6.1 Coasting Trade Licence
It is the responsibility of the cruise organizer/shipowner to ascertain whether or not the intended voyage is considered to be a coasting voyage. Reference should be made to the Coasting Trade Act. Inquiries should be addressed to the Carrier and Cargo Policy Section of the Canada Border Services Agency ( CBSA ) (31).
If it is deemed that a Coasting Trade Licence is required, Transport Canada, Marine Safety will be advised and an authority for the temporary importation of a vessel will be issued by CBSA . Marine Safety is then responsible for carrying out a survey in accordance with the Coasting Trade Act. If the vessel complies with all the applicable requirements of the appropriate international maritime conventions, a Coasting Trade Survey form ( SIC 10), is issued by the Marine Inspector enabling the Customs Officer to issue the Coasting Trade Licence.
The survey is usually carried out at the first Canadian port of call or a mutually agreed location. All expenses related to this survey are the cruise organizer’s/shipowner’s responsibility. Charges (including overtime) are based on the fees established in the Board of Steamship Inspection Scale of Fees Regulations and the direct costs incurred for travel, accommodation and meals in accordance with the Government of Canada Treasury Board Guidelines.
6.2 Customs Clearance
The cruise organizer/shipowner is responsible for arranging customs clearance for the ship, crew and the passengers. There are no official marine ports of entry north of 60° North. As a consequence, locations for inward and outward clearance must be mutually agreed between the Canada Border Services Agency and the cruise operator. Inquiries should be addressed to the appropriate region depending on the location of the proposed entry port.
Customs officers are normally deployed from southern Canada and the cruise operator will be responsible for the cost of their transportation to and from, and accommodation at the agreed marine port of entry.
The Canada Border Services Agency requires the vessel schedule and itinerary to be submitted well in advance (29,30). There are a number of forms, lists and certificates that must be provided for both inward and outward clearance, and it is the responsibility of the cruise ship operator to have these documents prepared in advance.
All ship’s stores on board are to be closed and sealed upon arrival at the first Canadian port, and must remain closed for the duration of the stay.