Transport Canada Divested Wharves Renovation Project

(Still With Dates… Just Slightly Different Ones)

If you’ve been following along, you’ll know we recently shared what we hoped were “the” dates. As it turns out, marine construction still had a few edits to make.

The Strathcona Regional District would like to provide an update on the wharf improvements currently underway at Port Neville, Owen Bay, and Surge Narrows.

The contractor, Pacific Industrial & Marine Ltd. (PIM), has advised that there has been a delay in the project schedule due to mechanical issues with one of their key pieces of equipment. As a result, the start of work at Port Neville has been delayed by approximately one week. As the work at each site is being completed sequentially, this delay will carry through to the remaining locations.

Work at Port Neville is now expected to begin shortly. Based on the updated sequence of work, Owen Bay is anticipated to follow in early to mid-April, with Surge Narrows expected to begin mid- to late April, extending into early May. As always, dates remain subject to weather, tides, and contractor progress.

The overall scope of work remains unchanged, and with these installations underway, the project is moving into its final stages.

Contractor Update (PIM)
Pacific Industrial Marine Ltd. regretfully acknowledges a delay in our posted schedule for the works at Port Neville, Owen Bay and Surge Narrows. We had a serious engine problem with our Derrick (PT#1) barge because of the Cortes/Quadra Island works and have had to delay the start at Port Neville by a week. This initial delay will affect all sites as they are being completed sequentially. PIM will provide weekly updates to the SRD on Fridays.

PIM has indicated that the equipment issue has now been addressed and that work will proceed as scheduled moving forward. The contractor will also be providing weekly progress updates to the SRD.

We know the schedule has shifted (more than) a few times and appreciate everyone’s flexibility as the contractor works through the realities of marine construction.

Updates will be shared as they are provided by PIM as work progresses across the remaining sites—fingers crossed everything runs a little smoother from here.

(Yes… Another One — Now With Actual Dates!)

If you’ve been following along, you’ll know the schedule for these works has moved around a bit over the past few months. Marine construction has a way of doing that — tides, weather, equipment, and contractor logistics all have a say in the timing.

The good news is that the contractor has now confirmed the next sequence of work, and we’re cautiously optimistic these dates will hold. (Marine projects always keep us humble.)

The overall scope of work remains unchanged, and with these installations underway we are entering the final stages of the wharf improvements.

As always, dates remain subject to change, but here’s what we expect to see next.

Updated Construction Activities 

Port Neville

• Approach works: Complete
• Float replacement: Beginning March 30

 Owen Bay

• Approach works: Complete
• Float replacement: Beginning April 6

 Surge Narrows

• Approach works: Beginning April 13
• Float replacement: April 20 – April 24
• Removal of old pilings from the Surge Narrows Marine Revitalization Project:
  April 27 – May 1

Thank you for your continued patience as these important wharf improvements move forward. We know the schedule has shifted a few times, and we appreciate everyone’s flexibility as the contractor works through the realities of marine construction.

We’ll continue to share updates if anything changes — though we’re hopeful this will carry us through the remaining work.

Since our January update, the project schedule has shifted again.

The revised timing is primarily related to the contractor coordinating these works alongside other marine construction projects currently underway. The SRD received very competitive pricing for this project as a result of those efficiencies and shared mobilization. While this approach provides strong value to the community, it does require some flexibility in sequencing and scheduling.

The overall scope of work remains unchanged.

All dates below remain subject to change. We will continue refining and confirming specific dates as they are finalized.

Updated Construction Activities (Anticipated)

Surge Narrows

• Approach works: Beginning early March (exact dates to be confirmed)
• Float installation: Early April (exact date to be confirmed)

Owen Bay

• Approach works: Complete
• Float installation: Late March (exact date to be confirmed)

Port Neville

• Approach works: Complete
• Float installation: Late March (exact date to be confirmed)

Updated dates will be shared as soon as they are confirmed.

We appreciate the community’s continued patience and understanding as we coordinate these important wharf improvements. Providing cost-effective delivery while working within marine construction windows requires some flexibility, and we will continue to communicate schedule refinements as soon as they are available.

Since the January 5 update, the project schedule for the approach repair works has shifted. Repairs at Owen Bay took longer than anticipated and are now expected to be completed this week. Additionally, the start of approach repairs at Surge Narrows has been adjusted and is now anticipated to begin on February 23, 2026.

Vessel Management During Float Replacement

The SRD has received questions from the community regarding vessel management during the upcoming float replacement, which is still anticipated to occur in late February through March. Updated dates will be shared as soon as they become available.

Residents are strongly encouraged to arrange for their vessels to be removed from the float prior to the day work is scheduled to begin.

To maintain mooring capacity during the transition, Pacific Industrial Marine (PIM) will remove the piles and temporarily anchor the existing float to their barge. Keeping the float clear of vessels will help streamline this work and allow vessel owners to safely manage their own property.

Once the float is anchored to the barge, residents who have no alternative mooring options may moor their vessels to the float during the construction period.

Please note that there will be no land (terrestrial) access to the existing float while it is anchored to the barge. The contractor will ensure that emergency access can be accommodated if required. For all non-emergency needs, residents will need to access their vessels from the water.

Revised Construction Activities

• Owen Bay
  • Decking and test piles: January 6–14
    • Float installation: After February 20 (exact date to be confirmed)
• Surge Narrows
  • Approach works, demolition, and test piles: anticipated February 23–27 (exact dates to be confirmed)
    • Float installation: After February 20 (exact date to be confirmed)
• Port Neville
  • Approach works: complete Float installation: 
  • After February 20 (exact date to be confirmed)

Float installations will be completed sequentially following float delivery, with the most likely order being Surge Narrows, Owen Bay, and then Port Neville.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through these scheduling adjustments and continue delivering these important wharf improvements. Further updates will be provided if timelines change.

Since our November 27 update, the project schedule has shifted further due to changes in float supply timelines from the flotation supplier. These revised delivery dates directly affect the timing and sequencing of float installations at all three wharf locations. The overall scope of work remains unchanged.

Revised Construction Activities

• Owen Bay
  • Decking and test piles: January 6–9
  • Float installation: After February 20 (exact date to be confirmed)
• Surge Narrows
  • Approach works, demolition, and test piles: January 13–23
  • Float installation: After February 20 (exact date to be confirmed)
• Port Neville
  • Approach works: Complete

Float installation: After February 20 (exact date to be confirmed)
Float installations will be completed sequentially following float delivery, with the most likely order being Surge Narrows, Owen Bay, and then Port Neville.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through these scheduling adjustments and continue delivering these important wharf improvements. Further updates will be provided if timelines change.

Mobilization to Owen Bay for the approach works has been rescheduled to December 15th. This adjustment, combined with the planned construction pause over the holiday period (December 22 to January 2), has resulted in a modest shift to the overall project timeline. The sequence of work remains unchanged.

Updated Schedule (Approximate)

• Owen Bay
  • Approach Work: Mid December
  • Float Installation: Early January
• Surge Narrows
  • Approach Work: Mid January
  • Float Installation: Late January
• Port Neville
  • Float Installation: Early February

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we deliver these important wharf improvements. We will continue to share updates should further adjustments be required.

Wharf improvement work at Owen Bay, Port Neville, and Surge Narrows is now underway. Pacific Industrial Marine has mobilized to Port Neville and begun work on the wharf approach. This phase is expected to take approximately 10 days to complete. The crew will then depart for Owen Bay before returning to Port Neville in late January to replace the float.

Construction at Owen Bay is scheduled to begin the week of November 27, starting with approach work and followed by float replacement in early December. Work at this site is expected to be completed before the holidays. Construction at Surge Narrows will begin in the early new year.

Required Actions for Users

To prepare for on-site work at all wharf locations:

• Remove all personal belongings from the floats and approaches
• Remove all vessels from the floats prior to construction
• Report any abandoned or derelict vessels to the SRD

Please respect the contractors on site and the work they are hired to complete.

These improvements will support safer, more reliable marine access for the community. Updated timelines will be posted as they become available.

Since May 2025, SRD staff have been working closely with the contractor, marine engineers, and environmental consultants to review and incorporate community feedback received during the tendering process. 

Several design changes have been made as a result, including:

• transitioning all floats to DFO-style timber construction,
• adding a longer gangway at Surge Narrows to improve access at low tide,
• making minor adjustments to the float location at Owen Bay, and
• relocating piles inside the float extensions at Owen Bay to increase available moorage space.

Fabrication of materials is now well underway. All lumber has been ordered, cut to size, treated, and delivered to the contractor's yard. Gangway fabrication is in progress, most shop drawings have been reviewed, and the Construction Environmental Monitoring Plans are being finalized.

SRD staff have also begun informing local communities of the upcoming on-site construction schedule.

The following dates are preliminary and may change due to weather or other influencing factors. Updates will be posted here as they become available.

E-subscribe to receive updates on all Area C Projects and Initiatives

Image

Once upgrades are complete, Surge Narrows and Owen Bay wharves will transfer to the Area C Parks Service for ongoing operation and maintenance.

The Port Neville wharf will be divested to the Tlowitsis First Nation, supporting continued access to their unceded territory and advancing the SRD Board's commitment to good governance and meaningful collaboration with First Nations.

The wharves were divested to the SRD by Transport Canada in 2014. Before repairs could begin, the SRD needed to establish a long-term plan for ownership, funding, and maintenance.

Efforts to create a dedicated Wharves Service in 2023 were not successful. In 2024, with support from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and the SRD Board of Directors, the Owen Bay and Surge Narrows facilities were placed within the Area C Parks Service, and an agreement was reached with the Tlowitsis First Nation to assume ownership of the Port Neville Wharf once repairs are complete.

With these plans in place, the SRD proceeded to tender the work and award the construction contract to the lowest qualified bidder.

Construction is scheduled to begin in November 2025 and conclude by March 2026.

The contract with Pacific Industrial & Marine Ltd. (PIM) includes a completion deadline of March 2026, but the current schedule anticipates work finishing earlier if conditions allow.

Wharf construction is highly dependent on tides, weather, and the availability of marine equipment and crews. While the SRD and the contractor will make every effort to keep the community informed, exact dates may change with limited notice.

Community members are encouraged to make plans in advance to help manage their vessels while floats are being replaced or relocated. The SRD recognizes this work may cause temporary inconvenience and sincerely appreciates the community's patience, understanding, and cooperation as these essential repairs are completed.

Refer to the schedule above for location-specific timelines, or E-subscribe to receive updates on all Area C Projects and Initiatives.

Temporary closures may be required for safety reasons. The SRD and Pacific Industrial & Marine Ltd. (PIM) will try to maintain access where it is safe and practical to do so, but there may be periods when full access is not possible.

SRD staff will work closely with local user groups to support essential activities such as post office operations and scheduled doctor or teacher visits at Surge Narrows.

The SRD and PIM are developing a plan to maintain limited moorage while floats are being replaced. During this time, residents and visitors may need to use a small boat to reach the floats, as they will not be connected to the approaches or piers.

While approach work is underway, access to the floats may be restricted or intermittent depending on site conditions. The SRD appreciates the community's patience, respect, and cooperation during construction, and will communicate updates as early as possible to help residents plan around any disruptions,

Owen Bay – Issued for Construction (IFC) Drawings

• Replacement of worn or damaged decking, handrails, piles, and floats.
• Installation of mini-mesh composite decking for improved durability and safety.
• Wharf expansion funded through Area C Community Works (Gas Tax) to reduce vessel congestion and improve safety with float extensions designed to maintain barge access.
• Float location adjusted to improve water depth at low tide.

Updated since the IFC drawings were issued:

• Pile positions relocated inside the float extensions to increase available moorage.
• Revision to DFO-style timber float construction (all sites)
• Floats will include safety ladders for emergency egress (all sites)

Surge Narrows – Issued for Construction (IFC) Drawings

• Replacement of worn or damaged decking, handrails, piles, and floats.
• Installation of mini-mesh composite decking for improved durability and safety.
• Simplification of the post-office building, as postal services are expected to relocate to the Surge Narrows Store as part of the upcoming Surge Narrows Marine Revitalization
• Improvements to the float plane landing

Updated since the IFC drawings were issued:

• Addition of a longer 15.2m gangway to reduce the slope at low tide, and adjustment of post office on structure on the float to avoid conflict with the elongated gangway.
• Revision to DFO-style timber float construction (all sites)
• Floats will include safety ladders for emergency egress (all sites)

Port Neville – Issued for Construction (IFC) Drawings

• Replacement of worn or damaged decking, handrails, piles, and floats.
• Installation of mini-mesh composite decking for improved durability and safety.
• Pier head reduced in size due to failing piles and funding limitations. Reduction allows for new, longer, 15.2m gangway that will improve the angle of the ramp at low tide.

Updated since the IFC drawings were issued:

• Revision to DFO-style timber float construction (all sites)
• Floats will include safety ladders for emergency egress (all sites)

The majority of project costs are funded through Transport Canada's divestiture agreements.
The float expansion at Owen Bay is funded through Area C Gas Tax / Community Works Funding.

Project Budget: $2.7 million