Quebec City, Quebec, Canada – April 3, 2019 – The Maritime Simulation and Resource Centre (MSRC) is pleased to announce that it has played a key role for the Énergie Saguenay project, spearheaded by GNL Québec, for the construction of a natural gas liquefaction complex at Port Saguenay. The LNG complex will be installed on lands belonging to the Administration portuaire de Saguenay (Saguenay Port Authority), adjacent to the existing Grande-Anse port facilities.

The project includes liquefaction equipment, storage facilities, and marine shipping infrastructures, which is where the MSRC’s simulator comes into play. The purpose of the simulation analysis, which was carried out at the request of GNL Québec and Bechtel, is twofold: to scrutinize the dock design and to assess the transit requirements of the Saguenay River. The study helped determine how planned vessel movements can be conducted with safe manoeuvring.

“Although such vessels have never previously transited the Saguenay,” noted Paul Racicot, Director of the MSRC, “pilots from the Corporation of Lower St. Lawrence Pilots (CLSLP) have many years of experience transiting large bulk carriers and cruise ships within the region and have a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic environmental phenomena and physical constraints which factor into the overall vessel manoeuvring equation.”

“Simulation allows us to evaluate manoeuvres that will be carried out in this channel, specifically at the mouth of the Saguenay,” commented Énergie Saguenay’s Director of Environment Caroline Hardy. “This is extremely beneficial. Understanding the capabilities and abilities of LNG vessels in various current, tide and meteorological conditions were a key take-away from these simulations and makes our jobs safer and easier.”

“The working environment and state-of-the-art simulators combined with the pilots’ expertise were conducive to getting all the answers we were looking for,” said Chris Thomas, Senior Maritime Coastal Engineer at Bechtel.

ABOUT GNL QUÉBEC

GNL Québec is a Quebec-based project development, construction and operations company led by an experienced team, supported by major investors with international expertise in LNG development projects. Through an innovative facility, GNL Québec intends to meet the growing global energy demand by transforming, in Quebec, an affordable and environmentally responsible energy source. This will be achieved by collaborating with communities and our partners and leveraging Quebec’s unique expertise. Further information about the Project is available in the “Documentation” section of their website at www.energiesaguenay.com/en/.

ABOUT BECHTEL

Since 1898, Bechtel has been a trusted partner of industry and governments worldwide, helping them deliver more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents. Bechtel serves the Infrastructure; Nuclear, Security & Environmental; Oil, Gas & Chemicals; and Mining & Metals markets. Their services span from initial planning and investment, through start-up and operations. To learn more, visit their website at https://www.bechtel.com/.

ABOUT THE MSRC

Founded in 2005 by the Corporation of Lower St. Lawrence Pilots, the MSRC is a world-class facility created, designed, owned and operated by working marine pilots. The MSRC provides a complete range of courses to meet pilot training needs and requirements and currently serves all four Canadian pilotage authorities, which regroups 100% of Canadian pilots. The MSRC also offers tailored training to pilots from the United States and South America, among others. With its four fully instrumented navigation bridges, the MSRC has the capability to provide interactive scenarios with manned tug and large vessel simulations, including Post-Panamax ships, which allow pilots to practise their manoeuvring techniques and enhance their skills.

In-house capabilities for building pilot-grade ship models (over 100 ship models) and customized geographic databases enables port development stakeholders worldwide to take an active part in determining risk mitigation and validation of new and existing infrastructure upgrades. Visit our website at: www.sim-pilot.com.