Introduction
The National Marine Safety and Security Program created an online consultation to receive feedback from stakeholders and the Canadian public on the new requirements adopted by the International Maritime organization (IMO) for new classes of vessels subject to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention and the Polar Code.
Transport Canada plans to add these requirements to the Arctic Shipping Safety and Pollution Prevention Regulations which are applicable to Canadian and foreign vessels.
The changes have been made to make it safer to navigate, prevent pollution, and plan voyages for non-SOLAS ships in Polar Waters. These changes will come into effect on January 1, 2026, or on January 1, 2027, for ships constructed before January 1, 2026.
We posted a consultation on the Let’s Talk Transportation site on September 8, 2023, and shared it widely to solicit feedback on the upcoming requirements. We presented the plans during the National Canadian Marine Advisory Council (CMAC) meeting, and at regional meetings held in Ottawa, Quebec and the Prairie and Northern Regions. At these events we shared information, answered questions, encouraged participants to make written submissions online or request follow-up meetings to discuss further.
Key highlights from submissions
There were more than 140 visits to the Let’s Talk Transportation page and we received 5 formal written submissions.
The comments recommended more navigation and vessel safety, training for crews and the protection of marine mammals.
Feedback on key questions
Do you have concerns about the requirements for the new types of vessels that Transport Canada wants to add to the Arctic Shipping Safety and Pollution Prevention Regulations?
Specific feedback included:
- The importance of protecting marine mammals by preventing collisions
- The need to ensure proper inspection of vessels prior to any Arctic voyage
- Support for engaging with and involving Indigenous communities
- Opportunities to engage Northern communities to identify gaps in Northern response capacity and to identify training and equipment needs to enhance Arctic response
- Concerns about allowing more commercial fishing vessels in the Arctic
Do you think that navigation will be safer in polar waters after these changes are implemented?
Specific feedback included:
- Questions about specialized training requirements for vessels/crews operating in the Arctic
- The importance of protecting marine mammals by preventing collisions
- A request for the voyage plan to include a designated route(s) as determined by the protected area management plan and to include reporting requirements for entering or sheltering in a protected area
- A request to consider reviewing the definition of places of refuge
- Suggestions for the voyage plan to identify which Arctic communities along the voyage have existing Search and Rescue and Coast Guard Auxiliary organizations
- Opportunities to engage Northern communities to identify the gaps in Northern response capacity and identify training and equipment needs to enhance Arctic response
- The belief that the wording of some requirements in the Amendments was too vague
Next steps
We will share this report with those who provided direct feedback, so we can further explore the proposed ideas and what could be done to make the new requirements contribute to improve marine safety, reduce environmental impacts, and better plan arctic voyages.