Special Marine Security Notification

Issue: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

For immediate dissemination

This Special MSN has been replaced by Special MSN – 2022-003

Purpose

This Marine Security Notification (MSN) provides an update to MSN #2020-007 issued on April 10, 2020, which is hereby rescinded.

Transport Canada (TC) continues to monitor the evolving public health threat of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), both internationally and nationally, with a view to mitigating its effect on Canada’s maritime transportation system. This MSN provides guidance and direction to SOLAS and non-SOLAS vessels entering and operating in Canadian waters, regarding the reporting of crew or passengers symptomatic of the COVID-19.

Direction and Guidance

As per the Quarantine Act, “as soon as possible prior to arrival of a vessel at its destination in Canada, the vessel operator must inform a quarantine officer, or cause a quarantine officer to be informed if any person, cargo or other things on board the conveyance could cause the spreading of a communicable disease [including COVID-19]”.

Informing a quarantine officer must occur as soon as possible, including through any complementary processes which can facilitate contact between vessels and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). For example, reporting of illnesses aboard a vessel can be made through the existing 96 hour Pre-Arrival Information Report (PAIR) in accordance with section 221 of the Marine Transportation Security Regulations (MTSR), and to the nearest Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centre (MCTS) in accordance to the Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) Zone Regulations, Eastern Canada Vessel Traffic Services Zones Regulations (ECAREG) and Northern Canada Vessel Traffic Services Zones Regulations (NORDREG) (CSA 2001 – Part 5).

Based on the information provided by the operator, PHAC will provide follow-on direction to the vessel. Should PHAC determine that a crew member or passenger onboard a vessel to be at risk, the Agency will inform other organizations (this may include but is not limited to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), and Transport Canada who will then notify appropriate pilotage and port authorities).

The reporting mechanism for vessels to use is dependent upon its situation (e.g. location, voyage type) as outlined below. Links to additional measures put in place by the Government of Canada to minimize the spread, and risk posed by COVID-19 in the marine sector can be found at the bottom of this document.

Please consider the following scenarios below for the appropriate actions to be taken if anyone on-board is sick; has been potentially exposed to COVID-19; or, is waiting for COVID-19 testing or/results:

If you are a vessel more than 24 hours from entering Canadian waters
- Please report the presence of suspected COVID-19 cases IMMEDIATELY to Transport Canada following the submission of your Pre-Arrival Information Report.
If you are a vessel 24 hours or less entering Canadian waters
- Please report the presence of suspected COVID-19 cases IMMEDIATELY to the nearest Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centre (as outlined in section 3.5 and 3.8 of the Radio Aids to Marine Navigation) and Transport Canada.
If you are a vessel arriving at a Canadian port or marine facility
- Please report presence of suspected COVID-19 cases IMMEDIATELY to Canada Border Services Agency and Transport Canada.
If you are a vessel operating in Canadian waters and have cleared Canadian Customs (if necessary) OR if you are on a domestic voyage
- Please report suspected COVID-19 cases AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to the nearest Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centre and to Transport Canada.
If you are a vessel operating in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway
- Please report presence of suspected COVID-19 cases AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to nearest Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centre or any applicable vessel traffic centre.
- If entering Canada from another country you must ALSO inform Canada Border Services Agency by submitting a report with your Pre-Arrival Notification (PAN)

Other Maritime Stakeholders

Other maritime stakeholders – including port or marine facility operators, pilotage authorities, ships’ crew members, port staff, inspectors, shore-based support technicians – who observe anyone operating on or around a vessel where those persons are displaying an illness symptomatic of COVID-19 should inform the responsible provincial or local health authorities and the nearest Transport Canada centre.

Consequences of Failing to Report

Failure to report suspected cases of COVID-19 to the Government of Canada may result in prosecution under the Quarantine Act or other relevant legislation.

Contact Information:

Refer to Radio aids to Marine Navigation (RAMN) for Marine Communications and Traffic Centre contacts

Transport Canada

On the Pacific Coast, foreign flagged vessels and Canadian Flagged vessels arriving in Canada from international voyages are requested to continue the established, complementary process by advising the Marine Security Operations Centre (MSOC) West of any illness when submitting the 96 Hour Pre-arrival Information Report (PAIR), and advising MSOC-W of any illness or change in crew health while the vessel remains in the waters of British Columbia.

Marine Security Operations Centre West - Transport Canada
MARSECW@tc.gc.ca
1-250-363-4850

On the Atlantic Coast, foreign flagged vessels and Canadian flagged vessels arriving in Canada from international voyages are requested to continue the established, complementary process by advising MSOC East (MSOC-E) of any illness when submitting the 96 Hour Pre-arrival Information Report (PAIR), and advising MSOC-E of any illness or change in crew health while the vessel remains in Canada’s Eastern Waters.

Marine Security Operations Centre East - Transport Canada
marsece@tc.gc.ca
1-902-427-8003

Language selection

WxT Language switcher

Special Marine Security Notification – 2021-005