Suncor Dredging - West Dock Berth

Public notice

Suncor Dredging - West Dock Berth – Public comments invited

September 23, 2026- As part of its Project and Environmental Review process, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority must determine whether the Suncor Dredging - West Dock Berth are likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. 

To help inform this determination and a decision on whether or not to approve the proposed project, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. All comments received will be considered public and may be posted online.  For more information, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website. In addition, your contact information may be shared with third parties, e.g., the tenant, other relevant agencies, to help respond to your questions and inform possible mitigations.

Written comments must be submitted by to October 22^nd, 2026:

Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
Project and Environmental Review
100 The Pointe, 999 Canada Place
Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6C 3T4
per@portvancouver.com

The proposed project

Suncor Energy Products Partnership proposes to undertake maintenance dredging within the West Dock berth pocket at the Burrard Products Terminal in Burrard Inlet, British Columbia. The project is intended to restore and maintain navigational depth for vessel operations at the existing berth. Suncor selected a target dredge elevation of approximately -13.0 m Chart Datum based on recent vessel operating data and a tidal analysis of 2026 water levels, which indicated that dredging to this elevation would reduce the number of instances where vessels need to wait for an acceptable tide. The project does not propose new marine infrastructure or structural modifications to the existing wharf and berthing dolphins.

The proposed dredge footprint is approximately 1,500 m², with an estimated neat dredge volume of approximately 700 m³. Dredging would remove sediment to a target elevation of approximately -13.0 m CD, with the estimated dredge depth ranging from 0 to 1.9 m. The current design is at the permitting level and does not yet include side slopes or final dredging tolerances.

The dredging program would involve mobilization of marine-based equipment, mechanical dredging using a clamshell dredge mounted on a barge, temporary handling of dredged material, transportation of the material, and demobilization. Equipment is expected to include a clamshell dredge, barge, tugboats, and scows. No land-based heavy equipment is anticipated for the dredging operations.

Dredged material would be transported to an approved upland facility for treatment and disposal or placement. Disposal at sea is not proposed. Any required dewatering or stabilization would be undertaken in accordance with the Construction Environmental Management Plan and the requirements of the receiving facility.

The project is proposed to occur between November and December 2026, with dredging activities anticipated to take approximately one to two weeks. The work is proposed within the DFO least-risk timing window for Burrard Inlet of August 16 to February 28.

Environmental management measures will be implemented to address potential effects associated with sediment disturbance, turbidity, fish and fish habitat, underwater noise, and marine vessel operations.