Responding to an oil spill

The following is a list of ways in which a spill may be reported:

• The general public. If you see a spill, report it!
• The ship responsible for the spill must report spills through a notification process and must implement their Shipboard Marine Pollution Emergency Plans (SOPEP). Oil handling facilities are required to report spills and implement their Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (OPEP).
• Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centres monitor for incidents 24/7 on all coasts using radar and radio communications. The MCTS Centres assist the Incident Commander in responding to the spill. Coast Guard Stations, equipped with tools, boats, and equipment are located close to the coastlines for immediate access.
• The National Aerial Surveillance Program detects oil spills and then provides “eyes in the sky” during the cleanup. During the response phase, they also map cleanup progress.
• The Integrated Satellite Tracking of Pollution (ISTOP) program uses satellite imagery to monitor Canada’s coastal waters and improve pollution response. The program aids in marine oil spill detection off Canadian coasts and encourages compliance with Canada’s laws and International Conventions that seek to minimize oil pollution and impacts to the marine ecosystem, including to marine birds. The program provides information on the location of potential spills, spatial extent and length, and nearby ship positions.
• Third-party response organizations: ships that transit Canadian waters south of the latitude 60° N, must have an arrangement with a certified response organization that would, if hired, respond to a spill on the polluter's behalf. Response organizations are certified every three years by Transport Canada.

In Canada, there are four certified response agencies. The map below indicates the areas for which each of these agencies is responsible:

• Atlantic Emergency Response Team (ALERT)
  350 Bayside Dr.
  Saint John, NB
  E2J 4Y8
  Telephone: (506) 202-4499
• Eastern Canada Response Corporation Ltd.
  1201 - 275 Slater Street
  Ottawa, Ontario
  Telephone: (613) 230-7369
  Fax: (613) 230-7344
• Western Canada Marine Response Corporation 
  206-3500 Gilmore Way
  Burnaby, BC
  V5G 0B8
• Point Tupper Marine Services Ltd. (PTMS)
  Point Tupper
  Point Tuppers, NS
  B9A 1Z5
  Telephone: (902) 625-1711

To begin, the Canadian Coast Guard collects information about the oil spill, its location, and the surroundings including:

• Is the ship damaged?
• Is the crew or anyone involved injured?
• What is being spilled?
• What is the source of the spill? (e.g., is the spill coming from the cargo being transported or the fuel tanks?)
• What size is the spill?
• Where is the spill? Is it in a remote location? Will it take time for ships to get to site? Can experts and equipment get there?
• What are the weather conditions? Bad weather can make it harder to respond.
• What partners need to be engaged?
• What tools and equipment should be used?

When an oil spill is reported, the Canadian Coast Guard activates the incident command system to coordinate responders, communities, and governments to respond.

The shipowner responsible for the spill will activate their arrangement with a Transport Canada-certified response organization. Response organizations maintain detailed response plans that are exercised regularly. These tactical plans are critical to ensure an effective response. The shipowner is liable for paying for the response.

The response organization and the Canadian Coast Guard work with:

• Indigenous Peoples and coastal communities who help respond to the spill and identify environmental, cultural, and economic priorities;
• Provincial and territorial governments
• Marine safety inspectors oversee shipowner's response plans and their salvage operations; and
• Environmental officers and wildlife biologists give advice on the cleanup protocols, local marine, and coastal wildlife needs, as well as the path of the oil and weather conditions. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s National Environmental Emergencies Centre provides scientific and technical advice aimed at reducing impacts and ensuring reasonable measures are taken to protect Canadians and the environment from environmental emergencies.

What response tools and equipment are used? The Canadian Coast Guard maintains a large stock of clean-up equipment at sites across the country. This helps them quickly respond to spills at any location. Learn about response tools.

Check out the Recovery and next steps page to learn about what steps are taken after the initial response phases is finished and how to address the long-term effects of an oil spill.

Check out the Liability and Compensation section to learn about how the polluter pays. Anyone in Canada who has suffered damage or experienced losses from ship-source oil pollution, like those related to response efforts, can file a claim for compensation. Claims should be submitted as soon as possible. If your claim is eligible, you will be compensated.

In all cases of marine pollution, even those where the polluter is unknown, unwilling, or unable to respond to a spill, the Government of Canada is responsible for ensuring an appropriate response. The Government of Canada  may direct the response operation including a range of responders, different levels of government, and scientific and other subject matter experts.

When marine pollution incidents affect waters that involve two or more countries, the Government of Canada works with other countries to ensure appropriate responses.

There are several agreements that help in this assistance exchange. For example, Canada's agreement with the U.S. includes response plan outlines and definitions of each country's roles and responsibilities during clean-up efforts. Each plan must be exercised regularly to ensure everyone is ready for emergencies and that each response organization has a clearly defined role.

Canada is a participant in the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness. During a major incident, this agreement allows countries to ask others for help.

The Government of Canada has joint emergency plans with other nations to ensure our response operations are efficient and coordinated.

To protect the marine environment in the Arctic from oil pollution, the Government of Canada has the Declaration on the Establishment of the Arctic Council Agreement on Cooperation on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response in the Arctic. Its objective is to strengthen cooperation, coordination, and mutual assistance among the organizations who work on oil pollution preparedness and response in the Arctic. This agreement outlines the procedures for incidents, including actions for notifying and requesting assistance.

The Government of Canada is part of the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC) and has established agreements with other countries.

Some other agreements include:

• Canada-Denmark Agreement for Cooperation Relating to the Marine Environment
• International Boundary Waters Treaty, 1909
• Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, 2012
• International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness
• Canada-US Joint Marine Pollution Contingency Plan (JCP)

Shipowners are required to have arrangements with response organizations to have a spill response and contingency plan by law.