LNG Canada Safe Shipping Kitimat

Kitimat, British Columbia March 13, 2025

LNG Canada held an informative community session on safe shipping and marine operations at the Kitimat Legion last Thursday, drawing a crowd of local residents. The event was to provide transparency and updates on the marine activities associated with the nearing completion of Canada’s first large-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facility in Kitimat.

The session focused on the safety protocols, navigation considerations, and environmental safeguards in place for the expected 400 annual LNG carrier visits once the facility reaches full capacity.

The presentation highlighted the 294-kilometer shipping route from the Triple Island Pilot Station near Prince Rupert to Kitimat, emphasizing the use of advanced navigation systems, highly trained B.C. Coast Pilots, and escort tugs with robust emergency capabilities. Community members learned that the LNG carriers’ design ensures minimal wake disruption in the Douglas Channel, a key concern for local fishers and residents.

Questions from the audience ranged from the environmental impact of increased marine traffic to job opportunities for locals in marine operations. Concerns regarding whale strikes were alleviated with steps taken such as reduced travel speed and marine life watchers along with future upgrades to detection systems. Fuel system for shipping are to use burn off LNG gas with back up Diesel fuel system only to be run for emergency and functional tests. Digital online maps are to be updated with travel information for safe sailing of other water craft in the area along with direct marine shipping communication with Rio Tinto.

The session concluded with an open forum, allowing residents to engage directly with LNG Canada staff. As the project nears its operational phase, the company pledged to continue hosting such events to keep the community informed. The March 13 session at the Kitimat Legion marked a pivotal moment in aligning industry progress with community interests.

For more information on LNG Canada’s marine operations or upcoming community engagements, residents were encouraged to contact the company at info@lngcanada.ca.

The subject of LNG Canada phase 2 was brought up in discussion before and during the session by some in attendance.

With Phase 1 set to begin exporting LNG by mid-2025, attention is shifting to the potential doubling of the facility’s capacity, a move that could solidify Canada’s position in the global energy market amid shifting economic and geopolitical pressures.

The Kitimat-based project, a joint venture led by Shell, alongside partners PETRONAS, PetroChina, Mitsubishi Corporation, and KOGAS, currently boasts a Phase 1 capacity of 14 million tonnes per annum (mtpa). Phase 2, if greenlit, would add another 14 mtpa, bringing the total output to 28 mtpa. While no official funding announcement has been made as of today, industry insiders and government officials are signaling strong interest in pushing the expansion forward.