This study was conducted by the Maritime Simulation and Resource Centre (MSRC) and served to verify the findings of the previous TERMPOL report to determine if any modifications were required to the recommendations for minimum tug requirements and environmental limits of the previous analysis. Because the general transit route and environmental conditions remain unchanged, it was deemed unnecessary to revisit the tug escort run scenarios from the previous study. As such, the analysis consisted in conducting/repeating a select number of berthing and unberthing runs from the 2015 study to determine if there was any significant difference in the degree of manoeuvring control that was experienced, or the amount of tug force that needed to be applied.

This new report will also serve as a reference benchmark for the manned simulation analysis (Full Mission Bridge Simulation) that is required as part of the combined Pacific Pilotage Authority (PPA) and British Columbia Coast Pilots (BCCP) navigation risk assessment process. This desktop assessment is in no way intended to replace or reduce any of the requirements of the joint PPA/BCCP risk assessment process, but rather to identify parameters that appear to provide a safe level of navigational control of the vessels calling at WLNG, and a starting point for the final risk assessment process.