8 MARINE TRANSPORTATION
FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION
In 2003, marine freight traffic totalled 375 million tonnes 4,
up 8.6 per cent from 2002. Domestic flows 5 accounted for
more than one fifth of this (68.3 million tonnes), up 9 per cent
from the year before (62.6 million tonnes). Canadian-flag
vessels carried 95.9 per cent (65.5 million tonnes) of
domestic flows. In 2003, Canada–U.S. traffic totalled
123.5 million tonnes, up 8.0 per cent from 2002. Of this,
Canadian-flag vessels carried 51.8 million tonnes, or
about 42 per cent of the total. "Other" international (deep-sea
or overseas) traffic 6 increased by 8.8 per cent in 2003
to 183 million tonnes. Canadian-flag vessels carried only
0.1 per cent of this traffic.
Table 8-16 shows Canada's 2002 and 2003 marine
traffic statistics by sector. Addendum Table A8-13 covers
the same information from 1986 to 2003.
TABLE 8-16: CANADA'S MARINE TRAFFIC STATISTICS BY SECTOR, 2002 AND 2003
| (Millions of tonnes) |
|
Flows |
Total
Flows |
Total
Handled |
| |
Domestic |
Transborder |
Overseas |
| 2002 |
62.6 |
114.3 |
168.4 |
345.4 |
408.1 |
| 2003 |
68.3 |
123.5 |
183.2 |
374.9 |
443.0 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Shipping in Canada, Cat. 54-205
Table 8-17 shows the share of Canadian waterborne
trade carried by Canadian-flag vessels in 2003.
TABLE 8-17: CANADIAN-FLAG SHARE OF CANADIAN WATERBORNE TRADE, 2003
| (Millions of tonnes) |
| Canadian
Waterborne Trade |
Canadian
Flag |
Per
cent |
U.S.
Flag |
Per
cent |
Foreign
Flag |
Per
cent |
Total
Traffic |
| Domestic |
65.5 |
95.9 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
2.8 |
4.1 |
68.3 |
| Canada/U.S. |
51.8 |
42.0 |
13.6 |
11.0 |
58.0 |
47.0 |
123.5 |
| Deep-Sea |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.6 |
0.3 |
182.4 |
99.6 |
183.2 |
| Total |
117.6 |
31.4 |
14.2 |
3.8 |
243.2 |
64.9 |
374.9 |
Source: Statistics Canada, and Transport Canada
DOMESTIC MARINE FREIGHT TRAFFIC
COASTING TRADE ACTIVITY FOR 2004
Under Canada's Coasting Trade Act, only Canadianregistered,
duty-paid ships may transport passengers and
cargoes, and conduct commercial marine-related
activities in Canadian waters. In addition, only Canadianregistered,
duty-paid ships may be involved in the
exploration and exploitation of non-living natural
resources on Canada's continental shelf. If, however, no
Canadian ship is available or capable of providing a
particular service, foreign-registered ships can then apply
to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) for
licences to enter Canada's coasting trade. The CBSA role
was formerly handled by Canada Customs and Revenue
Agency (CCRA).
In 2004, CBSA received 128 applications for a coasting
trade licence, approximately 20 per cent more than in
2003. Of these, 67 were for the carriage of goods, 48
were for a commercial activity and 13 were for the
transportation of passengers. U.S. vessels were the most
predominant foreign flag involved in Canada's coasting
trade, with 46 requests. Bahamian vessels were next
most frequent, with 28 requests (after having been first in
2003 for the first time since the Coasting Trade Act came
into force in December 1992). Panama and Norway were
third and fourth, respectively.
The highest percentage of activity continued to be for
vessels associated with the oil and gas exploration and
production industry. In 2004, there were 62 tanker
requests, 14 for drill ships, rigs and support vessels, and
10 for seismic vessels. Much of the tanker traffic relates
to the requirement for large-capacity shuttle tankers.
Table 8-18 shows the actual tonnage and percentage of
total domestic cargo tonnage carried by foreign-registered
vessels in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Table A8-14 in the
Addendum gives this same information over a longer
time period.
TABLE 8-18: SHARE OF TONNAGE CARRIED BY FOREIGNFLAG SHIPS IN THE CANADIAN COASTING TRADE, 2001 – 2003
| Year |
Canadian |
Per
cent |
Foreign |
Per
cent |
Total |
| 2001 |
52,803,710 |
98.0 |
1,099,099 |
2.0 |
53,902,809 |
| 2002 1 |
59,823,994 |
95.5 |
2,802,296 |
4.5 |
62,626,289 |
| 2003 1 |
65,468,886 |
95.9 |
2,827,887 |
4.1 |
68,296,773 |
- Significant increase of "Crude Petroleum Oils" shipments from Grand Bank (Hibernia)
& Come-By-Chance by foreign-flag ships.
Source: Transport Canada, from data supplied by Statistics Canada
As it is both loaded and unloaded at Canadian ports,
domestic cargo is handled twice within the Canadian port
system. In 2003, domestic cargo handled increased to
136.4 million tonnes, up 8.7 per cent from the previous
year. A significant growth in shipments of crude
petroleum, pulpwood and chips, wheat, and fuel oils offset
decreased shipments of iron ore, logs and other wood,
stone, sand and gravel.
Table 8-19 shows flows of domestic marine traffic by
region in 2003.
TABLE 8-19: MARINE DOMESTIC FLOWS BY CANADIAN REGION, 2003
| (Thousands of tonnes) |
| |
Region of Destination (Unloadings) |
| Region of origin (Loadings) |
Atlantic |
St.
Lawrence |
Great
Lakes |
Pacific |
All
Regions |
| Atlantic |
22,908 |
3,458 |
552 |
7 |
26,925 |
| St.
Lawrence |
928 |
5,369 |
5,559 |
3 |
11,859 |
| Great
Lakes |
242 |
5,140 |
8,196 |
0 |
13,579 |
| Pacific |
3 |
0 |
0 |
15,931 |
15,934 |
| All Regions |
24,082 |
13,967 |
14,307 |
15,941 |
68,297 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Shipping in Canada, Cat. 54-205
Most domestic traffic passes through the Great
Lakes–St. Lawrence Seaway system. In 2003, the
ports serving the Seaway handled 39.2 per cent of the
total domestic tonnage (loadings and unloadings), or
53.5 million tonnes. Pacific region ports handled
23.4 per cent of the total (31.9 million tonnes). Pacific
ports handled 0.3 million tonnes more domestic cargo in
2003 than in 2002; 99.97 per cent of this originated and
terminated within that region. Atlantic region ports
handled 51.0 million tonnes, up 24 per cent.
The primary commodities handled in the domestic trade
across Canada in 2003 include:
- crude petroleum (40.1 million tonnes, up 30.4 per cent
from 2002)
- pulpwood and chips (15.8 million tonnes, up 6.8 per cent)
- stone, limestone, sand and gravel (12.9 million tonnes,
down 1.1 per cent)
- iron ore and concentrates (10.5 million tonnes, down
7.9 per cent)
- logs and other wood (7.7 million tonnes, down 7.2 per cent)
- fuel oil (8.4 million tonnes, up 15.1 per cent)
- wheat (8.4 million tonnes, up 21.7 per cent)
Together, these commodities represent 76 per cent of
all domestic tonnage handled at Canadian ports in 2003.
INTERNATIONAL MARINE FREIGHT TRAFFIC
In 2003, Canadian ports handled 306.6 million tonnes
of international cargo, up 8.4 per cent from the year
before. Of this, 62.4 per cent was export-oriented
(including in-transit and re-export traffic). Japan, China,
South Korea, the United Kingdom and other Western
European nations accounted for about 60 per cent of
Canada's total international (excluding U.S.) marine traffic
(exports and imports).
CONFERENCE/NON-CONFERENCE MARKET SHARES
In recent years, non-conference traffic has seen
consistent growth both in absolute terms and as a
percentage of total liner traffic. In 2003, it increased to
22.2 million tonnes. On the other hand, conference traffic
fell to 9.8 million tonnes. This means that non-conference
operators moved almost 70 per cent of total liner traffic.
Non-conference share of liner traffic becomes even more
dominant when non-conference U.S. origin/destination
transshipped traffic is considered. 7
Table 8-20 compares the conference and nonconference
shares of Canadian liner trade between 2002
and 2003. Addendum Table A8-15 shows the same data
from 1995.
TABLE 8-20: CONFERENCE/NON-CONFERENCE SHARES OF CANADIAN LINER TRADE, 2002 – 2003
| (Millions of tonnes) |
| |
2002 |
2003 |
| Conference |
|
|
| Exports |
3.5 |
3.4 |
| Imports |
7.3 |
6.4 |
| Total |
10.8 |
9.8 |
| Non-conference |
|
|
| Exports |
12.7 |
14.9 |
| Imports |
5.4 |
7.3 |
| Total |
18.1 |
22.2 |
Source: Transport Canada, International Database; Statistics Canada
In terms of type of cargo, conference operators have been
concentrating almost exclusively on containerized traffic
in recent years. The year 2003 was no exception, as
97 per cent (9.5 million of 9.8 million tonnes) of cargo was
carried in containers. Non-conference operators are also more
and more moving cargo in containers (18.4 million tonnes
in 2003), although this includes general cargo and
neobulk traffic as well.
Breaking down liner traffic by foreign region of
origin/destination shows the relative shares of conference
and non-conference operators on different routes.
Table 8-21 compares conference and non-conference
liner traffic by region for 2003.
TABLE 8-21: LINER TRAFFIC BY REGION, 2003
| (Millions of tonnes) |
| |
Liner
Imports |
Liner
Exports |
|
| Region |
Conference |
Non-conference |
Conference |
Non-conference |
Total |
| Europe |
4.1 |
2.4 |
3.3 |
2.3 |
12.1 |
| Asia |
2.3 |
3.9 |
- |
10.5 |
16.7 |
| Central
America |
- |
0.2 |
0.0 |
0.7 |
0.9 |
| South
America |
- |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.4 |
0.7 |
| Other
America |
- |
0.2 |
- |
0.3 |
0.5 |
| Middle
East |
0.0 |
0.2 |
0.0 |
0.2 |
0.5 |
| Oceania |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.2 |
0.4 |
| Africa |
- |
0.2 |
- |
0.1 |
0.2 |
| Total |
6.4 |
7.3 |
3.4 |
14.9 |
32.0 |
Note: – means Nil.
Other America = North America plus Greenland and Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
Source: Transport Canada, International Database; Statistics Canada
CANADA-U.S. FREIGHT TRAFFIC
In 2003, Canada's marine traffic to and from the United
States totalled 123.5 million tonnes, up by 8.0 per cent.
Imports (unloading from U.S. origins) 8 grew by 1.9 per cent,
while exports (loadings to U.S. destinations) grew by
11.5 per cent.
Table 8-22 shows Canada's maritime trade with the
United States in 2002 and 2003. Addendum Table A8-16
shows the same data from 1986.
TABLE 8-22: CANADA'S MARITIME TRADE WITH THE UNITED STATES, 2002 – 2003
| (Millions of tonnes) |
| |
Loaded |
Unloaded |
Total |
| 2002 |
72.9 |
41.4 |
114.3 |
| 2003 |
81.2 |
42.2 |
123.5 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Cat. 54-205; Transport Canada
Loadings at Canadian ports destined for the United
States totalled 81.2 million tonnes in 2003. Seven
commodities accounted for 83 per cent of this volume:
crude petroleum (21.1 million tonnes); stone, limestone,
sand and gravel (11.9 million tonnes); gasoline
(8.4 million tonnes); iron ore (8.2 million tonnes); fuel oil
(7.9 million tonnes); gypsum (6.1 million tonnes); and salt
(4.0 million tonnes).
From 2002 to 2003, significant changes took place in
the volumes of major commodities exported to the United
States. Volumes of several commodities increased: crude
petroleum exports jumped by 39.2 per cent, stone,
limestone, sand and gravel by 12.8 per cent, fuel oil by
20.2 per cent, salt by 15.0 per cent and iron ore by
24.6 per cent. Exports of gasoline and gypsum, on the
other hand, decreased by 11.1 and 7.5 per cent, respectively.
The Canadian Atlantic to the U.S. Atlantic route and the
Canadian Great Lakes to the U.S. Great Lakes route were
two main flow corridors used in 2003. Of total loadings to
the United States, 57 per cent (46.0 million tonnes)
was shipped by the Atlantic route, while 17 per cent
(14.2 million tonnes) was shipped by the Great Lakes
route. Combined, these routes accounted for 74 per cent
of Canada's commodities traffic volumes to the United
States via marine transport services.
Imports of U.S. marine shipments to Canada totalled
42.2 million tonnes in 2003, up 1.9 per cent. Seven
commodities accounted for 86 per cent of this volume:
coal (18.9 million tonnes); iron ore (5.5 million tonnes);
fuel oil (2.8 million tonnes); stone, limestone, sand and
gravel (2.7 million tonnes); other petroleum products
(2.7 million tonnes); basic chemicals (2.6 million tonnes);
and salt (0.9 million tonnes).
As with exports, volumes of commodities imported
changed significantly in 2003. Imports of fuel oil and
gasoline rose 28.9 and 13.2 per cent, respectively, while
shipments of stone, limestone, sand and gravel and basic
chemicals dropped by 11.8 and 21.1 per cent, respectively.
More than 73 per cent, by volume, of total marine
imports from the United States originated at ports on the
Great Lakes. Ports along the U.S. Atlantic and the Gulf of
Mexico accounted for 19.2 per cent, while U.S. Pacific
ports made up the remaining seven per cent.
Table 8-23 shows traffic flows from Canadian to U.S.
ports in 2003, while Table 8-24 shows traffic flows from
U.S. to Canadian ports.
TABLE 8-23: CANADA'S MARINE TRAFFIC TO THE UNITED STATES, 2003
| (Millions of tonnes) |
| |
U.S.
Region of Destination |
|
| Canadian
Region of Origin |
U.S.
Atlantic |
U.S.
Great Lakes |
U.S.
Pacific |
Total |
| Atlantic |
46.0 |
0.0 |
0.4 |
46.4 |
| St.
Lawrence |
4.8 |
5.3 |
0.0 |
10.2 |
| Great
Lakes |
0.1 |
14.2 |
0.0 |
14.3 |
| Pacific |
0.4 |
0.0 |
9.9 |
10.3 |
| Total |
51.3 |
19.6 |
10.3 |
81.2 |
Note: Table may not add up due to rounding.
Source: Statistics Canada, Cat. 54-205; Transport Canada
TABLE 8-24: CANADA'S MARINE TRAFFIC FROM THE UNITED STATES, 2003
| (Millions of tonnes) |
| |
U.S.
Region of Origin |
|
| Canadian
Region of Destination |
U.S.
Atlantic |
U.S.
Great Lakes |
U.S.
Pacific |
Total |
| Atlantic |
4.5 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
4.6 |
| St.
Lawrence |
3.5 |
2.2 |
0.2 |
5.9 |
| Great
Lakes |
0.1 |
28.9 |
0.0 |
29.0 |
| Pacific |
0.0 |
0.1 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
| Total |
8.1 |
31.2 |
3.0 |
42.2 |
Note: Table may not add up due to rounding.
Source: Statistics Canada, Cat. 54-205; Transport Canada
OVERSEAS FREIGHT TRAFFIC
Canada's 2003 marine trade with overseas countries
(excluding the United States) totalled 183 million tonnes,
up nine per cent from 2002. Exports exceeded imports by
about 37 million tonnes. Approximately 59 per cent of
overseas exports were loaded at west coast ports, while
88 per cent of overseas imports were unloaded at east
coast ports.
Table 8-25 shows Canada's marine overseas trade in
2002 and 2003. Addendum Table A8-17 shows overseas
trade since 1986.
TABLE 8-25: CANADA'S MARITIME OVERSEAS TRADE, 2002 – 2003
| (Millions of tonnes) |
| |
Loaded |
Unloaded |
Total |
| 2002 |
101.4 |
67.0 |
168.4 |
| 2003 |
110.2 |
73.0 |
183.2 |
Note: Table may not add up due to rounding.
Source: Statistics Canada, Cat. 54-205; Transport Canada
In 2003, Canadian ports loaded 110.2 million tonnes
of cargo to be shipped to non-U.S. countries, up
nine per cent from 2002. The major commodities were:
coal (25.5 million tonnes); iron ore (21.7 million tonnes);
containerized freight (15.0 million tonnes); wheat
(10.7 million tonnes); sulphur (5.6 million tonnes); potash
(5.6 million tonnes); and wood pulp (5.0 million tonnes).
Slightly more than 13 per cent of this traffic
was containerized.
Increasing in 2003 were shipments of coal (6.2 per cent),
iron ore (16.6 per cent), wheat (three per cent), sulphur
and potash. Shipments of wood pulp, however,
decreased by 1.4 per cent.
Of Canada's total marine exports to overseas
destinations in 2003, three fifths were loaded at ports in
Western Canada. Ports along the St. Lawrence Seaway
handled most of the loading for ports in Eastern Canada.
Western ports shipped the majority of the tonnage
travelling the Asia and Oceania trade routes (69 per cent),
while the eastern ports handled 62 per cent of the
tonnage shipped to Europe.
In terms of imports, Canadian ports unloaded
73.0 million tonnes of marine shipments from overseas
origins in 2003, up 8.9 per cent. Imports of crude
petroleum 9 were 33 million tonnes, accounting for
46 per cent of all marine traffic unloaded from offshore
origins. The other major commodities unloaded were:
containerized freight (12.9 million tonnes); basic chemicals
(4.3 million tonnes); other metallic ores and concentrates
(3.7 million tonnes); gasoline (3.3 million tonnes); coal
(2.6 million tonnes); and iron and steel (2.1 million tonnes).
About 18 per cent of this inbound traffic was containerized.
In addition, more than 87 per cent of overseas
shipments were unloaded at ports in Eastern Canada.
Overseas cargo originated mainly from Europe, the
Middle East and Africa.
Table 8-26 shows Canada's marine traffic to overseas
destinations, while Table 8-27 shows Canada's marine
traffic from overseas markets in 2003.
TABLE 8-26: CANADA'S MARINE TRAFFIC TO OVERSEAS, 2003
| (Millions of tonnes) |
| |
Canadian
Region of Origin |
|
| Foreign
Region of Destination |
Eastern
Ports |
Western
Ports |
Total |
| Asia
and Oceania |
7.6 |
44.8 |
52.4 |
| Europe |
28.4 |
8.2 |
36.6 |
| South
and Central America |
4.9 |
7.9 |
12.8 |
| Middle
East and Africa |
4.7 |
3.7 |
8.4 |
| Unknown |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
| Total |
45.6 |
64.6 |
110.2 |
Note: Table may not add up due to rounding.
Source: Statistics Canada, Cat. 54-205; Transport Canada
TABLE 8-27: CANADA'S MARINE TRAFFIC FROM OVERSEAS, 2003
| (Millions of tonnes) |
| |
Canadian
Region of Destination |
|
| Foreign
Region of Origin |
Eastern
Ports |
Western
Ports |
Total |
| Europe |
27.5 |
0.2 |
27.7 |
| Middle
East and Africa |
21.0 |
0.0 |
21.0 |
| South
and Central America |
12.0 |
1.1 |
13.0 |
| Asia
and Oceania |
3.5 |
7.6 |
11.1 |
| Unknown |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
| Total |
64.1 |
8.9 |
73.0 |
Note: Table may not add up due to rounding.
Source: Statistics Canada, Cat. 54-205; Transport Canada
MARINE TRADE
International trade data indicate that Canadian
international marine trade in 2003 totalled $107.4 billion
(excluding shipments via U.S. ports). This is up 4.1 per cent
from 2002. Marine imports totalled $59.8 billion, while
marine exports totalled $47.6 billion. The value of imports
increased by 4.8 per cent, notably with increased cargoes
inbound from China, Japan, South Korea, Germany, the
United Kingdom and Norway. The value of exports also
increased, by 3.3 per cent, mainly to United States, China
and United Kingdom.
Table 8-28 shows the value of the marine share of
Canada's international trade in 2003.
TABLE 8-28: VALUE OF MARINE SHARE OF CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL TRADE, 2003
| (Billions of Canadian dollars) |
| |
Marine |
All
Modes |
Marine
(per cent) |
| Transborder |
|
|
|
| Exports 1 |
12.06 |
326.70 |
3.7 |
| Imports |
3.15 |
203.70 |
1.6 |
| Total U.S. |
15.21 |
530.40 |
2.9 |
| Other countries |
|
|
|
| Exports 1 |
35.56 |
54.17 |
65.6 |
| Imports |
56.63 |
132.14 |
42.8 |
| Total |
92.19 |
186.30 |
49.4 |
Note: Table may not add up due to rounding.
- Including domestic exports and re-exports.
Source: Statistics Canada, Cat. 65-202 and 65-203; Special tabulations
Marine traffic with the United States in 2003 totalled
$15.2 billion, based mainly on exports of $12.1 billion.
Nonetheless, this represented only 2.9 per cent of total
Canada–U.S. trade. The bulk of the traffic was handled by
surface transport modes, such as trucking and rail.
Canada's marine trade with overseas countries
(excluding the United States) totalled $92.2 billion in
2003. Exports accounted for $35.6 billion of this total,
while imports accounted for $56.6 billion. In terms of
value, marine transport accounted for 49 per cent of all
overseas trade and was the dominant mode for shipping
overseas freight.
Asia, Western Europe and the United States are the
major areas of exports/imports. The principal commodities
exported to foreign countries in 2003 (including the United
States) were: forest products ($8.7 billion); gasoline/fuel
oils ($6.6 billion); and grains ($4.7 billion). Imports
consisted of: crude petroleum ($9.4 billion); textiles,
leathers and end products ($8.9 billion); automobile
vehicles ($7.8 billion); machinery ($5.8 billion); and other
food products ($3.2 billion). For more information on the
United States and overseas countries and principal
commodities exported/imported by value, see
Addendum Table A8-18.
4 Based on traffic flows rather than tonnage handled at Canadian ports (domestic volumes are not double counted). Back
to text
5 Maritime traffic that originates from and is destined for a Canadian port. Flows count traffic volume only once, in contrast to port loadings and unloadings,
for which, in the case of domestic traffic, the volumes get counted twice. Back
to text
6 "Other" international traffic includes shipments to and from foreign countries other than the United States. Back
to text
7 It is important to note that the data in the tables are not adjusted for U.S. transshipments moving through Canadian ports. Much of this traffic moves on
conference vessels but at non-conference rates. The route most likely affected by these transshipments is the one between Europe and Canada. Montreal
estimates that approximately 50 per cent of its liner traffic originates in or is destined for the United States. Halifax and Vancouver are also handling growing
amounts of U.S. Midwest traffic. This would, of course, overstate the share of conference traffic. Back to text
8 Including in-transit and transshipment cargo. Back to text
9 Including transshipments of North Sea Crude petroleum. Back to text
Major Events in 2004
Infrastructure
Marine Pilotage
Industry Structure
Passenger Transportation
Freight Transportation
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