Centerm’s expansion project team requested the services of the Maritime Simulation and Resource Centre (MSRC) to assess the navigational impact that an extension of the West-Northwest corner of Centerm dock might have with both Panamax and Ultra-Large cruise vessels berthing and unberthing from Canada Place East Dock.

The study was conducted on the MSRC’s Class “A”, DNV-approved, full mission simulator. All manoeuvres were conducted by experienced British Columbia Coast Pilots.

MSRC’s own database development team modified their high-fidelity 3D geographical area model to include the new dock and the proposed bottom dredging work.

Dynamic water flow predictions, including the vertical height of tide as well as current direction and velocity values (at 9 different horizontal depth levels and a 25-metre grid spacing) were used to factor the effect of the new Centerm dock structure on water flow.