Section 3.2: Origin, Destination & Marine Traffic Volume Survey TERMPOL Surveys and Studies ENBRIDGE NORTHERN GATEWAY PROJECT FINAL - REV. 0 Prepared for: Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. January 20, 2010 January 20, 2010 Final - Rev. 0 Page i Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section 3.2: Origin, Destination & Marine Traffic Volume Survey Table of Contents Table of Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Objectives ........................................................................................................ 1-1 1.2 Scope ............................................................................................................... 1-1 1.3 Sources of Data ............................................................................................... 1-1 1.4 Data validation ................................................................................................. 1-2 2 Description of Marine Network ........................................................................ 2-1 2.1 Proposed Routes for Enbridge Tankers ............................................................ 2-2 2.1.1 North Route ................................................................................................... 2-2 2.1.2 South Routes ................................................................................................. 2-4 2.2 Major Traffic Routes ......................................................................................... 2-6 2.2.1 The Trans Alaskan Pipeline System (TAPS) Tanker Route .......................... 2-6 2.2.2 Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound .................................................... 2-7 2.2.3 The Outside Passage .................................................................................... 2-7 2.2.4 The Inner Passage ........................................................................................ 2-7 3 Considerations within Marine Network ............................................................ 3-1 3.1 Shipping Network Focal Points ......................................................................... 3-1 3.1.1 Triple Island Pilot Grounds ............................................................................ 3-2 3.1.2 Channel Constrictions ................................................................................... 3-3 3.1.3 Wright Sound ................................................................................................. 3-9 3.1.4 Caamaño Sound .......................................................................................... 3-11 3.2 Special Operations Areas ............................................................................... 3-12 3.2.1 Military Exercise and Offshore Exploration/Exploration Activity .................. 3-12 3.2.2 Seaplane Activity ......................................................................................... 3-13 3.3 Biology and Human Use ................................................................................. 3-15 3.3.1 Project Areas ............................................................................................... 3-15 3.3.2 Fishing Boundaries ...................................................................................... 3-15 3.3.3 Areas of High Fishing Effort ......................................................................... 3-18 3.3.4 Major Fisheries and Important Fishing Grounds ......................................... 3-21 3.3.5 Fisheries Openings ...................................................................................... 3-31 3.3.6 Seasonal Commercial Fishing Activities ..................................................... 3-31 3.4 Sensitive Areas .............................................................................................. 3-32 3.4.1 Sensitive Biological Areas ........................................................................... 3-32 3.4.2 Sensitive Human Use Areas ........................................................................ 3-34 January 20, 2010 Final - Rev. 0 Page i Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section 3.2: Origin, Destination & Marine Traffic Volume Survey Table of Contents Table of Contents (continued) 4 Description of Existing Marine Traffic ..............................................................4-1 4.1 Classes of Marine Traffic .................................................................................. 4-1 4.2 Characteristics of Vessels Operating in the Region .......................................... 4-1 4.2.1 Tugs with Tow (Logs, Cargo, Containers, Bulk, Rail Cars and Oil) ............... 4-2 4.2.2 Tugs without tow in transit ............................................................................. 4-4 4.2.3 General Cargo Vessels ................................................................................. 4-4 4.2.4 Dry-Bulk Cargo Vessels (Bulk Carriers) ........................................................ 4-4 4.2.5 Container Cargo Vessels ............................................................................... 4-4 4.2.6 Tankers (Oil, LPG, Chemical) ........................................................................ 4-4 4.2.7 Passenger Vessels (Cruise Ships) ................................................................ 4-5 4.2.8 Pleasure Craft (Sailing Yachts, Motor Yachts and Sports Fishing Boats) ............................................................................................................ 4-5 4.2.9 Government Vessels and Warships .............................................................. 4-6 4.2.10 Commercial and Passenger Ferries .............................................................. 4-7 4.2.11 Floatplane Activity ......................................................................................... 4-7 4.2.12 Commercial Fishing Vessels (All Types) ....................................................... 4-7 5 Regional Vessel Traffic Analysis .....................................................................5-1 5.1 Vessel Traffic Data Sources.............................................................................. 5-1 5.2 Seasonal Variations .......................................................................................... 5-3 5.3 Vessel Traffic Frequency .................................................................................. 5-4 5.3.1 Prince Rupert VTS Area ................................................................................ 5-4 5.3.2 Traffic in the Outside Passage ...................................................................... 5-7 5.3.3 Vessels using the Inner Passage .................................................................. 5-8 5.3.4 Wright Sound Traffic Volumes ....................................................................... 5-9 5.3.5 Average Vessel Traffic Frequency .............................................................. 5-15 5.4 Traffic in Douglas Channel (Kitimat)................................................................ 5-16 5.5 Other Regional Traffic - TAPS Tanker Route .................................................. 5-18 6 Variations in Traffic Density .............................................................................6-1 6.1 Historical Trends ............................................................................................... 6-1 6.2 The Proponents Vessels ................................................................................... 6-3 6.3 Existing Tanker Operations at Kitimat ............................................................... 6-3 6.4 Other Commercial Proposals in the Region ...................................................... 6-4 6.4.1 Kitimat LNG Proposal and the Pacific Trail Pipeline ..................................... 6-4 6.4.2 Cascadia Materials Proposal ......................................................................... 6-5 6.4.3 Pembina and Kinder Morgan Pipeline Proposals .......................................... 6-5 6.4.4 The Alcan Smelting Expansion/Rebuild Proposal ......................................... 6-5 6.4.5 The Merrill Lynch/Teekay Shipping Floating LNG Export Facility ................. 6-5 January 20, 2010 Final - Rev. 0 Page ii Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section 3.2: Origin, Destination & Marine Traffic Volume Survey Table of Contents Table of Contents (continued) 6.5 The Combined Effect on Marine Traffic at Kitimat ............................................. 6-5 6.5.1 Potential Traffic Increases due to Current Commercial Proposals................ 6-6 6.5.2 The Effect on Marine Traffic using Douglas Channel .................................... 6-7 6.5.3 The Effect on Marine Traffic using Wright Sound .......................................... 6-7 6.5.4 The Effect on Marine Traffic using Prince Rupert MCTS .............................. 6-7 7 Conclusions and Major Results of Survey ....................................................... 7-1 7.1 Major Traffic Routes ......................................................................................... 7-1 7.2 Possible Alternative Routes ............................................................................. 7-1 7.3 Shipping Network Focal Points ......................................................................... 7-1 7.4 Special Operations Areas ................................................................................. 7-2 7.5 Major Fishing Grounds ....................................................................................