TANKER SHIP SAFETY IN CANADA
REGULATIONS AND PROGRAMS
Canada is a world leader in its approach towards eradicating substandard
shipping.
With the longest coastline of any single country in the world, Canada sees
about 20,000 oil tanker movements each year. Of these, 17,000 occur on Canada’s
east coast. In 2000, 29 million tonnes of crude petroleum and 2 million tonnes
of fuel oil were imported into Canada on tankers. Tankers also carried 9.9 million tonnes of crude oil and 9.2 million tonnes of fuel oil in the domestic
trade.
Transport Canada regulations and standards, under the
Canada Shipping Act 2001,
combined with international regulations established by the
International
Maritime Organization (IMO), provide the framework for the department’s
comprehensive marine safety inspection and enforcement programs.
Under Canada's Port State Control program, Transport Canada inspectors board and
inspect foreign ships at Canadian ports, including tankers. The international
Port State Control agreements to which Canada is a member require Transport
Canada to subject 25 per cent of all visiting vessels to a Port State Control
inspection. Under Port State Control, all vessels, including tankers, are
inspected at least once every six months by marine authorities in a
participating Port State Control nation. Vessels that do not meet safety
standards are detained until their deficiencies have been corrected. Transport
Canada’s policy is to inspect all foreign tankers upon their first visit to
Canada and at least once a year thereafter. This policy is over and above the
responsibilities in the Port State Control program.
A specific Transport Canada program, known as Ships of Particular Interest,
targets certain foreign ships banned from entering Paris Memoranda member ports
before they arrive in Canada. The program involves reviewing past incident
reports, and the quality of ships as assessed by third parties (i.e. foreign
governments, pilots, crews, etc), allowing Transport Canada to target its
inspection on vessels that are more likely not to meet safety standards and
regulations. This program, combined with Canada’s Port State Control program,
has been highly effective in discouraging substandard ships from coming to
Canada.
All vessel operators must contact the ECAREG 96 hours before entering Canadian waters with information on their ship,
cargo and destination, and to fully report any safety deficiencies 24 hours before
entering Canadian waters. This provides time for the to review and to refuse
entry to any vessel that could pose a risk to Canadian waters.
In 1993, Transport Canada established regulations under the Canada Shipping Act
requiring any tanker built or receiving substantial modifications after 1993 be
double hulled to operate in Canadian waters. Tankers that are not double hulled
will be gradually phased out of operating in Canadian waters by 2015, beginning
with older and larger vessels. These regulations are harmonized with U.S.
regulations (Oil Pollution Act of 1990) and international regulations
established by the IMO.
Transport Canada also has regulations to enhance the safety of Canadian vessels,
including tankers. These regulations state specific standards for the building
and maintenance of these vessels and for the training of the crew. Vessel
operators are also required to maintain a safe speed and consider factors such
as visibility, traffic density and weather conditions.
In addition, there are programs in place to oversee and monitor the safe
movement of vessels in Canadian waters. Mandatory pilotage zones are in place
where traffic density and hazards warrant. Operators are required to take on
board a marine pilot with local knowledge before entering a harbour or busy
waterway - such as the Placentia Bay, the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Strait of
Juan de Fuca. Vessels operating in Canadian waters designated for
vessel traffic services are monitored and guided by the Canadian Coast Guard’s
Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centres. The Government of Canada has
also taken steps to increase surveillance and tracking of marine traffic including
"near-real-time" identification and tracking of vessels in Canadian waters by
implementing mandatory automatic identification systems (AIS).
Transport Canada establishes and enforces all above regulations and programs in
close cooperation with other departments and agencies including
Environment
Canada, the Department of Fisheries and
Oceans, the Canadian Coast Guard, and the
International Maritime Organization. Should safety deficiencies or
non-compliance be identified as a result of these programs, enforcement action
is taken against the vessel owner or operator.
The Government of Canada remains committed to marine safety and enforcement
activities to reduce and eliminate ship source marine pollution in Canadian
waters.
October 2007
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