Overview
Based on our design originally developed for the Vancouver Olympics, the Aquatic Centre dock functions as a ferry and public access dock. With the assembly of multiple floating platforms and gangways, the dock is wheelchair accessible no matter the tide. The dock system consist of four gangways, three floating platforms, and the ferry dock. The use of modern materials and building techniques allows the dock system to have a design life of 75 years.
Existing Dock
The existing dock had been built and maintained by False Creek Ferries for the previous 40 years. It was decided by the City of Vancouver to replace the ageing structure with one more modern and that would have the same wheelchair accessibility of other ferry docks in False Creek. Removal of the old dock, gangway and riprap pier was straightforward. All components were removed with the help of Blue Water’s crane barge Rig 8 and a sectional barge.
Design & Fabrication
Blue Water Systems design-built the Aquatic Centre Dock. We based it off of existing structures we had made such as the ferry docks David Lam, SE Village Dock and the Granville Island Ferry Dock. The dock system is designed not to exceed a 12% incline to allow for wheelchair accessibility. We achieved this by limiting the elevation difference between the floating platforms. This was done with pile clamps. When the tide is low enough, the floating platforms sit on these pile clamps. This sets the maximum grade between the platforms. HDPE was used instead of epoxy to protect the steel piles from corrosion. Not only does HDPE not fade (making it look nicer), it doesn’t chip and has a longer lifespan.
Installation
The Aquatic Centre Dock was installed using Blue Water Systems Rig 8. The installation consisted of 21 steel piles. All piles were drilled. The structure was assembled in sections allowing for the internal pile hoops to act as a template for where to drill the piles. Once the piles were drilled into place, HDPE sleeves were vibrated over top for corrosion protection and the pile clamps were installed. The fixed platforms were lowered over top of the piles and the gangways were installed to connect the system together. All the lights were installed at this point. After that the dock was ready to open.
Drilling
During a test pile program, Blue Water determined that all the pile would need to be drilled, not driven. This introduced a great deal of complexity to the installation as the tolerances for the position of most of the piles was +- 1in. Using Blue Water’s drilling equipment, Rig 8 successfully drilled all 21 16” piles with 2m of rock socket. It required extensive prep work for each pile to ensure that it stayed in place while advancing through the riprap.
