COVID-19 measures, updates, and guidance for marine transportation issued by Transport Canada

On this page

• General information and news releases
  • News releases
  • Backgrounders
  • Posters
• Guidance for marine industry
  • Interim Orders
  • Ship Safety Bulletins
  • Marine Security Notification
• Other COVID-19 related resources
• Requirement for passengers onboard ferries to exit enclosed vehicle decks

General information and news releases

News releases

• Government of Canada announces one-year ban for pleasure craft and cruise vessels (February 04, 2021)
• Minister Garneau announces extended measures for cruise ships and pleasure craft in Canada (October 29, 2020)
• Minister Garneau announces new measures for the use of face coverings in the Canadian transportation sector (June 3, 2020)
• Minister Garneau announces updated measures for cruise ships and passenger vessels in Canadian waters up to October 31, 2020 (May 29, 2020)
• The Government of Canada announces new measures for pleasure craft in northern communities (May 14, 2020)
• New measures introduced for non-medical masks or face coverings in the Canadian transportation system (April 17, 2020)
• The Government of Canada announces new measures for ferries and commercial passenger vessels capable of carrying more than 12 passengers (April 5, 2020)
• Government of Canada announces intention to defer the start of cruise ship season in Canada as COVID-19 response measure (March 13, 2020)

Backgrounders

• Updated COVID-19 measures for cruise ships and other passenger vessels (May 29, 2020)
• New measures for pleasure craft operators to limit the spread of COVID-19 (May 14, 2020)
• Use of non-medical masks or face coverings in the Canadian transportation system (April 17, 2020)
• COVID-19 safety requirements for commercial passenger vessels and ferries (April 5, 2020)

Posters

• COVID-19 guidance posters for marine transportation

Guidance for marine industry

• Guidance for Cruise Ships: How to use the Maritime Declaration of Health
• Canada’s cruise ship instructional reference tool
• Guidelines for Pleasure Craft during the COVID-19 Pandemic
• COVID-19: Guidance Material for Essential Passenger Vessel and Ferry Operators
• Regulations Maintaining the Safety of Persons in Ports and the Seaway
• Partially vaccinated exemption request form (PDF, 488 KB)
• Medical exemption request form (PDF, 191 KB)
• Religious exemption request form (PDF, 172 KB)
• Standards for the Development of a Ship-to-Shore Checklist Respecting Procedures at Ports

Interim Orders

• Interim Order No. 3 Respecting Vessel Restrictions and Vaccination Requirements Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Repealed - Interim Order No. 2 Respecting Vessel Restrictions and Vaccination Requirements Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (January 18, 2022)
• Repealed - Interim Order Respecting Vessel Restrictions and Vaccination Requirements Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (November 29, 2021)
• Interim Order No. 3 Restricting Pleasure Craft Navigation Due to COVID-19 (March 1, 2021)
• Repealed - Interim Order No. 7 Respecting Passenger Vessel Restrictions Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (October 30, 2021)
• Repealed - Interim Order No. 6 Respecting Passenger Vessel Restrictions Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (August 11, 2021)
• Repealed - Interim Order No. 5 Respecting Passenger Vessel Restrictions Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (March 1, 2021)
• Repealed - Interim Order No. 4 Respecting Passenger Vessel Restrictions Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (October 30, 2020)
• Repealed - Interim Order No. 2 Restricting Pleasure Craft Navigation Due to COVID-19 (October 30, 2020)
• Repealed - Interim Order Restricting Pleasure Craft Navigation Due to COVID-19 (May 30, 2020)
• Repealed - Interim Order No. 3 Respecting Passenger Vessel Restrictions Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (June 30, 2020)
• Repealed - Interim Order No. 2 Respecting Passenger Vessel Restrictions Due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (April 20, 2020)

Ship Safety Bulletins

Date	Bulletin number	Subject
May 6, 2022	18/2021	Measures to Support Safe Cruise Travel in Canada (modified May 6, 2022)
April 26, 2022	17/2021	Measures to Mitigate the Spread of COVID-19 on Canadian Vessels and Foreign Passenger Vessels Operating in Canadian Waters (modified April 26, 2022)
March 3, 2022	06/2022	Updated guidelines respecting the mobility of asymptomatic, presumed non-Covid-19-carrying* seafarers in the marine sector during the COVID-19 pandemic (This Bulletin replaces Bulletin 02/2022)
January 15, 2022	02/2022	Updated guidelines respecting the mobility of asymptomatic, presumed non-Covid-19-carrying* seafarers in the marine sector during the Covid-19 pandemic – January 15, 2022 (This Bulletin replaces Bulletin 21/2021)
December 24, 2021	21/2021	Updated guidelines respecting the mobility of asymptomatic, presumed non-COVID-19-carrying* seafarers in the marine sector during the COVID-19 pandemic – December 24, 2021 (This Bulletin replaces Bulletin 19/2021)
November 30, 2021	19/2021	Updated guidelines respecting the mobility of asymptomatic, presumed non-covid-19-carrying* seafarers in the marine sector during the COVID-19 pandemic – November 30, 2021 (This Bulletin replaces Bulletin 16/2021)
November 1, 2021	16/2021	Updated guidelines respecting the mobility of asymptomatic, presumed non-COVID-19-carrying* seafarers in the marine sector during the COVID-19 pandemic (This Bulletin has been replaced by Bulletin 19/2021)
July 27, 2021	11/2021	Updated guidelines respecting the mobility of asymptomatic, presumed non-COVID-19-carrying* seafarers in the marine sector during the COVID-19 pandemic (This Bulletin has been replaced by Bulletin 16/2021)
July 5, 2021	08/2021	Measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 on passenger vessels and ferries (modified 2021-11-01)
June 30, 2020	18/2020	Mobility of Asymptomatic Workers in the Marine Sector During COVID-19
June 3, 2020	15/2020	Temporary Guidance Regarding the Use of Non-Medical Masks or Face Coverings for Workers in the Marine Transportation Sector
May 13, 2020	13/2020	Temporary Measures Regarding Marine Personnel Certificates, Discharge Books and Marine Counter Services
April 17, 2020	12/2020	Measures to Mitigate the Spread of COVID-19 on Passenger Vessels and Ferries (modified June 30, 2020) (This Bulletin has been replaced by Bulletin 08/2021)
March 19, 2020	05/2020	Deferral of the Canadian Cruise Ship Season for Vessels Capable of Carrying 500 Persons or More until July 1, 2020

Marine Security Notification

Date	MSN number	Subject
May 10, 2022	2022-003	Special Marine Security Notification – 2022-003
May 11, 2021	2021-005	Special Marine Security Notification – 2021-005 (This Special MSN has been replaced by Special MSN 2022-003)

Other COVID-19 related resources

• Information on Mandatory Self-Isolation for Individuals Entering Canada
• Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
• News releases from the Prime Minister of Canada
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Canada’s response
• Government of Canada’s response to COVID-19 (legislative and other measures)