This manned manoeuvring analysis was conducted at the request of Valero Energy and Petro-Nav Inc. as a supplement to a detailed risk assessment conducted in 2014 and a follow-up risk assessment conducted in July of 2019 by Intellection Consulting.

Valero Energy and Petro-Nav Inc. (PNI), a subsidiary of Groupe Desgagnés Inc. (GDI), created a joint venture to purchase and operate two Panamax tankers (Espada Desgagnés and Laurentia Desgagnés) in order to carry Canadian light crude oil, mainly from Valero’s East-Montreal section 105-106 terminal to Valero’s Port of Québec’s 86-87 terminal in Lévis. These tankers were adapted specifically for this operation, and their manoeuvrability was enhanced with the addition of a high lift rudder and dual tunnel bow thrusters. The purpose of the simulation was to validate or expand on the findings of the risk analysis with the participation of CPSLC pilots for specific manoeuvring scenarios at the East Montreal Terminal using a single ship assist tug. The analysis was administered by the MSRC, who provided an independent, non-biased perspective of the outcomes and findings.