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Transport Canada > Marine Safety Home Page > Transport Publications | Marine Safety > Small Commercial Vessel Safety Guide | TP 14070 | Marine Safety

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Chapter 19
Reporting Accidents, Pollution

ACCIDENT REPORTING ^

Any accident that impairs the seaworthiness of your vessel or involves a casualty, fatality, or disappearance must be reported without delay. Notice of the occurrence must be given by radio communication to a marine radio station, a Marine Communications and Traffic Services (MCTS) Centre, or a Canadian harbour radio station, or by the quickest alternative means available.

When reporting the incident, you are required to give the following information:

  1. Identify your ship and any other ship involved in the accident.
  2. Describe the nature of the incident.
  3. Provide the date, time, and location of the accident.
  4. Indicate the number of persons killed, missing, or injured.
  5. Report whether the incident has or will obstruct navigation.
  6. Report any pollution or potential for pollution.

Within 30 days following the occurrence, the owner or operator is required to submit a Marine Occurrence/Hazardous Occurrence Report (TSB 1808/06-94) on the incident, including a statement as to the probable cause of the accident. This form is available on the internet at the address below.

The report should be forwarded to:

Transportation Safety Board of Canada
200 Promenade du Portage, 4th Floor, Place du Centre
Hull, Québec K1A 1K8
Tel.: (819) 953-1572
Fax: (819) 953-1583
Web: www.tsb.gc.ca

Persons responsible for ships are reminded that penalties may be incurred by failing to report a marine occurrence. The maximum penalty for an offence of not giving notice or filing a report is $2,000 or imprisonment for six months, or both, as determined by the provincial court.


ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION ^

The Transportation Safety Board (TSB), an independent agency reporting to Parliament through the Privy Council, investigates selected marine incidents. The mission of the TSB is to advance transportation safety by conducting accident investigations to determine the causes and contributing factors. The TSB identifies safety deficiencies, makes recommendations to eliminate or reduce the deficiencies, and reports publicly on its investigations and findings.

Transport Canada Marine Safety may investigate incidents to identify deficiencies in operational procedures, vessel standards, or crew training. Marine Safety may conduct an investigation if a vessel has been involved in an incident resulting in the loss, destruction, or damage of a vessel that endangers any person, or if an operator or crew acted incompetently in the course of their duties or in breach of laws or regulations.

Following any formal action that Marine Safety may take in relation to an incident, public reports of investigations are published to make the causes of an accident known within the industry and to help prevent similar occurrences.


POLLUTION REPORTING ^

A clean environment begins with you. A well designed and maintained vessel and safe practices when handling pollutants are the best defences against becoming a polluter. In Canada, rules and regulations support the protection of our aquatic environment. It is an offence to accidentally or wilfully discharge oil, garbage, sewage (depending on location), or other pollutants into Canadian waters.

Polluters are required under law to report any oil spill to the Canadian Coast Guard without delay. A rapid response will usually minimize the overall cost of responding to an incident. Polluters are responsible for clean up costs. A failure to report a spill from your vessel may lead to heavy fines and penalties.

It’s up to you to report polluters so they can be held accountable for their actions. If you witness pollution being discharged from any vessel or notice oil or chemical pollution in Canadian waters, contact the Canadian Coast Guard, use channel 16 (MF 2182 kHz) on VHF Marine radio or VHF DSC channel 70 (MF DSC 2187.5 kHz).

You will be asked, if possible, to provide the following information:

  1. Your name and contact details.
  2. When and where the pollution occurred.
  3. The type of discharge or a description of the product.
  4. The extent of pollution or area covered.
  5. Name of the vessel or other source.

Canada Coast Guard will notify the owner and take steps to rectifying the situation.


Pollution Reporting Telephone Numbers

NEWFOUNDLAND
1-800-563-2444

P.E.I., NOVA SCOTIA, NEW BRUNSWICK
1-800-565-1633

QUEBEC
1-800-363-4735

ONTARIO, MANITOBA, SASKATCHEWAN, ALBERTA, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, NUNAVUT
1-800-265-0237

BRITISH COLUMBIA, YUKON
1-800-889-8852


MORE INFORMATION ^

To consult your local Transport Canada Centre, please see Appendix 2.


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Last updated: 2006 02 10 Top of Page Important Notices