Notice to Boaters
SAIL SAFE – SAIL INFORMED
Nanaimo Port Authority’s Harbour Master requests your continued use of all current references and publications for your safe and enjoyable boating experience.
Marina Reservations | VHF 67 | 250-754-5053 |
email reservation request form npa.ca/marina/marina-operations/reservation-process/
Upon arrival radio the wharfingers office at VHF 67 – All moorage is assigned.
NPA – COVID-19 Safety First – Safety Plan
Nanaimo Port Authority - COVID 19 Safety First Safety Plan
Nanaimo Port Authority (NPA) – COVID 19 Safety First Safety Plan
The NPA is committed to providing a safe workplace that protects people, property and the environment. The Port has taken extensive measures to ensure the health and well-being of employees, subcontractors, consultants, worksite visitors, clients and the public.
The NPA has consistently followed the guidelines issued by Transport Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Center for Disease Control for the Province of British Columbia.
We have developed and implemented a COVID-19 Safety Plan to safeguard our employees, the health of our employees’ families and the best interests of the NPA, our clients and stakeholders and the public.
When you visit an NPA facility you can be assured that the following measures are in place to safeguard everyone:
• Extensive signage at the entrance to all NPA facilities advising everyone of limits on number of personnel allowed in the facility, the need for everyone to wear a mask if they are going to enter the facility and guidelines for everyone to follow if they are experiencing any symptoms or feeling unwell.
• The Wharfinger office has a 2 m plexiglass barrier at the front counter, entrance to the office is restricted to 2 customers. All touchpads, copiers and phones are cleaned regularly during the day.
• All NPA personnel have their temperature taken and recorded before they start work everyday and advised to not come to work if they are feeling unwell or are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19.
• The NPA has measures in place to assist any employee who may have been exposed to a positive or suspected case.
• The NPA has measures in place to assist the appropriate Government agencies if an employee is required to participate in contact tracing.
• All NPA personnel wear non-medical masks when they are dealing with members of the public.
• Any facility that is accessible to the public is cleaned and sanitized on an enhanced schedule.
• All NPA personnel receive updates from Transport Canada, The Public Health of Agency of Canada and the Center for Disease Control for the Province of British Columbia as they become available.
• The NPA’s COVID-19 Safety Plan, Risk Assessment for Infectious Diseases and relevant Safe Work Procedures are regularly reviewed and revised as required to meet all appropriate standards.
• Updated November 27-2020
Ferry Landings
694 (Page 3-53) Large, fast, passenger and vehicle ferries on regular schedules (BC FERRIES) between Departure Bay and Horseshoe Bay, in Howe Sound, and Duke Point and Tsawwassen generally use Rainbow or Fairway Channels.
A freight ferry (SEASPAN) operating between Nanaimo and Fraser River generally uses Fairway Channel and the Gabriola Ferry
(BC FERRIES) operates from Meakin Channel northeast of the Nanaimo Assembly Wharves to Decanso Bay at Gabriola Island.
809 (Page 3-60) CAUTION. (Nanaimo Harbour) A FREIGHT (SEASPAN) FERRY AND (BC FERRIES) VEHICLE AND PASSENGER FERRY TO GABRIOLA ISLAND operate from the ferry landings NW of the Nanaimo Port Authority Assembly Wharves. These vessels are restricted in their ability to maneuver near Gallows Point 797 (Page 3-59)
Picture Bottom (Page 3-62) THE BC MAINLAND (BC FERRIES) VEHICLE AND PASSENGER FERRY operate from ferry landings in Departure Bay at the North end of Newcastle Channel.
Water Aerodome
807 (Page 3-59) CAUTION. WATER AERODROME (AREA A). Nanaimo Harbour, south of Newcastle Island and west of Protection Island, is a water aerodrome. The terminal is at the north end of the Commercial Inlet - 815 (Page 3-61). No ship shall anchor within a designated water aerodrome.
808 (Page 3-60) An AERONAUTICAL STROBE LIGHT activated by the aircraft to alert mariners of aircraft landing or taking off is on the central breakwater (occasional) at entrance of the Commercial Inlet. Chart 3447
CAUTION WATER AERODROME (AREA B). Departure Bay west of Newcastle Island, is a water aerodrome. The terminal is at the north end of the Newcastle Channel Passage - 825 (Page 3-61). No ship shall anchor within a designated water aerodrome.
An AERONAUTICAL STROBE LIGHT activated by the aircraft to alert mariners of aircraft landing or taking off is on the Aero Beacon (occasional) on Shaft Point at the north exit of the Newcastle Channel Passage and the south entrance to Departure Bay. Chart 3447
815 (PAGE 3-61) COMMERCIAL INLET, is a small craft basin operated by the Nanaimo Port Authority. Contact with the Nanaimo Wharfinger’s Office can be made on VHF 67 for general information and berth allocation within the basin. The seaplane terminal is at the north end of the Commercial Inlet. The entrance SOUTH of the 50 m long central breakwater 818 (Page 3-61) is used for vessels and on the NORTH end for exclusive use by seaplanes.
False Narrows
756 (Page 3-56) CAUTION. FALSE NARROWS, leads from Pylades Channel to 764 - Percy Anchorage and Northumberland Channel. It is suitable only for boats and small craft: local knowledge is advised. The navigable channel, with depths of 0.9 to 1.5 m, leads north of a long narrow drying ledge near the middle of the passage. Kelp grows profusely in the narrows, during summer and autumn, and is an additional source of danger.
762 (Page 3-56) Caution A SUBMARINE CABLE crosses False Narrows in a NE direction from close west of the West Range.
764 PERCY ANCHORAGE, at the west end of False Narrow, is a convenient place to anchor to wait for slack water in Dodd and False Narrows.
Dodds Narrows
767 (Page 3-57) CAUTION. DODD NARROWS, separated from False Narrows by Mudge Island, connects Stuart Channel with Northumberland Channel. It is used mainly by tugs, barges and logbooms because of the narrowness of the channel and the velocity of tidal streams. When the tidal stream is running at strength tide-rips formed by the stream and its counterflow, occur off the entrance on the flood, and in the vicinity of the overhead cable on the ebb. No attempt should be made to alter course out of the main steam until clear of this turbulence. Gradual disappearance of these rip-tides is an indication of slackening in the tidal stream. Slack tide is the optimum time to pass through.
771 (Page 3-57) Caution OVERHEAD CABLE (power), with a vertical clearance of 37m, crosses Dodd Narrows about 0.2 mile south of Purvis Point 772 ( Page 3-57)
Satellite Reef
797 (Page 3-59) CAUTION. SATELLITE REEF, 0.4 mile NW of Gallows Point 797, dries 0.7m. 806 (Page 3-59) A BOOMING GROUND with mooring buoys lies between Protection Island and Satellite Reef.
Nanaimo Estuary
CAUTION. The NANAIMO RIVER ESTUARY is southeast of the Nanaimo Assembly Wharf and southwest of Jack Point 791/792 (Page 3-58). It is in an active booming ground and dries @ 1.2 meters (3.93 feet).
WHARVES 833 (Page 3-61) Nanaimo Assembly Wharf
Refer to photo (Page 3–62) Nanaimo Assembly Wharf
Passage Rock
830 CAUTION. PASSAGE ROCK, close north of Oregon Rock, has 0.1 m over it and is marked by a day beacon with a port hand daymark. Vessels should not pass between these markers as the channel lies to the east side, off the Newcastle Island shore. Mariners should pass between buoys “P13” and “P14” plus between the daybeacon and “P16” to safely transit this area.
Oregon Rock
830.1 CAUTION. – Many vessels have struck OREGON ROCK. The safe Channel through Newcastle Island Passage is east of Oregon Rock, between Oregon Rock and Newcastle Island. Starboard hand buoy “P14” has been deployed on the east (Newcastle Island), side of the passage. Mariners should pass between buoys “P13” and “P14” to safely transit this area.
PDF References of above notices.
- Ferry Landings (Updated: January 16, 2019)
- Water Aerodrome (Updated: January 16, 2019)
- False Narrows (Updated: January 16, 2019)
- Dodd Narrows (Updated: January 16, 2019)
- Satellite Reef (Updated: January 16, 2019)
- Nanaimo River Estuary (Updated: January 16, 2019)
- Passage Rock (Updated: January 16, 2019)
- Oregon Rock (Updated: January 16, 2019)