File photo.
The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) is having to go to a back-up plan for its mooring dolphin extension at Ogden Point after a large-diameter pile shipment was lost at sea.
The GVHA says the incident happened in early December when the steel piling went overboard on its trip from China about 250 nautical miles from Vancouver.
The pile shipment for the mooring dolphin extension is intended to accommodate larger vessels in an upgrade at Victoria’s cruise ship terminal.
The GVHA says the lost load will result in construction delays, which were expected to be finished in time for the arrival of the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship, which would be the largest vessel to dock at Ogden Point.
GVHA CEO Ian Robertson said in a statement Thursday the authority is moving forward with a modified design using smaller diameter piles.
“GVHA has cost contingencies in place in case an event such as this occurred, as per industry practice,” Robertson said in a statement.
“We’ve been in touch with our partners, contractors, and suppliers to move forward with this new option.”
The loss of the piling is reportedly going to cost the authority three-to-four million dollars but is covered through a fee that is charged to cruise lines.
However, the time it will take to cover those costs will take eight years instead of seven.
The GVHA announced more than $6.8 million in joint funding toward a dolphin extension project at Pier B by more than 55 metres from its current 70-metre structure.
The federal government is contributing $1.9 million toward the project while the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority committed $4.9 million.
Robertson says the GVHA is working with Royal Caribbean International to safely welcome the Ovation of the Seas on its scheduled early-season arrival.
“The timing is delayed slightly, but we are working aggressively to catch up to be ready for the start of the 2019 cruise season,” Robertson said.
With files from the Times Colonist
CHEK News
