Compliance with Regulations and Certification

It is the cruise shipowners' and operators' responsibility to ensure their ship is in compliance with all applicable requirements of the Arctic Shipping Pollution Prevention Regulations (ASPPR) if it wishes to enter a Shipping Safety Control Zone in Canadian Arctic waters. The Arctic Pollution Prevention Certificate is evidence that a ship is in compliance with the ASPPR . Outside of Canada, an exclusive surveyor of one of the approved Classification Societies may inspect vessels for compliance. If a foreign flag vessel has not had a Port State Control inspection done within six months of arriving in Canada, or if significant defects have been reported, a Port State Control inspection may have to be arranged at the vessel’s first Canadian port of call.

Within Canada, Pollution Prevention Officers perform inspections. They are available from all Transport Canada Marine Safety Office:
Pacific region: +1 (604) 666-0834
Prairie and Northern region: +1 (888) 463-0521
Ontario region: +1 (519) 383-1825
Quebec region: +1 (888) 649-6292
Atlantic region: +1 (800) 387-4999

The Prairie and Northern Region of Transport Canada has jurisdiction for all Arctic waters north of 60° N latitude

Cruise ship operators are responsible for forwarding certain information to the Manager, Transport Canada Centres Edmonton, Prairie and Northern Region – Marine to establish whether a vessel complies with all applicable regulations. The Guidelines for the Operation of Passenger Vessels in Canadian Arctic Waters outlines the information, certificates and documents that are required to be sent. For foreign state vessels, the submission of plans showing compliance may require 12 months advance notice.

If the operator wishes to have a vessel certificated as equivalent to an Arctic Class or a Canadian Arctic Category rather than a Type ship, all relevant information and specifications should be submitted to the Transport Canada Marine Safety Office in Winnipeg at least 6 months in advance.