No. H060/02For release - June 11, 2002
OTTAWA — Transport Minister David Collenette today released Transport Canada's 2001 Annual Report on the effort to eradicate substandard shipping through its Port State Control Inspection Program. The report publishes the names of vessels and their operators that failed to meet Transport Canada's standards for operating in Canadian waters in 2001.
Last year, of the 1,197 vessels inspected at Canadian ports, more than half (634) had defects. Of this number, 92 had issues serious enough to warrant detention. These detained vessels had an average age of 18.2 years. This compares to 2000, when 1,070 ships were inspected, 583 were found to have defects, and 103 were detained. These detained ships had an average age of 16.3 years.
"Canada is a leading nation in the global effort to ensure that commercial vessels meet modern standards of safe operations, and in taking action against operators who fall short of these requirements," said Mr. Collenette. "The collective commitment, embodied in the Port State Control program, recognizes that by working together, seafaring nations can ensure substandard vessels and operating practices are rooted out and ultimately eliminated."
Under Canada's Port State Control Inspection Program, Transport Canada inspectors board and inspect foreign ships at Canadian ports. In addition, Transport Canada aims to inspect all foreign tankers on their first visit to Canada, and once a year thereafter. Detained ships must rectify their deficiencies before being allowed to leave Canadian ports.
"Substandard shipping is a threat to the safety of crew members, the marine environment, and our economy," added Mr. Collenette. "Transport Canada is committed to working with all other coastal nations and the international shipping community in order to meet the shared responsibility for safe and responsible marine operations."
Transport Canada has been publishing the names of offending vessels since 1996.
The final report and a list of foreign ships detained at Canadian ports, as well as other information on ship detentions, can be found on Transport Canada's web site at: http://www.tc.gc.ca/marinesafety/tp/tp13595/2001/menu.htm
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Contact:
Anthony PolciDirector of CommunicationsOffice of the Minister, Ottawa(613) 991-0700
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