No. H011/04 For release March 29, 2004 OTTAWA - Transport Canada today proposed new requirements to enhance safety, security and environmental protection for vessels operating in Canadian and international waters. The new requirements have been developed to implement safety standards established under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS). They pertain to navigation equipment, ship design and operational procedures, and will apply to all Canadian ships, and to foreign ships operating in Canadian waters based upon their age, size, type and area of operation. "These requirements will build upon existing regulations for the continued safety, security and environmental protection of Canada's transportation system," said Transport Minister Tony Valeri. "They also demonstrate Canada's commitment and contribution to making the waters of the world cleaner, safer and more secure." The requirements include, for example, the carriage of: a receiver for global navigation satellite systems or ground-based navigation systems; Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) that will allow ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communications via radio transponders on board ships and base stations ashore; and electronic chart display and information systems. Other requirements include the carriage of voyage data recorders, search and rescue plans, enhanced design criteria for new ships in terms of visibility from the bridge, and specific requirements for the keeping of navigational records. The proposed requirements, under the Canada Shipping Act, were published in the Canada Gazette Part I on March 27, 2004. Interested parties have 90 days to comment before the regulations are finalized for implementation. - 30 - For additional information on Transport Canada's proposed requirements, please refer to the attached backgrounder. Contact: Marie-Josée Dubois Transport Canada Communications, Ottawa (613) 993-055 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 PROPOSED REQUIREMENTS FOR SHIPS TO MEET INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS Transport Canada has proposed new requirements to give effect to international ship safety standards under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS). The new requirements - which pertain to navigation equipment, ship design, and operational procedures - will apply to all Canadian ships, and to foreign ships operating in Canadian waters based upon their age, size, type and area of operation. They include, for example, the carriage of: A receiver for global navigation satellite systems or ground-based navigation systems Ships over 150 tons, and Canadian ships required to carry a VHF-DSC radio, will be required to carry a receiver for global navigation satellite systems or ground-based navigation systems. The global positioning system (GPS) is a system of satellites that allows ships, aircraft, and vehicles with GPS receivers to determine their position, speed and time, 24 hours a day, in all weather conditions. In addition to GPS, there are also systems in place that use land-based transmitters. Both the satellite and ground systems not only serve to enhance navigation safety, they can be used to automatically provide the exact position of a vessel in distress, allowing for rescue services to quickly locate the vessel. Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) that will allow ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communications via radio transponders on board ships and at base stations ashore The carriage of AIS will enhance marine safety and security. It will provide ship operators with a modern tool to track surrounding ships and help avoid collisions. AIS will also serve to further enhance marine security, as announced by Transport Canada in January 2003 together with other marine security initiatives. Combined with existing surveillance programs, AIS will provide intelligence agencies with a means to identify and track, in "near real-time", vessels operating in Canadian waters. The Canadian Coast Guard will build and operate the shore-based component of AIS in order for the Government of Canada to fully implement this initiative in the coming years. Electronic chart display and information systems Electronic chart display and information systems are relatively new technologies that provide significant benefits in terms of navigation safety and improved operational efficiency. These modern navigation systems allow ships to safely navigate without paper charts by continuously determining and displaying the vessel's position in relation to land, and identifying charted objects, aids-to-navigation, and unseen hazards. These systems will help to reduce navigational errors, ultimately reducing the occurrence of collisions and groundings. Other proposed requirements include: For certain ships on international voyages to carry a voyage data recorder to assist in casualty investigations. Similar to the black box on aircraft, this device would record information such as the position of the ship, its speed, bridge audio, and engine function. For certain passenger ships on international voyages to develop a search and rescue plan jointly with the Search and Rescue (SAR) services in each of the SAR areas travelled by the ship. Such a plan will help to facilitate appropriate and organized responses in the event of an emergency. Enhanced design criteria for newer ships in terms of visibility from the bridge. This will help to enhance ship manoeuvering and piloting and to further avoid collisions. Specific requirements for the keeping of records on navigational activities such as courses, speed, position, weather, navigational tests, malfunctions, etc., and to enhance the routine verification, cleaning, testing and service of equipment. For additional information on the requirements, please refer to the proposed regulations. If you are a ship operator and would like to know more about how these requirements would apply to your vessel, please contact Transport Canada Marine Safety at (613) 991-3134. March 2004
