Tables of contents
- 1. Overview of the program, operating context and environment
- 2. Considerations and drivers for oversight activities priorities
- 3. Oversight delivery in 2024-25
- 4. Organizational contact information
1. Overview of the program, operating context and environment
Many different factors affect the work of Transport Canada’s Marine Safety and Security Directorate:
- as a trading nation, Canada relies on a safe, secure and environmentally responsible marine transportation system to grow our economy
- remote northern communities, that can only be reached by water or air, depend on supply vessels
- ferries and cruise ships carry millions of passengers through lakes, rivers and coastal waters every year
- thousands of fishing vessels provide jobs for communities
- millions of Canadians enjoy recreational boating
The Marine Safety and Security oversight program has a broad scope. Transport Canada defines oversight as: “How Transport Canada promotes, monitors or enforces compliance with our safety and security requirements.”
We oversee five key areas:
- Vessels: the safety and security of foreign and domestic vessels
- Personnel: qualification and protection
- Infrastructure: ports and facilities
- Environment: clean air and water
- Operational systems: surveillance, incident management and enforcement
These areas help meet two of Transport Canada’s core responsibilities: a safe and secure transportation system, and a green and innovative transportation system.
The foundations for the oversight program are the laws and regulations that set minimum requirements for safety, security and protecting the environment. All vessels and crew in Canadian waters must comply with these laws and any related regulations:
- Canada Shipping Act, 2001
- Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act
- Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act
- Pilotage Act
Canadian ports, other marine facilities, and the people and vessels using them, must comply with the Marine Transportation Security Act and its regulations.
The marine industry is always changing due to:
- changing technology, shipping routes, vessel size and customization
- new trade agreements
- more international traffic through the Arctic
- increasing cyber risks due to greater use and dependence on technology in the sector
- increasing safety and security risks due to higher demand for travel and supply to remote locations
- growing environmental issues
- challenges imposed by risks associated with complex events such as the COVID-19 pandemic declared by the World Health Organization in March 2020
In total, the program has over 750 full-time employees. About half of the employees are inspectors who do inspections and audits. Employees also manage and conduct quality control, act as technical experts, offer training, and undertake policy development, guidance and research.
The Marine Safety and Security program represents Canada at the International Maritime Organization – a United Nations agency. We also carry out Canada’s commitments under the Paris Memoranda of Understanding on Port State Control, the Tokyo Memoranda of Understanding on Port State Control and the Maritime Labour Convention.
Priorities for 2024-25
In 2024-2025 Marine Safety and Security plans to:
- continue to prioritize the inspection of small vessels including fishing vessels, passenger vessels, workboats, tugs, and other vessels that are less than 15 gross tonnage and carry less than 12 passengers
- launch the Navigation Safety Assessment Process for marine terminal and transshipment sites
- oversee the gradual coming into force of the new Marine Safety Management System requirements for many Canadian vessels
- publish the modernized Marine Personnel Regulations, 2024. This will align Canada’s regulations with international standards and modernise the Marine Medical Program.
2. Considerations and drivers for oversight activities priorities
The Marine Safety and Security Directorate’s work mainly consists of regulatory authorizations, but we also do planned, risk-based inspections; reactive inspections; and enforcement activities.
Our oversight priorities include:
Pleasure craft
We work with our safety partners to teach recreational boaters and make them aware of requirements using the Safe Boating Guide (PDF, 4.8 MB) and other material. We also train enforcement partners to check compliance on our behalf.
Small vessels
Small vessels, also called uncertificated non-pleasure craft, are:
- used for anything other than pleasure, and
- 15 gross tonnage or less, or
- carry 12 passengers or less
These vessels do not need a valid certificate from Transport Canada to operate but must meet any requirements that apply.
To help owners understand those requirements, we have developed the voluntary Small Vessel Compliance Program. This program gives owners an easy-to-use tool that brings together all requirements for small non-pleasure vessels. This program is available for workboats, fishing vessels and tugs.
Large vessels
Large vessels, also called certificated non-pleasure craft:
- are more than 15 gross tonnage, or
- carry more than 12 passengers
They require a certificate from Transport Canada to operate. Certificates are valid for one year for passenger vessels, and four or five years for non-passenger vessels, and are issued after an inspection confirms that the vessel and its crew meet the requirements.
Recognized organizations
Recognized organizations inspect some large vessels on behalf of the Minister of Transport. Seven recognized organizations do inspections in Canada. They are all members of the International Association of Classification Societies and have at least one office in Canada.
Transport Canada audits the performance of the recognized organizations to make sure that they meet the requirements of their agreements with the Minister.
Seafarers
Marine Safety and Security issues certificates of competency to seafarers, which they need to work on Canadian vessels. We administer written, oral and practical exams and oversee the medical fitness of seafarers to make sure that all regulatory requirements are met before we issue a certificate. We also accredit and audit marine training institutions.
Marine pilotage
Marine Safety and Security oversees marine pilotage in Canada. Marine pilots are mariners who steer vessels in busy or dangerous waters. They have specialized knowledge of the waters where they work.
Environmental protection
The program works to make sure that Canada’s marine environment is protected. This includes testing ballast water for invasive species, monitoring and responding to marine oil spills, and protecting North Atlantic right whales and southern resident killer whales.
Marine facility and vessel security
The program assesses and inspects marine facilities, ports and vessels, and we review security plans.
Enforcement
When we find non-compliances (issues), there are different ways we can encourage vessel owners or operators to fix the issues. These enforcement tools also act as a deterrent (something that makes it less appealing to let issues slide). They include:
- verbal warnings
- written warnings
- assurances of compliance
- administrative monetary penalties (fines)
- detentions
- prosecutions
3. Oversight delivery in 2024-25
The delivery of oversight activities, such as planned risk-based inspections and reactive inspections, will be reported through the Canadian Center on Transportation Data (CCTD).
4. Organizational contact information
Transport Canada welcomes your comments on this report.
Email: marinesafety-securitemaritime@tc.gc.ca
Annex A: Definitions
| Required field | Description |
|---|---|
| Oversight | How Transport Canada promotes, monitors or enforces compliance with our safety and security requirements. |
| Regulatory authorizations | Given when a regulated party (for example, a railway company or vehicle manufacturer) applies for permission to do a regulated activity, or be exempt from it. We may give permission in various forms, including a permit, licence or certification. Transport Canada does not control the number of regulatory authorizations per planning cycle. |
| Inspection |
A documented, formal examination of industry compliance with Canadian transportation safety and security rules, regulations and requirements. Authorized Transport Canada officials record the results of each inspection. For the purposes of this document, audits are a type of inspection. *Includes pre-site, onsite, and post-site inspection and oversight activities. Is complete when the inspector submits an approved inspection or oversight activities report. Does not include follow-up action, quality control checks or outreach activities. |
| Planned, risk-based inspections |
All inspections Transport Canada initially commits to doing in a given planning cycle. * Does not include:
|
| Follow-up activities |
Arise from findings of an initial inspection. May include an on-site inspection, requests for more information, or enhanced monitoring. *Do not include enforcement. |
| Other activities | Oversight activities that Transport Canada did not initially commit to in a planning cycle, and are not a follow-up to an inspection or audit. |
| Enforcement |
Measures we use to enforce requirements and compel compliance. For example:
|
| Education, outreach and awareness | How we educate the public, and encourage people and companies to comply with the law (for example: industry conferences, air shows, training, web portal) |
| Quality control |
How we ensure inspectors follow policies and procedures, and complete required documentation. Applies to an entire oversight activity, from inspection, to follow-up, to resolving non-compliance. Supervisors and managers are responsible for quality control. Each program must have:
|