Designed to safeguard the pristine waters along the West Coast of Canada
The K.J. Gardner project marked a transformation of an offshore support vessel into an oil spill response vessel, purposely designed to safeguard the pristine waters along the West Coast of Canada. This conversion stands as a commitment to environmental protection and rapid-response readiness.The project consisted of two key components: the conversion of the K.J. Gardner, a high-capacity spill response vessel, and the development of the Beecher Bay floating emergency response base, a new floating structure that would serve as a home base for rapid response operations.
Challenge
The primary challenge was twofold: modifying an existing offshore support vessel into Canada’s most advanced spill response asset and designing a docking facility that could effectively support the vessel and its escort tugs. The refit had to integrate cutting-edge spill response technology, including advanced skimming and containment systems, while ensuring the vessel maintained its towing and emergency response capabilities. The Beecher Bay floating emergency response base needed to berth the KJ Gardner along with two support tugs while minimizing the impact on the area’s marine and land infrastructure. The location provides strategic support in a geographically significant location within the Sc’ianew First Nation’s territory. The project also had to align with rigorous environmental and operational regulations while supporting Indigenous training and employment initiatives.
Solution
Allswater played a critical role in delivering innovative marine engineering solutions for both the K.J. Gardner refit and the Beecher Bay facility. For the vessel, Allswater provided engineering expertise to integrate all spill response equipment, including a Vikoma offshore containment boom, a Triton 150 skimming system, and a Current Buster Six sweep system. These systems enabled the vessel to rapidly contain and recover oil spills with significantly reduced response times. The ship’s dynamic positioning (DP Class 2) capabilities were further optimized to ensure stability during spill response operations.
For the Beecher Bay floating emergency response facility, Allswater led the design of an existing barge into a functioning docking facility for the vessels and base for future emergency response operations. This facility was strategically designed to accommodate the K.J. Gardner and its supporting escort tugs while enhancing the resilience of Cheanuh Marina’s commercial activities. The engineering team worked closely with the Sc’ianew First Nation to ensure the design aligned with both operational requirements and community priorities.
Results
The successful completion of the K.J. Gardner project has significantly strengthened Canada’s oil spill response infrastructure. The vessel, now the largest spill response ship in the country, has cut response times from the industry-standard 36-72 hours down to as little as six hours in critical shipping lanes. The Beecher Bay emergency response facility provides a home for the new oil response vessel and ensures that emergency assets are strategically positioned for rapid deployment, further minimizing environmental impact in the event of an oil spill.
Beyond its technical and operational successes, the project has also created meaningful employment opportunities within the Sc’ianew First Nation, supporting Indigenous marine cadet training and fostering long-term collaboration with KOTUG Canada. The integration of Graphite Innovation & Technologies’ non-toxic hull coating on all KOTUG Canada vessels demonstrates a commitment to reducing underwater radiated noise and protecting marine ecosystems.
Through Allswater’s expertise in ship design and marine engineering, the K.J. Gardner project exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to environmental protection, Indigenous collaboration, and cutting-edge marine response capabilities.