Gateway Pacific Terminal Vessel Traffic and Risk Assessment Study Task 8: Overview of the Traffic Separation Schemes, Approaches to the Proposed Terminal and Alternative Schemes for Vessel Traffic Management Prepared for Pacific International Terminals, Inc. Prepared by The Glosten Associates, Inc. File No. 12096.01 24 January 2013 Rev. P0 Consulting Engineers Serving the Marine Community 1201 Western Avenue, Suite 200, Seattle, Washington 98101-2921 TEL 206.624.7850 FAX 206.682.9117 www.glosten.com Contents References ................................................................................................................. ii Executive Summary .................................................................................................. iv Scope of Work per Professional Services Agreement ........................................... v Section 1 Introduction ............................................................................................ 1 1.1 Description of the Study Area ...................................................................................... 1 1.2 Overview of the Traffic System ................................................................................... 3 1.3 Overview of the Vessel Traffic Service ....................................................................... 5 1.3.1 Puget Sound Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) ........................................................... 5 1.3.2 Vessel Movement Reporting System (VMRS) ..................................................... 7 1.3.3 Cooperative Vessel Traffic Service (CVTS) ......................................................... 8 1.3.4 Victoria Marine Communications and Traffic Services (MCTS) ......................... 8 1.3.5 Special Operating Areas (SOA) ............................................................................ 9 Section 2 Alternative Schemes for Vessel Traffic Management ....................... 14 2.1 Escort and Tethering ................................................................................................... 14 2.2 Escort, Prepositioned Standby or Sentinel Tugs ........................................................ 15 2.3 Voyage or Transit Planning ........................................................................................ 16 2.4 Speed Reduction ......................................................................................................... 17 2.5 Traffic Scheme/Flow Modification ............................................................................ 18 Section 3 Supplemental Aids to Navigation (ATON) .......................................... 20 Gateway Pacific Terminal VTS Study i The Glosten Associates, Inc. Overview of the Traffic Separation Schemes File No .12096.01, 24 January 2013 and Approaches, Task 8, Rev. P0 References 1. Revised Project Information Document; Gateway Pacific Terminal, Whatcom County, Washington, Pacific International Terminals, March 2012. 2. “Strait of Juan De Fuca and Georgia,” United States Coast Pilot 7 - 44th Edition, US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington, DC, Chapter 12, 2012. 3. “Pacific Ocean and Southeast Asia,” 120 Sailing Directions (Planning Guide), National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Springfield, Virginia, 2011. 4. International Regulations for preventing Collisions at Sea, (‘72 COLREGS), 1972. 5. Pacific Pilotage Regulations, Department of Justice, Canada, (C.R.C., c. 1270). 6. United States Coast Guard Navigation Rules, US Department of Transportation, COMDTINST M16672.2D, 23 November 2011. 7. Ships' routing, International Maritime Organization (IMO) www.imo.org/ourwork/safety/navigation/pages/shipsrouteing.aspx, Accessed 16 October 2012. 8. Puget Sound User's Manual, US Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service, 2007. 9. “Vessel Movement Reporting System,” Navigation and Navigable Waters, United States Code of Federal Regulations, Title 33, Part 161, Subpart B. 10. Canada/United States Co-cooperative Vessel Traffic System Agreement-Purpose and Objective, US Coast Guard Department of Homeland Security District 13, www.uscg.mil/d13/cvts/purposeandobjective.asp, Accessed 11 October 2012. 11. “Vessel Traffic Service and Vessel Movement Reporting System Areas and Reporting Points,” Navigation and Navigable Waters, United States Code of Federal Regulations, Title 33, Part 161, Subpart C. 12. “Services―VTS Measures and Operating Requirements,” United States Coast Pilot 7 - 44th Edition, US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington, DC, Chapter 2, 2012. 13. “Escort Requirements For Certain Tankers-Applicable Vessels,” Navigation and Navigable Waters, United States Code of Federal Regulations, Title 33, Part 168. 14. “Tug escort requirements for oil tankers,” WAC 363-116-500, http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=363-116-500, “Oil tankers―Intent and purpose,” RCW 88.16.170, “Oil tankers―Restricted waters - standard safety features required―Exemptions,” RCW 88.16.190, and “Oil tankers―Not to exceed speed of escorting tug,” RCW 88.16.195, http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=88.16, accessed 23 January 2013. 15. Study of Tug Escorts in Puget Sound, prepared for State of Washington Department of Ecology, The Glosten Associates, Inc., File No. 04075, 25 February 2005. 16. Private Aids to Navigation and USCG form 2554, Department of Homeland Security US Coast Guard COMDTINST M16500.7A - 33 CFR Part 66, Article 1,Section B, Chapter 3, 2 March 2005. Gateway Pacific Terminal VTS Study ii The Glosten Associates, Inc. Overview of the Traffic Separation Schemes File No .12096.01, 24 January 2013 and Approaches, Task 8, Rev. P0 17. “Terms,” Crowley Pacific Northwest Schedule of Tugboat Rates and Terms, Crowley Maritime, Effective 01 February 2011. 18. Synopsis of State-funded Neah Bay Emergency Response Vessel Assists: 1999-2010, Department of Ecology, State of Washington, http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/spills/response_tug/synopsis_statefundedtug.pdf, Accessed 29 October 2012. 19. Neah Bay tug shifts from public to private funding July 1, Department of Ecology State of Washington, News Release - June 29, 2010 http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2010news/2010-147.html, Accessed 29 October 2012. 20. Aids to Navigation Manual Administration, US Coast Guard Department of Homeland Security, http://www.uscg.mil/directives/cim/16000-16999/CIM_16500_7A.pdf, Accessed 31 October 2012, March 2005. Gateway Pacific Terminal VTS Study iii The Glosten Associates, Inc. Overview of the Traffic Separation Schemes File No .12096.01, 24 January 2013 and Approaches, Task 8, Rev. P0 Executive Summary This Vessel Traffic and Risk Assessment Study (VTS) is being conducted by The Glosten Associates (Glosten) for the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal (GPT) to be located at GPT/Cherry Point in Washington State. The purpose of the study is to assess the potential risks posed by new bulk carrier traffic that the proposed terminal will bring to the Puget Sound. Current vessel traffic levels and forecasted traffic levels are considered, including tugs and GPT calling vessels. The area studied includes the designated Puget Sound vessel transit lanes, the maneuvering area near the planned GPT terminal at GPT/Cherry Point, the local anchorage areas, and the transit routes for tugs assisting GPT. Plans call for 487 total annual visits for the anticipated GPT-bound traffic at full throughput level in 2026 (Reference 1). Of the total vessel calls, it is projected that there will be 318 Panamax and 169 Capesize (up to 250,000 DWT) vessels. The GPT-bound vessels will be utilizing the established traffic lanes between Cape Flattery and Cherry Point. Responsibility for the safe transit and tracking vessels arriving or departing the proposed GPT lies with Puget Sound Pilots, in conjunction with: Puget Sound Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), operated by the US Coast Guard - Sector Puget Sound. Cooperative Vessel Traffic Service (CVTS), operated by the Canadian Coast Guard. Victoria Marine Communications and Traffic Services (MCTS). Section 1 of this task report utilizes Governmental publications, NOAA Charts, and anecdotal data interviews with Puget Sound Pilots to provide an overview of the Traffic Separation Schemes and Vessel Traffic Services that are in place for the operating area. A detailed discussion of the traffic lanes, vessel monitoring systems, and special operating restrictions is presented. Section 2 examines alternative schemes to manage the GPT vessel traffic in the waterways leading to and from the terminal. These alternatives are considered with respect to their ability to mitigate risks during the transit. This section also presents mitigation measures that utilize existing concepts or regulations from other types of shipping activities. Several concepts are examined that would be effective, but may present unique challenges in both the national and international approval process. Gateway Pacific Terminal VTS Study iv The Glosten Associates, Inc. Overview of the Traffic Separation Schemes File No .12096.01, 24 January 2013 and Approaches, Task 8, Rev. P0 Scope of Work per Professional Services Agreement1 Provides an overview of current traffic separation and management schemes in force on the approaches to GPT and recommendations for alternative traffic control mechanisms for reduction of the risk of an accident, as defined in ¶ 3.2 In conjunction with Task 7, provide qualitative, relative assessment of the potential effectiveness of measures proposed in counteracting