Port Saint John West Side Terminals Modernization Project - Coastal and Marine Engineering Aspects

Port Saint John (PSJ) is Eastern Canada’s largest port by volume, and greatly contributes to the economy of the region and country. In response to aging infrastructure and increased traffic, PSJ is proceeding with the $205M... [ view full abstract ]

Port Saint John (PSJ) is Eastern Canada’s largest port by volume, and greatly contributes to the economy of the region and country. In response to aging infrastructure and increased traffic, PSJ is proceeding with the $205M “West Side Terminals Modernization Project”.  This project will consolidate and modernize the Rodney and Navy Island Terminals, enabling the facility to handle vessels up to Neo-Panamax size.  The project is also expected to include deepening of the main navigation channel.  

PSJ retained the Hatch|Dillon JV, a joint venture of Hatch Corporation and Dillon Consulting Ltd., to complete the engineering design and associated services for the proposed improvements.  Dillon subsequently retained W.F. Baird & Associates Coastal Engineers Ltd. to provide modelling and analyses of key coastal and marine engineering issues as required to support design development for the project.  This paper will present an overview of the following aspects of this work: 

• Development of metocean database (wind, waves and water levels);
• 3D hydrodynamic modeling to define complex flow conditions in Saint John Harbour, including the effects of significant tides on the Bay of Fundy, variable freshwater inputs from the Saint John River, and the interaction/mixing of these flows within the harbour;
• Navigation simulations to confirm the feasibility of Neo-Panamax vessels transiting the main navigation channel and turning in the Inner Harbour;
• Channel transit simulations to establish relationship between dredge depth and downtime due to insufficient underkeel clearance;
  Moored ship response simulations due to wind, waves and currents, and also due to passing ship effects.