miles in high-traffic coastal waters of the continental United States and Alaska. “The science of these surveys underpins the steady flow of commerce and the safety of mariners and coastal communities,” said NOAA Corps Capt. John E. Lowell, director of the Office of Coast Survey and U.S. national hydrographer. More than 13 million jobs are tied to maritime commerce which contributes more than $742 billion to the American economy. U.S.

Ship captains and pleasure boaters can now get free real-time information on water and weather conditions for Cherry Point, Wash., from a newly installed NOAA ocean observing system that makes piloting a ship safer and more efficient. The NOAA Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS) at Cherry Point provides observations of tides, currents, water and air temperature, barometric pressure and winds. Collected from a variety of sensors in and around the port, the data is available online and by phone: 888-817-7794 (toll-free).

Security issues to fore at IMO safety meeting Maritime security issues are high on the agenda of IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), which meets for its 75th session from May 15 to 24 , as Member States prepare for a Diplomatic Conference on Maritime Security scheduled for December 2002, at which any new or amended legislation could be adopted. Other major issues to be tackled include the adoption of proposed amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, as amended; ongoing work on the safety of bulk carrier ships and large passenger vessels; implementation of the revised STCW Convention; and the adoption of new and amended ships routeing measures.

The Canadian Transportation Safety Board (TSB) issued its report of the investigation into the switchboard fire on the cruiseship STATENDAM in the Strait of Georgia on 4 August 2002. The main circuit breaker for one of the diesel generators suffered a catastrophic failure that started fires in the main switchboard room and the adjacent engine control room. The crew extinguished the fires. The TSB determined that the current international structural fire protection standards around main switchboard rooms do not reflect the fire risk inherent in electrical systems that transmit high levels of power. Report Number M02W0135 (HK Law)

BC Ferries announced that construction has begun on the second of the company’s next generation Super C-class vessels at Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft shipyards. Coastal Inspiration is the second in a series of three new double-ended ferries that will arrive in B.C. in late 2007 and early 2008. Construction of the first vessel, Coastal Renaissance started in August 2006 and construction of a third vessel, Coastal Celebration is expected to begin in April 2007. When completed, the Super C-class vessels will be the largest double-ended ferries in the world, featuring two passenger decks providing an unprecedented travel experience for BC Ferries customers.

The News Bulletin said that ferry passengers heading to Vancouver via Departure Bay and returning from Horseshoe Bay may experience some short delays over the next nine months as both terminals undergo major renovations. The work is necessary to accommodate new state-of-the-art Super C-class vessels, the first of which is slated to sail the Strait of Georgia in late 2007. The twin upgrades, costing $28m, will create alternating berth closures at both terminals. After work on berth 2 is complete, berth 3 will get a refit. Three Super-C class ships - Coastal Renaissance, Coastal Inspiration and Coastal Celebration - are expected to be in full operation by the summer of 2008.

The Washington State Department of Ecology has summarized civil penalties it assessed during the second quarter of 2006 for pollution incidents. Among others on the list were three marine-related parties. Two of the penalties indicate the possibility that the Department has become too zealous in its mission. In June, the captain of the vessel Nu C was fined $9,000 after approximately 575 gallons of diesel and hydraulic oil spilled into Grays Harbor when the vessel crashed into the North Jetty at Ocean Shores on February 12. In May, a tank barge owner was fined $1,000 after its barge spilled 109 gallons of heavy fuel oil into the Strait of Georgia when it sustained damage from a tug during docking.

The Coast Guard is conducting a Waterways Analysis and Management System (WAMS) study of the waterways surrounding the San Juan Islands. This study specifically encompasses the following waterways: Rosario Strait, Haro Strait, Boundary Pass and the Strait of Georgia. WAMS focuses on the waterway’s aids to navigation system, waterborne commerce, marine casualty information, port/harbor resources, emergency response plans, routine emergency communication capabilities, and future development projects.

EPA is proposing an emission control program for new compression-ignition marine engines rated at or above 37 kW. The affected engines are used for propulsion and auxiliary purposes in a wide variety of marine applications. The standards proposed for these engines would require substantial reductions in oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter emissions to correspond with the next round of emission standards for comparable land-based engines. The proposed standards are expected to provide a significant reduction in oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter from emissions from this source. When combined with other mobile source emission control programs, the program will help provide long-term improvements in air quality in many port cities and other coastal areas.

MarAd is soliciting public comment concerning whether MarAd should amend its cargo preference regulations governing the carriage of agricultural exports. Comments are welcome on the questions listed in this notice or on any other aspect of MarAd's oversight of other governmental agencies' ocean shipping activities under the Cargo Preference Act of 1954, as amended by the Food Security Act of 1985. Present regulations and policies remain in force. This docket does not address the carriage of military cargoes. The USCG proposes to amend the Anchorage Regulations for the Atlantic Ocean off Miami and Miami Beach, Fla. The amendment is needed…