Section 2

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Coastal Area Review of Potential Places of Refuge in the Atlantic Region

Background

IMO Resolutions A.949(23) “Guidelines on Places of Refuge for Ships in Need of Assistance” and Resolution A. 950(23) “Maritime Assistance Services”(MAS) offers advice to both coastal states and masters of ships as to the manner in which situations giving rise to a request for access to a place of refuge might be best handled.

The focus on the “Places of Refuge” issue was brought up by three significant shipping disasters (oil tankers “ERIKA”, “CASTOR” and “PRESTIGE”), which impacted mainly the coasts of Europe. These incidents resulted in very serious damage to coastline ecosystems, communities and businesses. The scale of the damage and the political response to it have given rise to intense international interest and concern. This has led to the development of the Guidelines, which provide a framework for decision making that will help to ensure a thorough and balanced risk assessment, allay concerns of the stakeholders and the best risk control strategy decided, adopted and implemented in a timely and safe manner.

Transport Canada has developed the National Places of Refuge Contingency Plan ( PORCP ) TP 14707 E as a framework for deciding a suitable “Places of Refuge” in Canada.

Evaluation of the Atlantic Coast Line

This process will facilitate the risk evaluation and compare one option to another in the event of an incident. The most suitable “Place of Refuge” can only be determined after the details of the specific incident are known and thoroughly considered on a case by case basis, as the limitations, operation considerations, hazards and associated risks can vary greatly with each incident.

Transport Canada Marine Safety and Security – Atlantic Region has taken this into consideration when performing the evaluation of the Atlantic Coast of Canada in order to assemble data that will be used to expedite the case specific analysis and decision making process. This evaluation of the Atlantic Canada coastline is not a process for “pre-designation” or “ pre-identification”, but is meant to establish factors of suitability of such places, facilities, and resources to assist a ship in these places and will help to identify the nature and degree of risk from the environmental social and economic point of view.

Current Status

Transport Canada Marine Safety and Security Branch supports the IMO Resolutions A .949(23) and A .950(23) regarding the Places of Refuge for ships in need of assistance and Maritime Assistance Services.

National Contingency Plans for responding to a request for a place of refuge have been developed at Transport Canada Headquarters in Ottawa.

Departmental Position

Transport Canada recognizes that because of the international nature of shipping, action to mitigate risks and prevent incidents related to ships requesting places of refuge is most effectively carried out through the implementation of IMO Resolution A. 949(23) “Guidelines on Places of Refuge for Ships in Need of Assistance” and Resolution A. 950(23) “Maritime Assistance Services( MAS ).

Transport Canada is committed to consulting with other Federal and Provincial Departments to form an assessment team as well as with all other interested stakeholders to select suitable “place of refuge” on a case-by-case basis when a request is received on the East Coast of Canada.

Transport Canada is committed to maintaining and updating the national and regional Contingency Plans. Transport Canada will carry out a risk assessment on a case to case basis together with a decision making mechanism regarding Places of Refuge for ships in need of assistance in order to ensure a safe, efficient and environmentally friendly transportation system.

Atlantic Region List of Evaluated Places of Refuge

Ref # Place of Refuge Name Province Chart
Sailing Directions
Winter Ice Pilotage
VTMS
Port Authority
Anchorage
Depths
Bottom
Swing Area Shelter Provided Response Org. Oil Handling Facilities Facilities
1. Saint John, (Courtney Bay) New Brunswick 4117
4116

ATL
106
Ice Free Compulsory
Fundy Traffic

Saint John Port Authority

Areas A & B 11 to 50 m, Mud, Sand, Rock

Area D 30 to 65 m, Sand, Rock, Mud

0.5~1 mile

1.5 miles
Exposed SW to SE winds / seas

Very large tides and currents
ALERT Canaport Offshore & Onshore Tugs

Berths

Contractors

TCMS Office
2. Shelburne Nova Scotia 4209

ATL
105
Ice Free Non-Compulsory

No VTMS

Public Port

N & S of Adament Rk in 7 to 13 m, mud.
 

4 Cables E of Harts Pt, 11 m, mud.

3 cables

2 cables
Sheltered ECRC No Shipyard 3,000 tonnes

Contractors
3. Halifax Nova Scotia 4237
4201
4202
4203

ATL
105
Ice Free Compulsory

Halifax Traffic

Halifax Port Authority
Inner Hbr 1 to 7, 14 to 20 m , Mud

Bedford Basin 8 to 12, 40 to 70 m , Mud, Rock
Airdraft - 44 m

Approaches A & B 20 to 60 m Rock
1.8 cables

4 cables

1 mile
Sheltered

Open to N to NE

Exposed, Poor Holding Ground
ECRC Imperial Oil

Ultramar

Wilson Fuels

McAsphalt
Shipyard 36,000 tonnes & 173 m

Tugs

Berths (Oil, Containers, General)

Contractors

TCMS Office
4. Chedabucto Bay

Inhabitants Bay

Strait of Canso Superport
Nova Scotia 4335
4306
4307
4308

ATL
104
Possible Pack Ice Compulsory

Canso Traffic

Public Ports
A to F, 25 to 44  m . Mud

G to O, 7 to 24 m Mud

Very deep water
2 miles

1 mile
Open to E’ly


Sheltered
PTMSC Statia Terminal Tugs

Berths (Oil, Stone, Coal General)

Contractors

TCMS Office
5. Sydney Nova Scotia 4266

ATL
104
Pack Ice Heavy Pressure Compulsory

No VTMS

Public Port
Off Fishery Cove, 11 to 13 m, Mud 5 cables
Sheltered
ECRC Imperial Oil Shipyard 2,000 tonnes

Berths (Oil, General, Coal)

Contractors

TCMS Office
6. Chaleur Bay

Dalhousie

Belledune
New Brunswick 4486
4920
4426

ATL
108
Pack Ice Heavy Pressure Non-Compulsory

No VTMS

Belledune Port Authority
1.5 and 3 NM NE of Breakwater 25 to 30 m
Hard Mud
2 miles Open to NE ECRC NB Power

Belldune
Berths

Contractors

TCMS Office
7. Corner Brook

Bay of Islands

Humber Arm
Newfoundland & Labrador 4652
4653

ATL
109
Pack IceHeavy Pressure Compulsory

No VTMS

Corner Brook Port Corporation
Bay of Islands, 1 mile N of Seal Island, 50 m M

Humber Arm, 80 to 100 m throughout M
1 mile

4 cables
Open to NW

Sheltered
ECRC Irving Oil

Ultramar
Berths (Oil, General)

Contractors

TCMS Office
8. Marystown Newfoundland & Labrador 4587

ATL
102
Possible Pack Ice Non-Compulsory

Placentia Traffic

Public Port
6 cables N of Seal Rk , 76 m  MG 6 cables Sheltered ECRC No Shipyard 3000 tonnes

Berths

Contractors
9. Come by Chance

Whiffen Head
Newfoundland
& Labrador
4839
4622

ATL
102
Possible Pack Ice Compulsory

Placentia Traffic

Public Port
AA 80 m RG
Emergencies Only

BB 75 m MRS
Crude Tankers

CC 55 m MR
Product Tankers

DD 30 m MSh
Product Tankers

EE 25 m M
Vessels less than 10,000 dwt

HH 65m R
5 cables

5 cables

5 cables

2.5 cables

1 cable




5 cables
Sheltered

Sheltered

Sheltered

Sheltered

Sheltered





Sheltered
ECRC Newfoudland Transshipment
Ltd.
Tugs

Berths
326,000 dwt
67,000 dwt

Contractors
10. Lewisporte

Indian Arm
Newfoundland & Labrador 4865

ATL
101
Pack Ice Heavy Pressure Compulsory

No VTMS

Public Port
9 cables NW of Mussel Bed Rock. 50 m M 9 cables Sheltered ECRC Imperial Oil Berth

Contractors

TCMS Office
11. Hamilton Inlet

Groswater Bay (Approaches)
Newfoundland & Labrador 4732
5140
5135

ATL
120
Pack Ice Heavy Pressure

Ice bergs, bergy bits
Available, Non-Compulsory

No VTMS

Goose Bay is a Public Port
3.9 miles E of East Sister Island. 45 m M 1.5 miles Sheltered ECRC No Goose Bay Lies further west. Offers airport, hospital, and hotels.

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