Travel by water - Bon voyage

Canada's inland and coastal waters are the safest they've ever been. There were fewer reported accidents in 2002 than in the previous 25 years.

Transport Canada fulfills its role overseeing marine safety by:

• regulating the safety of pleasure craft and commercial vessels;
• inspecting commercial vessels, foreign-registered vessels entering Canadian waters, and even offshore drilling rigs to verify that they meet safety standards; and
• helping to promote the safe operation of commercial shipping by certifying officers and crews on Canadian ships.

Quick facts

• At more than 202,000 kilometres, Canada has the largest coastline in the world as well as the largest volume of navigable freshwater bodies.
• Ferry services carry about 40 million passengers and 17 million vehicles in Canada each year.

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