Duke Point Ferry Terminal

Nanaimo and Golden, British Columbia

The British Columbus Ferry Corporation awarded Vinmart Global the contract for its largest terminal upgrade in more than 25 years. This 11-month project valued at $11.8 million was constructed to relieve traffic congestion associated with ferry service from Tsawwassen to central Vancouver Island and serve as a catalyst for economic development within the surrounding communities.

Construction of the 137-metre-long trestle included separate land and water portions. The land portion used engineered 10-KIP shoring towers and was constructed in three stages due to access limitations. In an average water depth of 18 metres, the marine portion included the installation of 93 610-millimetre to 914-milimetre-diameter pipe piles inserted into 2.1-metre-deep rock sockets and anchored with 76 rock anchors, which reach an additional 9.1 metres into the ocean floor. The structural steel girder substructure was placed on this foundation while supporting the concrete deck and ramps.

The upper and lower loading ramps weighed 91 and 154 tonnes, respectively, and were floated into position during high tide and lowered into place by a crane during a six-hour low-tide window. The berth required construction of over 726 tonnes of structural steel, more than 3,000 cubic metres of concrete and in excess of 4,600 square metres of formwork. Additional quantities included placing more than 1,100 cubic metres of land concrete and 2,000 cubic metres of marine concrete.