Safe Simulations for Smarter Marine Planning

PSTAR is regularly used to determine the feasibility of marine projects in a safe digital environment, without any real-world risk. Simulation analysis has become a standard practice within the maritime industry – especially on the west coast – for new terminal developments, existing terminal expansions or modifications, or whenever a significant change is proposed to maritime navigation practices. Simulation allows a project proponent to develop safe environmental operating parameters, test engineering design elements, and establish tug assist procedures early on in the project development process.

Cedar LNG

Berthing Simulations

CLIENT: Berthing Simulations

Simulations consisted of a series of approaches, departures, and emergency scenarios at the floating LNG facility, with worsening weather conditions, in order to help gauge tug packages, weather limits, and any other unforeseen issues. The berth is a unique floating LNG storage tank, moored to seabed anchors, which had to be modeled to ensure physical and hydrodynamic interactions would be authentic.

Ultra-Large Container Vessels

Berthing Simulations

CLIENT: Port of Vancouver

The client was interested in finding out if Ultra-Large Container Vessels (over 350m LOA) could regularly call at container terminals in the Inner Harbour, and what the weather limits and berthing tug requirements would be. The simulations involved approaches, berthings, and departures in various weather conditions to determine a tug package and weather limit matrix.

LNG Canada

Berthing & Escort Simulations, Pilot Training

CLIENT: LNG Canada

To help assess the operational requirements of both the berthing aspects and tethered tug escort requirements for the new terminal in Kitimat, PSTAR conducted multiple rounds of simulations, including involving HaiSea Marine to operate tug models that match the new tugs built to support the terminal. Following feasibility simulations, an extensive training program for all BC Coast Pilots and HaiSea Tug Masters was developed and executed, ensuring all pilots and tug masters have experience with berthing, unberthing, and escorting. These rounds of simulation and pilot training influenced the operational procedures and environmental limits at the facility, which is just becoming operational in the summer of 2025.

Ridley Island Energy Export Facility (REEF)

Feasibility, Mooring, and Berthing Simulations

CLIENT: Port of Vancouver

This project has involved an iterative process involving multiple rounds of simulations, to determine whether a newly-proposed mooring system (multiple mooring buoys) was feasible. This will be the first multi-mooring buoy system on the west coast of North America, so there was a lot of time spent ensuring the mooring buoys behaved realistically and were capable of safely keeping ships moored – even in extreme weather conditions. The client’s engineering team was able to adjust designs early in the process following feedback from the simulations, resulting in a safer and more efficient design.

Transmountain / Westridge Expansion

Berthing Simulations, Pilot Training

CLIENT: Trans Mountain

For the new, expanded Westridge Marine Terminal, PSTAR ran a series of berthing simulations to determine best practices and emergency procedures at the new berths. There was also a complete Pilot Training Program involving both marine pilots and local tug masters undergoing joint training, ensuring that everyone had ample experience with the new terminal in a safe digital environment, prior to any tankers containing oil.

Charting Safer Waters with Every Simulation.