Fraser Pilot

by Alan Haig-Brown

TIDE & CURRENT—Still farther down, the river broadens and slows as it meets the stronger tidal surge from the Gulf of Georgia. This slowing reduces its carrying capacity and causes a rapid release of silt in an area known as the Steveston Cut. Dredging aims to keep this stretch of the ship channel at 31 feet, 9 inches of depth on a zero tide. At the same tide level, a 31-foot, 2-inch dredged depth is maintained at the Sandheads where the river channel begins. With almost daily tides of 10 to 13 feet, this provides a window each day that allows for up to 38-foot draft ships to enter the river on the tide while maintaining a 4-foot safety factor between their bottoms and the river bottom. Farther up, where the tidal assist is lessened, the dredged depths are maintained to accommodate the 38-foot draft ships with a minimum of a 3-foot safety factor and a diminishing tidal assist.

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