Welcome to Avadepth

Avadepth - a reporting system designed to assist mariners and commercial shipping in calculating their maximum available draft and best sailing times to safely navigate the Fraser River South Arm Channel between Sand Heads (kilometre 0) and Fraser Surrey Docks (kilometre 34).

Avadepth Reports

CCG Weekly Report

An eight day forecast of available water depths for the Fraser River South Arm Navigation Channel; this report is published every Friday for the coming week by the Canadian Coast Guard, Western Region, Aids to Navigation – Waterways Management.

See "Background & Theory of Operation" for addition information.

Transit Window

Displays the available "transit window" for a selected period (day/week/month) using two approaches: by specifying a required "depth" for transit, or by specifying a required "transit window" to reach the destination.

User defined variables are selected from the Parameters drop-down menu.

Daily Depths

Graphs the available water depths for a selected date; and identifies the location and depth of the critical control point.

User defined variables are selected from the Parameters drop-down menu.

Fraser River Hydrograph

Illustrates the seasonal flow conditions for the Lower Fraser River; and will aid the user in selecting the appropriate river discharge when calculating the available water depths. The historical flow conditions represent approximately 100 years of recorded data from Water Survey of Canada, Real-Time Hydrometric Station for the Fraser River at Hope, BC.

Predicted Water Levels & Velocities

Displays pre-generated water levels and velocities from a one-dimensional hydrodynamic model, and represents an average water level and velocity for each cross-section defined in the model. Model computations were on a 10 minute time interval and simulated nine different river flow / discharge scenarios.

User defined variables are selected from the Parameters drop-down menu.

Animated Currents

Displays pre-generated currents from a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model of the Fraser - South Arm Channel. The model values represent a depth average flow condition through the water column at pre-defined x & y nodes; thus allowing users to assess if flow conditions are strong, moderate, or weak and in which direction. As a note, users need to be aware that during periods of low river flow, fresh water may flow over the salt water at depth and create stratified conditions; for this reason, comparing model predicted values to either the surface currents or the currents measured at depth with an acoustic current metre may show significant differences.

However, since the large deep vessels navigating the river channel experience currents throughout much of the water column, the depth-averaged currents should provide a reasonable indication of overall current-induced effects on the vessel.

User defined variables are selected from the Parameters drop-down menu.

Channel Bottom Conditions

Fraser River – South Arm Channel Condition Report

A weekly printout of channel bottom conditions for the Fraser River Deep Sea Navigation Channel.

Fraser Surrey Docks – Berth Soundings

A composite drawing that incorporates the most recent surveys of the berths and approach channels to Fraser Surrey Docks.

Fraser River – South Arm Channel Overview

A composite of the most current soundings / surveys of the main navigation channel from Sand Heads (km -1.0) to New Westminster (km 35.0).

Survey Drawings

Users have access to drawings and survey field sheets of main commercial channels monitored by the Canadian Coast Guard, Waterways Management. Users will need to install an Autodesk DWF viewer to display and view the survey drawings.

Download Autodesk Viewer

Download – bMIO for the Fraser River South Arm Shipping Channel

This bathymetric Marine Information Overlay (bMIO) is an Electronic Nautical Chart (ENC) of recent soundings that are to be displayed in conjunction with Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) Chart 3490. The overlay displays additional depth information regarding available depths that have resulted from maintenance dredging or from sedimentation during the "spring run-off"; a period when channel depths change rapidly due to river flow conditions.

Database last updated: Wednesday, December 6, 2023 PST

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Welcome to Avadepth

Welcome to Avadepth