Potential regulations to increase access to marine emergency services and to improve response to pollution incidents

Canada is a maritime country with the longest coastline in the world. Canadians rely on oceans and waterways for food, recreation, transportation, and for shipping many of the products we use every day.

Transport Canada is the lead federal department for managing marine transportation safety in Canada. This includes working with other federal departments like the Canadian Coast Guard and Environment and Climate Change Canada to ensure marine safety and protect the environment by preventing, preparing for, responding to pollution incidents and vessel emergencies.

The Oceans Protection Plan aims to strengthen marine safety and environmental protection. In support of this goal, amendments to the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 were made in 2023 to further improve how Canada prepares for and responds to marine emergencies and pollution incidents.

As next steps, Transport Canada is proposing to create new regulations in two areas:

1. Enhancing marine safety response:
   1. a) Requiring certain vessel types to have arrangements in place to access marine emergency services if there is an incident (for example, marine firefighting and assistance to disabled vessels)
2. Preparing for and responding to marine pollution incidents: 
   1. a) Improving how vessels and handling facilities prepare for and respond to marine incidents that involve hazardous and noxious substances
   2. b) Introducing a response coordinator role to improve response to all types of pollution incidents

We want your input to help determine the scope and key features of future regulations like:

• Which vessel types should have emergency services arrangements?
• What requirements should be included in the 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 the response coordinator should have

Join in: how to participate

• Read the discussion paper here and then email your comments to OPP.EMEM.HNS-PPO.AGUM.SNPD@tc.gc.ca

Who is the focus of this consultation

We want to hear from Indigenous peoples, coastal communities, industry stakeholders, and the Canadian public. Your opinions and feedback are important!

Key questions for discussion

This discussion paper focuses on key areas of proposed regulatory development. While the discussion paper includes specific questions for consideration, they are centered around the following four themes and we welcome feedback on all aspects of the discussion paper:

1. Guiding principles
2. Marine emergency services arrangements
3. Preparing for and responding to hazardous and noxious substances incidents
4. Response coordinator for marine pollution incidents

Related information

• Preventing spills from vessels
• National Oil Spill Preparedness and Response Regime
• Improving Canada’s response to hazardous noxious substances
• Transportation of Dangerous Goods in Canada
• Marine Liability and Compensation: Limitation of liability for maritime claims
• Canada Shipping Act, 2001
• Community Participation Funding Program

Contact us

Oceans Protection Plan
Transport Canada
Place de Ville, Tower C
330 Sparks St
Ottawa ON K1A 0N5
Email: OPP.EMEM.HNS-PPO.AGUM.SNPD@tc.gc.ca