The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VPFA) has announced a new requirement “to proactively manage the risk of vessel strikes to the Lions Gate Bridge.” This latest regulation, which will come into effect on February 18, 2025, will require Tier 1 vessels with specific forward draft and tidal height combinations to have a tethered tug escort when transiting westbound and out through the First Narrows Traffic Control Zone (TCZ-1).

Per the VFPA’s Notice to Industry in late January, they have conducted a risk analysis via a desktop simulation to examine the possibility of a vessel strike with the south tower of the Lions Gate Bridge which spans the TCZ-1. This analysis identified the higher probability of an incident when vessels navigate the area in a westbound direction at higher stages of the tide in combination with shallow drafts.

Basically this will apply to any Tier 1 vessel with a forward draft of less than 8.0m when departing Vancouver’s Inner Harbour (and the vast majority of Vancouver’s terminal) during certain tides while shifting out to anchorage or departing for sea. The good news is that virtually any vessel even partly loaded with a small amount of cargo, will most likely be too deep for the requirement of a tethered tug escort (and the corresponding port cost increase of about CD$4,000). Vessels transiting eastbound into the inner harbour do not fall under this requirement.

Please see here for the VPFA’s full Notice to Industry and here for the risk assessment.