Comment period now open on proposed work on Navigation aid at Parizeau Point in Prince Rupert harbour

The area of proposed navigation aid work by Transport Canada
(from Common project website)

A project toward replacement of dolphins and pilings for a navigation aid in Prince Rupert Harbour is on the horizon, with Transport Canada seeking comment towards the work that is anticipated to start later this year.

In documents filed on the Government's Common Project Website, Transport Canada outlines the scope of the work ahead for a navigation aid at Parizeau Point on the Digby Island side of the Harbour.

The reason for the required work is detailed in the Transport Canada filing which notes:

The work area is located off of Parizeau Point, within the Prince Rupert Port Authority, approximately 1.5 km southwest of the BC Ferry Prince Rupert Terminal. 

The original Nav aid was struck by a vessel at drift which is prompting the installation of the new Sector light. 

The original Nav aid is located approximately 200m east off shore of Parizeau Point and the location of the new Nav aid will be approximately 250 south west of the original Nav aid.

While not stated specifically, that would seem to be around the same time that a container ship incident took place in Prince Rupert harbour which saw the MSC Altair break free of its lines at the DP world terminal.

More on the work is outlined as part of the project description, though the dates for the work in the documentation, would seem to suggest that the plan was deferred a bit down the calendar:

In the winter of 2021 a vessel at drift collided with a CCG dolphin nav-aid located near Parizeau Point. 

The existing structure was folded over below the water line, but is still anchored to the seabed by 3 steel piles. 

This event triggered the need for a new nav-aid to be installed in the same area to support the safe navigation of vessels coming into harbour. 

The existing structure will be removed from the water and the new nav-aid will be installed on a new steel 3-pile structure. The new structure would consist of three steel 324Ø x 12.7mm thick piles driven into the seabed, an aluminum platform, ladder and lattice tower with marker boards and lights. 

This project is tentatively planned for August or September 2022 and take up to 7 days to complete. Exact schedule details are still being worked out.

The information package also includes some drawings of what the navigation aid will look like.

You can review more on the subject and learn how you can submit you comments here.

The deadline to submit your comments has been set for March 4th.