Working around the airport schedule: Cutter Marine was contracted by Pave-Al Limited on behalf of Ports Toronto to support the Billy Bishop Airfield Rehabilitation Program at the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.

Located in Toronto Harbour, the airport handles services for 2.8 million customers annually. Pave-Al was responsible for the runway update portion of this significant three-year rehabilitation initiative that included the reconstruction of runways and taxiways, the installation of new energy efficient LED lighting, and the construction of a Ground Run-up Enclosure (GRE) designed to dampen the noise associated with high-power aircraft engine ground run-up operations.

Cutter provided the vessels and services to transport heavy equipment, aggregates and personnel to avoid the traffic congestion, project delays and disturbance to the neighbouring community that had been projected if traditional trucking services were used.

Customer: Ports Toronto via Pave-Al Limited
Location: Toronto, ON
Date: 2016 to 2018

The Challenge: Because Billy Bishop Airport has only one main runway, construction activities associated with the complex project took place during nighttime hours, between 11:00 p.m. and 6:45 a.m., when the airport was closed to commercial and general aviation air traffic. The Port of Toronto was concerned that all work be completed with minimal to no disturbance to daily operations and the neighbouring community.

Our Solution: Cutter supplied the Vigilant I and MM142, a dedicated tug and barge, to transport heavy and oversized equipment, along with bulk aggregate and asphalt trucks, from Pier 5 in Toronto Harbour to Toronto Island. Cutter also supplied the workboat WB25 to move personnel back and forth.

Cutter crews completed close to 2,500 round trips while operations were maintained 24 hours a day, 6 days a week. At Toronto Island, we created a private docking facility by setting up two sectional barges as mooring dolphins. To allow for easy roll-on/roll-off operations, a hydraulic ramp was put into place on the barge.

Gear: Vigilant I, MM142, WB 25 and Viateur’s Spirit

Services: Consultation & Planning, Project Cargo, Crew Cargo