What’s it like at the floating Chevron station in Vancouver’s Coal Harbour?

A floating Vancouver landmark is getting some attention online after one social media user asked what it was like working at Coal Harbour’s Chevron station.

“Ppl (sic) who work here, what’s it like being off level all day?” the Reddit user commented.

Well, a self-proclaimed manager of the site popped in with the answer in a thread that has since turned into a Q&A of curiosity.

“We keep it off-level so rainwater doesn’t pool on the deck,” Reddit user TKCerbs responded. “This week we had repairs done on one of the corners so we had to kick that end up by moving the fuel to the rear tanks.”

FILE – The Chevron Legacy, a floating gas station in Vancouver’s Coal Harbour. (CityNews Image)

Dozens of others have since chimed in with questions of their own, ranging from topics like how many employees work there to what happens with wastewater.

“So I take that you guys have a sewage line as well? Or just hanging over the edge of the barge to answer natures (sic) needs?” one user questioned.

“We have a waste tank that holds a large amount of waste water. When full a tug pulls a barge with a tanker on it. It’s pumped on to the tanker and taken for proper disposal. We also have an oil water separator on board. The only fluid off the sides of the barge is rain water, everything else is correctly disposed of,” TKCerbs explained.

In many ways, it looks like the barge is similar to typical gas stations. In that manner, any road trip, or rather boat trip, isn’t complete without snacks.

TKCerbs says the floating barge has a small convenience store where people can buy various treats, along with some seasonal bait, including anchovies.

“We have pops chips chocolate bars. (sic) Bags of ice, bait, and freezies in the summer. We’re trialling energy drinks and fresh sandwiches in Steveston and if they hit then we’ll have those on board too,” the user commented.

Fueling up at the barge

But unlike a typical car that can gas and go, TKCerbs says some big boats can be at the station for long periods of time.

“Some tugs can take as much as 250 000L per fuelling (sic) and can be there for 6 hours or more. You can also access the roof for one of the best views in Vancouver,” the user said.

A floating chevron! pic.twitter.com/AHdgrssZLQ

— highme (@belladevil) April 7, 2023

As for how many people work on the water, TKCerbs says it fluctuates depending on the time of the year. The user adds that the demand at the station comes and goes seasonally.

“The four summer long weekends are nuts – sometimes 5-6 boats waiting for fuel. We can only safely fill two pleasure craft off the small dock, or one of its a big yacht,” TKCerbs said.

Another self-proclaimed employee explains that having a floating gas station works better for bigger boats because it’s easier for them to fuel up.

“Tugboats and other larger vessels need a ton of fuel and the alternative is getting it trucked in, a marine fuel station is more convenient and accessible than a dock. There’s also less chance of a spill,” Reddit user SecretSyrupEater, and a self-proclaimed employee, said.

A survivor

Although there used to be other marine fuel stations in Coal Harbour, TKCerbs adds that the Chevron has been floating alone for over a decade.

“Over the past century I believe there were as many 5 in the 60s. (sic) The Home fuel barge exploded in 1974 and that was the sign to many companies that they didn’t want to be there.”

The floating station has been around in some capacity for decades, according to a naval architecture firm in Vancouver.

“In December 2009, the Chevron Legacy, a new and now the only marine fuel station for Vancouver Harbour, was completed by the builders,” Robert Allan Naval Architects & Marine Engineers website reads.

“This station replaced the venerable Chevron barge S.O.B.C. No. 5 which has been moored in Coal Harbour since it was built in 1959.”