VANCOUVER FRASER PORT AUTHORI TY PROJECT AND ENVI RONMENTAL REVI EW REPORT AND PERMI T PER No.: 18-044 TransLink South Coast British Columbia Transportation Tenant: Authority Nanaimo Vancouver Passenger Only Ferry Service South Project: SeaBus Terminal Project Location: South SeaBus Terminal, 609 Waterfront Road, Vancouver VFPA SI D No.: VAN042 Land Use Designation: Special Study AreaSpecial Study AreaSpecial Study Area South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Applicant/Permit Holder: (“TransLink”) Category of Review: B Date of Approval: August 24, 2018 Date of Expiry: August 31, 2019 1 I NTRODUCTI ON The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA), a federal port authority, manages lands under the purview of the Canada Marine Act, which imparts responsibilities for environmental protection. VFPA accordingly conducts project and environmental reviews of works and activities undertaken on these lands to ensure that the works and activities will not likely cause significant adverse environmental effects. This project and environmental review report and project permit (the Permit) documents VFPA’s project and environmental review of PER No. 18-044: Nanaimo Vancouver Passenger Only Ferry Service South SeaBus Terminal (the Project) proposed by Island Ferry Services Ltd. (the Operator) on behalf of the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (“TransLink”) (the Applicant). This project and environmental review was carried out to address VFPA’s responsibilities under the Canada Marine Act, and to meet the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012), as applicable. The proposed Project is not a CEAA 2012 “designated project” and an environmental assessment as described in CEAA 2012 is not required. However, VFPA authorization is required for the proposed Project to proceed and in such circumstances, where applicable, Section 67 of CEAA 2012 requires federal authorities to assure themselves that projects will not likely cause significant adverse environmental effects. This review provides that assurance. In addition, VFPA considers other interests, impacts and mitigations through the project and environmental review. The project and environmental review considered the application along with supporting studies, assessments and consultations carried out or commissioned by Island Ferry Services Ltd., as well as other information provided by Island Ferry Services Ltd. In addition, this project and environmental review considered other information available to VFPA and other consultations carried out by VFPA. A full list of information sources germane to the review is provided in the following pages ofCOPY this report. This Permit is the authorizing document allowing the Applicant to proceed with the Project subject to the listed project and environmental conditions. PER No. 18-044 Page 1 of 11 VANCOUVER FRASER PORT AUTHORITY | PROJECT AND ENVI RONMENTAL REVI EW REPORT AND PERMI T 2 PROJECT DESCRI PTI ON TransLink proposes to use the west berth of the south SeaBus terminal for private ferry and/or water taxi services. Island Ferry Services Ltd. has been selected by TransLink, through a Request For Information (RFI), to establish and operate a private ferry service, and has been authorized by TransLink to have direct discussions with Vancouver Fraser Port Authority for the purposes of making this application. Island Ferry Services Ltd. proposes to establish a fast, passenger-only, year-round, ferry service between the south SeaBus terminal in Vancouver and the Nanaimo Port Authority (NPA)'s cruise ship terminal. The service would operate in established shipping lanes and is proposed to be provided by two new Damen 4212 catamarans, each of which can accommodate up to 376 passengers. These vessels would be based out of Nanaimo, with between four and eight daily sailings between 6:00 am and 11:00 pm. In this project permit, the Project means the physical activities authorized by VFPA to be carried out pursuant to PER No. 18-044, as described below. 2 .1 Proposed Works To accommodate ferry traffic at the Vancouver SeaBus terminal, upgrades to the existing berth are proposed and include: • Installation of two replacement Yokohama-type fenders on the west berth of the south SeaBus terminal, each measuring 1.3m in diameter; • Installation of a replacement passenger ramp to the west berth measuring 1.2 m (3.9 ft) x 43.5 m (142.7 ft); • Possible replacement of the existing potable water supply line at the west berth; • Modification to the existing emergency exit doors located at the southwest corner of the concourse, as necessary, to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities, and provide access to the new ramp; • General, leasehold-type improvements to a 112 m2 (1,205.6 ft2) storage area for use as a passenger waiting lounge. The replacement fenders and passenger ramp will be installed by barge using a crane. The existing fenders and ramp have deteriorated over time and are unfit for use. The works proposed are above the waterline and applicable environmental best management practices would be implemented to prevent debris and contaminants from entering the water and to minimize work-related air and noise pollution. An environmental monitor would be employed to monitor the works. Operations: During operations, passengers will access and depart the ferry service through the South SeaBus terminal. All passengers will enter the south SeaBus terminal via the existing Compass card-reader gates in Waterfront Station and ‘tap-out’ at new Compass card-readers, to be installed inside the terminal adjacent to the west berth. There will be no additional or dedicated car parking spaces at the SeaBus terminal provided in relation to the ferry use, and access to the ferry service via Waterfront Road COPYwill not be encouraged. The anticipated dock-to-dock crossing duration between Vancouver and Nanaimo is 68 minutes. The schedule will be optimized to best meet the travel requirements of commuting, business and personal travel customers. Up to eight round trips could be provided on any given day, although PER No. 18-044 Page 2 of 11 VANCOUVER FRASER PORT AUTHORITY | PROJECT AND ENVI RONMENTAL REVI EW REPORT AND PERMI T Island Ferry Services Ltd. anticipates adjusting sailing schedules in response to actual time of day/week/year demands and customer needs. As currently planned, the two vessels will provide a combined total of six round trips daily during the peak and shoulder seasons (eight months), and four round trips daily during the off-peak season (four months). The planned schedule is as follows: The additional passenger numbers, crew and staff related to the proposed ferry use will place an increased pressure on the design capacity of the SeaBus terminal. While no significant structural changes are proposed to the SeaBus terminal, VFPA has required that the Permit Holder provide evidence that the terminal still meets the applicable standards set out under the National Building Code and National Fire Code, prior to the commencement of operations. This requirement is detailed under Condition 29 of this Permit. The vessels are high speed ferries designed to comply with relevant Canadian regulations (as articulated by Transport Canada/Canada Shipping Act 2001 and associated regulations). The vessel design objectives include: • IMO High Speed Code (HSC) Cat A • Excellent sea keeping qualities with emphasis on motion control and minimal wake/wash • Redundancy in propulsion, steering, electrical generation, firefighting, navigation and firefighting systems Features of the vessels and the proposed service considered as part of the review include: • The vesselCOPY dimensions will be 42.2 m long by 11.6 m wide. • The vessel capacity will be for up to 376 passengers and a crew of 9 to 12. • The propulsion system is jet propulsion using 4 diesel engines. PER No. 18-044 Page 3 of 11 VANCOUVER FRASER PORT AUTHORITY | PROJECT AND ENVI RONMENTAL REVI EW REPORT AND PERMI T • The intended service speed of the vessels is up to 37 knots for the majority of the crossing. However, vessel speeds will be gradually reduced from the QB buoy (the Burrard Inlet cautionary light buoy, located at 49-18.7N 123-11.9W) as the vessels enter Burrard Inlet. • Vessel speeds under the Lions Gate Bridge are projected at 15 knots; this reduces to 12 knots as they pass Burnaby Shoal and the Sea Plane Zone and to 10 knots at Canada Place. • The waves generated by the vessels while moving through the Port of Vancouver are anticipated to be less than 58 cm (peak-to-trough) or 29 cm (zero-to-peak) based on sea trials. At greater speeds during the transit, wave height is predicted to peak at around 1 m (peak-to-trough). • Air emissions will comply with the Tier 3 engine emission requirements of the International Maritime Organization (compulsory for new vessels in Canada as of January 1, 2016). • The vessels will be equipped with a Night Navigator night vision system and other navigation and communication systems in accordance with Transport Canada and High Speed Craft Code requirements. The Ferry Service is anticipated to commence in 2018/2019. 3 VANCOUVER FRASER PORT AUTHORI TY I NTERNAL REVI EWS The following VFPA departments have undertaken and completed a review of these works and confirm that the proposal meets their requirements, subject to the listed project and environmental conditions. Planning Environmental Programs Engineering Marine Operations Project Communications Aboriginal Affairs 4 ENVI RONMENTAL CONSI DERATI ONS The planned route is located north of the critical habitat of the endangered southern resident killer whale. However, killer whales and other cetaceans that reside in the Strait of Georgia could be susceptible to collisions, particularly at high speeds and under low visibility conditions. The vessels will also contribute additional underwater noise in the Strait of Georgia and Burrard Inlet. Island Ferry Services Ltd. has submitted a ‘Qualitative Marine Mammals Effects Assessment’ and a revised draft ‘Best Operating Practices for the Safeguarding of Marine Mammals’ based on the recommendations of the assessment for the proposed vessel operation as part of the application review.