2018 Arctic Coast Guard Season

June 2018

As part of Canada's multi-agency approach to Arctic safety, security and environmental protection, the Canadian Coast Guard supports ocean science, management, and maritime security while strengthening its ability to protect Canadians, support our most northern residents and protect the marine environment throughout the Arctic.

We are actively working with Inuit, other indigenous and northern residents in order to expand the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary across the Arctic.

Possible visits to new Coast Guard Auxiliary units in the Arctic may occur.  The Coast Guard will also lead marine search and rescue operations and environmental response activities on a priority basis if called upon.

The Coast Guard’s new Inshore Rescue Boat station in Rankin Inlet, NU will open in 2018, and will be operated by Indigenous students from the Arctic. It will act as a foundation for expansion of local maritime search and rescue response across the Arctic, and brings the number of Inshore Rescue Boat stations the Coast Guard currently operates to 26 across the country.

As part of the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS), a number of Coast Guard vessels have dedicated seabed mapping programs this season. They are ensuring a safe and secure marine environment by supporting CHS work, including surveying and charting, and using state-of-the art multi-beam sonar systems to significantly increase the amount of sea floor surveyed in the Arctic.

Four Royal Canadian Sea Cadets will board the CCGS Pierre Radisson and CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent for a combined total of approximately 50 days to learn about the naval and maritime environment by participating in a variety of activities on and off the water by fully integrating into the Ship’s Company.

The CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier will support the Aids to Navigation Program in the Western Arctic, deploying additional navigational aids to ensure mariners are warned of potential hazards. A number of vessels are deploying ocean drifters and ARGO NOVA floats, which record data on ocean temperature, salinity, and pressure in Hudson Bay, and Baffin Bay, Atlantic Region and along the Newfoundland Shelves.

As our ships approach communities where fast ice is present, CCG crews will contact the community to ensure that hunters and other residents are advised to avoid the area during operations.