Deep sea docking
As part of the 2018 Hydrographic and National Surveyors’ Conference, Ogden Point will welcome a special guest this month—the NOAA Fairweather, a research vessel operated by American scientific agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. She’s an example of the type of large vessel Ogden Point can accommodate outside of cruise season. Berths are 10 metres at low tide, the only deep sea berth in Greater Victoria.
While cruise ships dock at Ogden Point from April to October, the piers can be busy through the winter as well. Since the cruise season ended last October, 77 ships have spent time at Ogden Point, including vessels operated by BC Ferries and the US Coast Guard, yachts, cargo ships, and the cable-laying ship Cable Innovator, which has a long-term seasonal berth agreement. Currently docked at Ogden Point, the Canadian Coast Guard ship Sir John Franklin is being built by Seaspan and will eventually be used a study-aboard vessel.
**Please note that since the time of publication the NOAA Fairweather’s scheduled visit has been cancelled.Photo Credit: NOAA