Esquimalt Graving Dock: Detailed project information

Waterlot remediation project

In December 2016, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) completed the second phase of the waterlot remediation project. In August 2015, PSPC awarded MNQM Contracting Ltd. a $26.4-million contract to carry out the work. The successful bidder was a partnership between the Malahat Nation and Quantum Murray. The total project cost for Phase 2 was $36.2 million.

The project was undertaken as part of the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan, funded by Environment Canada.

The work included:

• re-driving the existing containment wall, which goes around the perimeter of the south jetty
• designing and installing a temporary barrier around the perimeter to prevent sediment settled on the bottom of the harbour from redistributing into the recently remediated open waterlot
• dredging the contaminated materials
• placing a specially engineered capping on the seabed
• removing the containment wall

This phase completes five years of work on the waterlot remediation project, which remediated the entire waterlot of the Esquimalt Graving Dock from contamination accumulated from almost 100 years of ship repair activities.

The entire cost to remediate the Esquimalt Graving Dock waterlot was $99.5 million.

High- and low-voltage electrical project at the south substation

On August 11, 2015, PSPC awarded Brunnell Construction Ltd. a $2.65 million contract to replace obsolete underground high-voltage (12.5 kilovolts) transmission lines and ductwork. The project was completed in February 2017.

This project will ensure an essential electrical supply is available at the Esquimalt Graving Dock’s south side electrical substation.

The total cost of the project was $6.7 million.

Project to replace electrical supply on north landing wharf

On February 9, 2016, PSPC awarded Brunnell Construction Ltd. a $2.7 million contract to replace the obsolete underground high- and low-voltage (12.5 kilovolts) electrical cabling and ductwork on the north landing wharf. The project was completed in February 2017.

This project will ensure an essential electrical supply is available at the north landing wharf electrical substation. 

The total cost of this project was $5.2 million.

Project to replace electrical equipment in the service entrance substation and replace the pump house substation

On September 24, 2015, PSPC awarded Scansa Construction Ltd. a $17.5 million contract to replace obsolete electrical equipment in a new purpose-built substation. The project will be completed by March 2017. This project was funded by Budget 2016. The total cost of this project was $22.8 million.

The high- and low-voltage electrical distribution equipment at the service entrance and in the pump house was at the end of its useful life. This project eliminated the risk of failing equipment. If the old systems had failed, there would have been disruptions in the electrical supply, affecting facility operations. Replacing the equipment ensures that the Esquimalt Graving Dock has a modern pump house electrical system, a reliable and efficient main service entrance distribution centre and new ductworks.

Project to refurbish three main dewatering pumps in the main pump house

On September 22, 2015, PSPC awarded Summit Mechanical Systems Ltd. a $4.2 million contract to refurbish the three main pumps and motors that control the level of water within the dry dock. The work is expected to be completed by October 2017.

This project is vital to the operations of the facility. Without reliable pumps, PSPC could not flood or remove water from the dry dock, which is essential to allow vessels in and out of the dry dock.

Project to replace electrical switchgear in south substation

On April 6, 2016, PSPC awarded Scansa Construction Ltd. a $12.8 million contract to replace the electrical switchgear in the south substation. The project is expected to be completed by July 2017.

The high- and low-voltage electrical distribution equipment at the south substation is at the end of its useful life. This project will replace the old electrical equipment in a purpose-built, code-compliant substation.

Upcoming projects

In the coming months, PSPC will announce tenders for the south jetty reconstruction and two new electrical substations, completing the electrical infrastructure renewal for the Esquimalt Graving Dock, as well as the replacement of the main electrical transmission line connecting the dock to the BC Hydro substation in Esquimalt. These funds were allocated in Budget 2016.

These four projects are anticipated to be an additional $100-million investment in the facility.

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