No. H145/03 For release December 2, 2003 TRANSPORT MINISTER RELEASES PORT STATE CONTROL ANNUAL REPORT 2002 OTTAWA - Transport Minister David Collenette today released Transport Canada's Marine Safety Port State Control 2002 Annual Report to update Canada's efforts to eradicate substandard shipping in Canadian waters. The report publishes inspection, deficiency and detention data for visiting vessels operating in Canadian waters in 2002. "Canada plays a leading role in international efforts to bring vessels worldwide in line with international and Canadian standards and will continue enforcement action against operators who fall short of these requirements," said Mr. Collenette. "The commitment from participating countries to Port State Control initiatives is resulting in safer ships, cleaner seas and acceptable working and living conditions on board ships." In 2002, 525, or approximately half, of the 1,159 vessels inspected in Canada under the Port State Control program had deficiencies. Of the 525 deficient ships, 476 had minor deficiencies, while 49 had deficiencies serious enough to warrant detention. This compares to 2001, when 1,197 ships were inspected, 634 were found to have defects, and 92 were detained. Under Canada's Port State Control Inspection Program, Transport Canada inspectors board and inspect foreign ships at Canadian ports. The international Port State Control agreements to which Canada is signatory require Transport Canada to inspect 25 per cent of all visiting vessels. Transport Canada has, over the last few years, exceeded this target by five per cent. Under Port State Control, all vessels are inspected at least once every six months by marine authorities in participating Port State Control nations. Vessels that do not meet safety standards are detained until their deficiencies have been corrected. "Port State Control is a key element in Transport Canada's Marine Safety Program which is designed to seek, find and eradicate substandard shipping," added Mr. Collenette. "Transport Canada will continue to work with our international partners to help make the waters of the world, particularly around Canada, safer for life, property and the marine environment." Transport Canada's Marine Safety Port State Control Annual Report 2002 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/Ships-and-operations-standards/Inspection/Port-State-Control/menu.htm.For additional information, please refer to the attached backgrounders on Transport Canada¿s Port State Control Annual Report 2002 and Port State Control program. -30- 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. BACKGROUNDER PORT STATE CONTROL ANNUAL REPORT 2002Transport Canada's Port State Control Inspection Program and Marine Safety Program continue to demonstrate the department's commitment to reducing, and ultimately eliminating, substandard ships from operating in Canadian waters. 2002 was marked by Canada's continued leadership role in global port state control efforts, as well as by the development and coming into force of new international initiatives. In Canada Transport Canada continued to target its Port State Control inspections toward bulk carriers and oil tankers. For instance, the department inspected a total of 398 oil tankers in 2002, an increase of 12 per cent since 2001. In 2002, Transport Canada supported a number of foreign countries in their Port State Control initiatives. Namely, the department provided experienced port state control officers to assist in training sessions in Australia (Tokyo MOU), Eritrea and India (Indian Ocean MOU). In spring 2002, the Minister announced that Canada will host the Second Joint Ministerial Conference of the Paris and Tokyo Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Port State Control. This conference (to be held in Vancouver on September 21 and 22, 2004) will follow the first Ministerial Conference hosted by Canada in 1998. The Ministers will review actions taken by the MOUs in response to the 1998 Ministerial Declaration signed under the theme "Tightening the Net", Inter-Regional Action to Eliminate Sub-Standard Shipping, and will discuss and identify additional actions to be taken to help eradicate substandard ships. Internationally Two new tools came into force to assist the marine industry in enhancing their focus on human factors which can lead to accidents. The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended in 1995 (STCW 95) which came into force on February 1, 2002, provides for training and certification for seafarers. The International Safety Management (ISM) code, which entered into force on July 1, 2002, aims to enhance the safety culture within the marine industry by requiring, for example, contingency planning and emergency preparedness. The ISM code applies to all passenger ships, tankers, bulk carriers, gas carriers and high speed craft of 500 gross tonnes or more. During the 35th session of the Paris MOU Committee, hosted by Canada in Halifax, the Committee agreed upon important changes to the MOU. These changes include, among others: (1) banning ships with poor inspection records, (2) enhancing enforcement action against ships that do not carry the required voyage data recorder, and (3) inspecting ships for compliance with the International Labour Organization's requirements regarding work and rest hours. These changes were implemented by the Paris MOU countries in 2003. BACKGROUNDERPORT STATE CONTROLCanada works with other countries to ensure that foreign flag vessels entering their waters are in compliance with strict safety and anti-pollution standards established by various major international marine conventions. These joint efforts, known as Port State Control programs, are aimed at detecting substandard shipping and minimizing the threat that it poses to life, property and the marine environment. Port State Control programs are regional in nature: several countries which share common waters work together under regional systems established by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Effective Port State Control is an integral part of Transport Canada's Marine Safety Program, which is responsible for all Port State Control activities within Canada. Transport Canada's Marine Safety inspectors play an important role by enforcing compliance with safety and anti-pollution standards through an inspection regime. If a major deficiency is detected during an inspection, the ship is detained until the deficiency is rectified. Canada is signatory to two MOUs on Port State Control: the Paris MOU (comprising 19 European countries and Canada) and the Tokyo MOU (comprising 18 Asia/Pacific countries and Canada). Beginning as a co-operating (associate) member of the Paris MOU in 1988, Canada became a full member in May 1994. Canada was one of the founding members of the Tokyo MOU and has been a member since its inception in December 1993. In 2002, of the 1,159 foreign vessels inspected at Canadian ports, 525 were found to have defects. Of this number, 49 vessels had issues serious enough to warrant detention. Transport Canada is working on the harmonization of Port State Control regimes within the Paris and Tokyo MOUs and through a declaration on Port State Control signed between Canada, the United States and Mexico on July 8, 2001.The principles of Port State Control include: criteria for states wishing to participate in the process; inspection of a minimum percentage of vessels entering MOU ports; establishment of standardized inspection, detention and reporting procedures; development of a computerized ship inspection database; harmonized training procedures for inspectors; and regular publication of inspection and detention statistics within the region. In addition to the Paris and Tokyo MOU, other regional agreements include: the Vina Del Mar MOU which includes 11 South American states; the Carribbean MOU which includes 12 Caribbean states; the Mediterranean MOU which includes eight Mediterranean states; the Indian Ocean MOU which includes six member states; the West & Central Africa MOU which includes 19 African States; and the Black Sea MOU which includes six member states. Over and above the Port State Control program, Transport Canada's policy is to inspect all registered tankers upon their first visit to Canada and at least once a year thereafter. In addition, a specific Transport Canada program, known as Ships of Particular Interest, targets certain foreign ships before they arrive in Canada, based on past incident reports, and the quality of ships as assessed by third parties (i.e. foreign governments, pilots, crews, etc.). This program allows Transport Canada to target its inspection efforts on vessels that are more likely not to meet safety standards and regulations. Combined with Canada's Port State Control program it has been highly effective in deterring substandard ships from coming to Canada. For additional information on Transport Canada's Port State Control program, initiatives and statistics, refer to the Port State Control annual report for the year 2002 at www.tc.gc.ca/MarineSafety/TP/TP13595/2002/menu.htm.December 2003
