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Field studies underway for construction of new terminal at Port of Vancouver
May 5, 2021 By Crane & Hoist Canada Staff
A rendering of the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project in Delta, B.C. Image: Vancouver Fraser Port Authority The Port of Vancouver is continuing its field studies in preparation for the construction of the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 project in Delta, B.C.
The project, a proposed new three-berth container terminal, would provide 2.4 million TEUs (20 foot equivalent units) of additional container capacity annually, it said.
The project has completed a federal environmental assessment by an independent review panel.
But in August last year, Ottawa asked the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority for more information — as a result, the federal timeline for decision-making was paused. The port authority is working to provide the information requested this year, it said, “and are hopeful that a decision can be made soon after.”
Field studies
There are a number of field studies underway as part of this process, including:
Coastal geomorphology: Abiotic parameters study. The purpose is to determine the physical conditions (temperature and salinity) influencing biofilm presence and distribution at Roberts Bank.
Coastal birds: Diving birds follow-up program pre-construction data collection. The purpose is to collect pre-construction data on the abundance of diving birds to support the development of a diving birds follow-up program.
Marine fish: Juvenile salmon follow-up program pre-construction data collection. The purpose is to collect pre-construction data on the density and distribution of juvenile salmon, including chum and Chinook to support the development of a follow-up program.
Coastal birds: Biofilm habitat mapping technology trial. The purpose is to test if a remotely piloted aircraft equipped with a specialized camera is capable of mapping biofilm distribution and abundance during the 2021 northward migration of the western sandpiper. Aerial imagery will be paired with a biofilm sediment sampling program to ground truth the imagery. Results of the technology trial may support the development and implementation of a western sandpiper prey effects prediction follow-up program element.
For more information, visit www.portvancouver.com/RBT2.
Watch the video: Proposed terminal
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