1016 Seamount Way                     #200-1140 West Pender St
Gibsons, BC  V0N 1V7                    Vancouver, BC  V6E 4G1

Acid and Caustic Railcar Loading Capacity Increase

Acid and Caustic Railcar Loading Capacity Increase

The Chemtrade facility in North Vancouver, BC expanded their Hydrochloric Acid production facilities requiring an increase to the railcar loading capacity. Chemtrade engaged MG to upgrade their acid and caustic rail loading facilities. The project consisted of feasibility budget preparation, appropriation budget preparation and detailed engineering for three new acid railcar loading stations and three new caustic railcar loading stations. The scope of the work included the support structure complete with access gangways, fall protection cages, sumps, pumps and spill containment.

The project included:

  • Structural engineering of the new stations including foundations, platforms, roof, support steel and stairways.
  • Mechanical engineering including equipment selection/specification, general arrangement drawings and detailed piping design.
  • Process engineering including process concept development, HAZOP participation and control narrative preparation.
  • Development and maintenance of the engineering, procurement and construction schedule.
  • Procurement assistance for the equipment, piping and steel, along with request for quotations, comparison of bids and preparation of purchasing and tender documents.

The engineering and construction was unique since the implementation plan had to maintain the existing loading facility operations during the construction of the new loading stations.

MG Engineering prepared a feasibility and appropriation budget estimate for the project in 2011 and was awarded the detailed engineering in 2012. Construction began in the summer of 2012 and was completed in Q2 2013.

MG celebrated with Chemtrade the successful start up of the new facility which met expectations for acid and caustic loading rates. The new facility also achieved significant safety and environmental improvements.