Fraser Surrey Docks Direct Transfer Coal Facility

About the project

Fraser Surrey Docks (FSD) submitted a project permit application (PP 2012-072) to Port Metro Vancouver for the development of a Direct Transfer Coal Facility at the southwest end of the existing terminal to handle up to four million metric tonnes of coal per year.

The coal will be transferred by Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) rail to the terminal and will be loaded directly onto 8,000 dead weight tonnes (DWT) barges at existing Berth 2. No coal would be stored at FSD during normal operations.

When loaded, tugs will take single barges down to the mouth of the Fraser River. Once barges pass Sand Heads, they will be towed in tandem to Texada Island. From there the coal will be stored before transfer to a deepsea vessel for overseas export. No tandem barge tows will be conducted on the Fraser River.

Although the current permit review will examine volumes of four million metric tonnes per year, there is potential to increase volumes up to eight million metric tonnes of coal per year over the longer term. Any increase of capacity more than four million metric tonnes of coal per year will be subject to a new Port Metro Vancouver project permit and environmental review.

The project proposal consists of the following:

• Installation (includes relocation, realignment, and extension) of approximately 3.6 km of rail within existing FSD terminal and Port Authority Rail Yard (PARY).
• Installation of rail switches, rail leads and associated rail remediation maintenance works within FSD terminal and PARY.
• Installation of a covered rail car receiving shed 600 m² (6,460 sq. ft.) on concrete blocks, two shallow bottom dump rail pits, and one rail indexer and associated utilities. Excavations will be no deeper than 3.0 m (10 ft.).
• Installation of eight (8) fully covered conveyer segments with water sprayers at transfer points, to transfer coal from rail car receiving shed to barges at existing Berth 2.
• Installation of 100 metric tonne surge bin, mobile conveyor system with a hopper feeder, and a covered barge loader.
• Installation of electrical and water distribution systems around the emergency stockpile area, barge berthing and loading area, and within rail car receiving shed (i.e. sprinklers, dust control & fire suppression systems).
• Installation of two (2) electrical control rooms housed within 19 m² (200 sq. ft.) modular buildings to the east of the receiving shed and east of the barge loader.
• Installation of a waste water management system (collection and treatment) comprising of an oil/water interceptor, two stage settling sump with overflow pumps for waste water collection and treatment for the site (primary and secondary settlement ponds).
• Installation of an asphalt berm emergency stockpile area 10,000 m² (2.47 acres) in front of existing Berth 2 to handle a capacity of up to 30,000 metric tonnes of coal (to be utilized in emergency situations). The berm will be approximately 2.6 m (8.5 ft.) high.
• Installation of  twelve (12) steel piles of 24 inches in diameter along the wharf at existing Berth 2.
• Installation of one winch and warping/mooring with pivot fairlead and two (2) sheaves at existing Berth 2 to facilitate barge moorage.
• Demolition and removal/relocation of existing non-commercial vehicle access gate at Elevator Road.
• Realignment of existing Bekaert Canada access on Elevator Road. Currently two options are proposed.
• Replanting of native species in riparian area on Elevator Road.

As part of the application process, Fraser Surrey Docks will undertake municipal and community engagement. The application will also be referred to First Nations for consultation.

Contact information

• For questions regarding the Port’s Project Permit process, please contact:  Lilian Chau, Senior Planner, Port Metro Vancouver by email or phone at 604.665.9129.
• To learn more about FSD's project, please contact Brittany Auvinen, Public Affairs, Fraser Surrey Docks by email or phone at 604.582.2244, or visit the project website.