Enhancing marine emergency management

Recent marine incidents have highlighted some gaps in Canada’s marine safety system. To help close these gaps, the Government of Canada will strengthen the laws, regulations, and policies for managing marine incidents. This will enable the Government to prevent marine incidents from occurring or worsening and reduce the impact on the marine environment and coastal communities.

To add further protections to those added under the Oceans Protection Plan, Transport Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard—the federal departments responsible for marine emergency response—will enhance their regulations, policies, processes, and training to close additional gaps and effectively manage marine incidents of all kinds.

Discussion paper: Developing New Regulations to Improve Readiness and Response for Marine Safety and Hazardous and Noxious Substances Incidents

We want your input on potential rules to increase access to marine emergency services and improve response to pollution incidents.

Your views will help determine :

  • Which vessel types should have emergency service arrangements?
  • What requirements should be part of these arrangements?
  • Which vessels and handling facilities should have hazardous and noxious substances response plans?
  • What requirements should be included in the response plans?
  • What responsibilities and capabilities should a response coordinator have?

We invite you to read the online discussion paper and welcome your feedback by January 31, 2025.

Eligible Indigenous organizations, communities, and not-for-profit organizations may qualify for funding to support their participation in this project. For more information, please visit Apply for CPFP funding – Marine Transportation Component (canada.ca)