By Paul Morden, from www.theobserver.ca The Observer
Electrical service improvements launched in 2014 are set to continue at Sarnia Harbour.
“This year we plan on spending a quarter million dollars on electrical facilities in the North Slip,” said Peter Hungerford, Sarnia’s director of economic development and corporate planning.
That follows approximately $400,000 the city spent on capital, and related, projects after taking over ownership of the port from the federal government in March 2014.
At the time, the city received $8.5 million from Ottawa to aid in operation of the harbour.
The work in Sarnia comes as a Chamber of Marine Commerce says a study found more than $4.8 billion was spent on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence shipping system from 2009 to 2013, with another $2.3 billion committed through to 2018.
That includes money spent on new ships, modernized Seaway locks, and improvements to docks and equipment.
Hungerford said Sarnia has already renewed electrical facilities on Seaway Road, as well as upgrading street and security lighting there, and at the Government Dock.
An asbestos survey of harbour buildings has also been undertaken, “and there’s some minor remediation planned for this year,” Hungerford said.
An electrical service upgrading program for the port is scheduled to be completed in 2016, he said.
“Over a period of 2014, 2015 and 2016, we will have spent just shy of $1 million on our electrical infrastructure at the harbour,” Hungerford said.
“That will ensure vessels coming in that they have a secure supply of hydro.”
City officials were aware the improvements were needed when Sarnia took over the harbour, he said.
“The facility is in pretty good shape already, but we knew that some of the transformers were older than others.”
The harbour resells electricity to the ships that use the facility, providing the city operation with another source of revenue, Hungerford said.
Depending on the number of ships using the port, the city can earn $60,000 to $75,000 annually from electricity sales, he said.
Work planned this year also includes preparing for a dredging program in 2016.
“There will be various studies that will have to be undertaken and permits have to be applied for, with supporting information,” Hungerford said.
Because of the port’s location, silt carried in the river is deposited at the mouth of the harbour.
“We expect every five years or so, that we’ll have to do what we call maintenance dredging to ensure that we can maintain seaway depth for the ships that come in,” he said.
The federal money is also being used to offset daily operation costs at the port, Hungerford said.
Currently, there are two ships in the North Slip and four or five are expected to eventually winter there, he said.
Another ship is already at the Government Dock, where another two are expected.
A ship that had been at the Sidney Smith Wharf left to deliver a shipment of cargo, but it is expected back for the winter, along with a possible second ship.
There is also a ship at Mission Park.
Ice conditions have made travel on the St. Clair River a challenge in recent days, but the harbour is expecting between nine and 11 vessels over the winter, Hungerford said.
“I believe Cargill is hoping to take a ship or two this winter, as well,” he added. The Cargill dock is privately owned.
Ships that winter in the city often receive repairs, creating jobs for local companies and workers.
“Everyone’s trying to deliver their last load and get to a safe port for the winter,” Hungerford said.
“I believe we will have a fair number of ships here.”
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