SERVICES
The following links are to programs and services that will be of interest to those within the Marine Infrastructure.

Vessel Registration
Vessel Registration is mandatory in Canada for every ship that exceeds 15 gross tons. Ships not required by law to be registered may do so on a voluntary basis. Registration allows for name approval, mortgage registration, and protection of the Crown.

Service Standards
As a result of a government "Policy on Service Standards for External Fees" and the "User Fee Act (UFA)", Marine Safety is developing service standards in relation to the fees charged.

Port Program & Divestiture
In accordance with the federal government's National Marine Policy, Transport Canada is transferring ownership of its regional/local ports to local interests.

Fisheries and Oceans Small Craft Harbours
Small Craft Harbours operates and maintains a national system of harbours to provide commercial fishers and recreational boaters with safe and accessible facilities. SCH operates under the authority of the Fishing and Recreational Harbours Act and the Federal Real Property and Federal Immovables Act. As of October 2004, the national harbour system consisted of 1,010 commercial fishing facilities and 233 recreational harbour sites across Canada.

Marine Security
The Marine Security Directorate is responsible for marine security policy, marine security regulatory affairs, and marine security operations, as well as functional authority for regional marine security operations through the Regional Directors. Through the Interdepartmental Marine Security Working Group, this Directorate has a lead role in the coordination of government-wide marine security initiatives. It is also responsible for the Marine Security Contribution Program.

Oceans Program Activity Tracking (OPAT)
OPAT is an interactive mapping and information system that provides details on Oceans Act Program Activities currently underway in each of Canada’s ocean environments. These activities include Integrated Management initiatives, Marine Protected Areas and Marine Environmental Quality projects which all directly support the delivery of Canada's Oceans Strategy. The system is designed to provide specific information on each program initiative such as their locations, objectives, partners, key contacts, pictures and supporting background documents.