Can Head Harbor and Western Passage accommodate LNG ships?
In the recent past, about 120 to 140 commercial ships transit through Head Harbor Passage each year. Some vessels are over 600 ft. long and have drafts as deep as 40 feet. Of this total, about 60 to 70 ships pass through the Western Passage and transit by the proposed Downeast LNG site in Robbinston on the way to Bayside Marine Terminal in St. Stephens, New Brunswick. All ships transiting both passages do so without the tug escort that an LNG ship will have, though tugs are used for the docking of other commercial ships. LNG ships also have powerful steering systems as well as bow thrusters to allow them more maneuverability than other ships.
