No. H137/03 For release November 20, 2003TRANSPORT MINISTER PROVIDESINITIAL RESPONSE TO TSBRECOMMENDATIONS ON SINKING OF CAP ROUGE IIOTTAWA - Transport Minister David Collenette today acknowledged the Transportation Safety Board of Canada's (TSB) report and recommendations following the sinking of the commercial salmon fishing vessel Cap Rouge II in the Fraser River, British Columbia on August 13, 2002. "I would like to thank the Transportation Safety Board for its important work in investigating this tragic accident," said Mr. Collenette. "The department will carefully review the Board's report and recommendations and will take appropriate action."The TSB has recommended that Transport Canada take further action to enhance the safety culture and requirements for small fishing vessels.Transport Canada has regulations and standards in place, under the Canada Shipping Act, to govern the design, operation and crew certification of small fishing vessels. These regulations and standards require small fishing vessels to be seaworthy, appropriately certified, properly equipped and operated by individuals who have specified credentials and training. "Marine safety is a shared responsibility", added Mr. Collenette. "Canada has one of the safest marine transportation systems in the world, and Transport Canada will continue to work with the TSB, other partners and the fishing community to maintain and enhance this system." Over the past few years, Transport Canada has taken significant action to enhance the safety culture and requirements for small fishing vessels. For example, the department has developed a number of publications to serve as a reference for, and raise the awareness of, fish harvesters with respect to safe practices and operations. Transport Canada is also taking action to review existing regulations and further enhance requirements pertaining to vessel stability. For information on the TSB recommendations and Transport Canada's actions to enhance the safety of small fishing vessels, please refer to the attached backgrounder. - 30 - Contact: Marie-Josée Dubois Communications, Ottawa (613) 993-0055 Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada. This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities. BACKGROUNDERSINKING OF CAP ROUGE IIThe Transportation Safety Board (TSB) conducted an investigation into the August 13, 2002 sinking of the Cap Rouge II and made the following three recommendations to Transport Canada:"The Department of Transport require all new inspected small fishing vessels of closed construction to submit stability data for approval.""The Department of Transport require all existing inspected small fishing vessels currently without any approved stability data be subjected to a roll period test and a corresponding freeboard verification not later than their next scheduled quadrennial inspection.""The Department of Transport, in collaboration with the fishing community, reduce unsafe practices by means of a code of best practices for small fishing vessels, including loading and stability, and that its adoption be encouraged through effective education and awareness programs."Transport Canada has already taken a number of actions to enhance the safety culture within the fishing industry by: examining ways to ensure that owners of new inspected vessels notify the department when modifications to their vessels are to be made (for example, by providing new owners with more references to this requirement in registration documents). Transport Canada has also enhanced its tracking systems for changes in ownership in order to enquire, with new owners, as to whether they will make or have made modifications to the vessel. developing - together with industry groups such as the Canadian Council of Professional Fish Harvesters - new requirements for mandatory safety training for all operators and crews of fishing vessels and other small commercial vessels. These courses, entitled Marine Emergency Duties (MED), have been designed specifically for fish harvesters and operators of small commercial vessels previously exempt from mandatory training. A backgrounder on MED training requirements is posted at http://www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/backgrounders/b03-M008.htm. establishing several initiatives to foster communications and to invite the participation of stakeholders, including a new national Canadian Marine Advisory Council (CMAC) Standing Committee on Fishing Vessel Safety, as well as national and regional CMAC working groups addressing fishing vessel regulatory issues and operator certification and training. CMAC is a consultative body representative of parties that have a recognized interest in shipping, navigation and marine pollution matters. The main task of the Standing Committee is to update the fishing vessel regulations, beginning with smaller vessels (under 150 gross tonnage). developing and distributing a Small Fishing Vessel Safety manual to fish harvesters across the country which hold a Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) fishing vessel license to provide them with information on regulatory safety issues and common everyday working hazards encountered in the operation of small fishing vessels. This Manual is posted at http://www.tc.gc.ca/MarineSafety/Tp/Tp10038/menu.htm. developing and distributing a pamphlet entitled We're Fishing For Your Involvement to fish harvesters across the country which hold a DFO fishing vessel license (copies available upon request). creating a website specific to fishing vessel safety as part of the Transport Canada and Canadian Marine Advisory Council (CMAC) Standing Committee on Fishing Vessel Safety web sites http://www.tc.gc.ca/marinesafety/CES/Small-Commercial-Vessels/Fishing-Vessels/menu.htm and http://www.cmaconline-ccmcendirect.gc.ca. discussing with stakeholders, in partnership with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, more efficient means of communication between government and fish harvesters, including the possibility of mail-out of safety related material, such as Ship Safety Bulletins and other documentation to fish harvesters across the country which hold a fishing vessel license.In addition, Transport Canada will conduct a review of all Canada Shipping Act regulations as part of a regulatory reform initiative. Changes to regulations proposed by the department will be the subject of extensive consultations with stakeholders. Details on the Canada Shipping Act reform are included in a backgrounder posted at http://www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/backgrounders/b01-M033.htm. As part of this review, Transport Canada will, for example, examine issues related to vessel stability, inspection requirements, and the reporting of vessel modifications to Transport Canada.Transport Canada will continue to work in collaboration with other government departments such as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, fish harvester associations, training institutions and the TSB to implement these and other initiatives to enhance the safety of operations within the Canadian fishing community. November 2003
