Following the completion of Phase 1 of a multimodal handling terminal in the Sorel-Tracy IP zone, QSL management is preparing for Phase 2, which includes the construction and installation of a floating dock for ship unloading. The cargo from these vessels will be transported by conveyor to a warehouse or elsewhere, depending on the nature of the goods to be unloaded.

QSL commissioned the MSRC to conduct maneuvering simulations at this new dock to ensure their safety and to verify whether operations at the neighboring Kildair Services dock could continue unhindered. To this end, berthing and docking operations were carried out at both docks under varying environmental conditions, sometimes reaching operational limits.

For the purposes of this study, QSL provided the MSRC with the layout of this port structure, which was integrated into the site’s database for simulation purposes. Two experienced pilots from the Central St. Lawrence Pilots Corporation (CPSLC) performed the maneuvers required to validate the project.

For the purposes of this study, eighteen (18) maneuvers were performed by the pilots on the MSRC navigation simulator. These maneuvers were carried out under various conditions, and certain operational limitations were established. After each maneuver, the pilots’ observations, comments, and recommendations were collected and recorded in the report.