No. H042/04 For release May 21, 2004 OTTAWA - Transport Canada has strengthened its security requirements for vessels, marine facilities and ports by establishing the Marine Transportation Security Regulations. "The Government of Canada is committed to maintaining the safety and security of Canadian ports," said Transport Minister Tony Valeri. "The Marine Transportation Security Regulations will further enhance marine security across Canada and abroad." These regulations, which have been approved by the Governor in Council for publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II on June 2, 2004, will implement the requirements of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, as well as amendments to its Safety of Life at Sea Convention, 1974. The IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations which focuses on improving safety at sea and preventing pollution from vessels. Transport Canada's regulations apply to all commercial vessels of 500 tons (gross tonnage) or more, or carrying more than 12 passengers and travelling between countries, and marine facilities and ports serving such vessels. They require the completion of security assessments and security plans, and the designation of security officers. In addition, the regulations surpass the IMO requirements by extending them to: cargo vessels of 100 tons (gross tonnage) or more other than towing vessels; towing vessels that tow barges carrying certain dangerous cargoes; and marine facilities and ports that serve the above vessels. In order to enhance marine security in Canada and to help ports and port facilities meet these new requirements, the Government of Canada recently established the $115 million Marine Facility Security Contribution Program. This latest marine security initiative builds on other significant actions already taken by the Government of Canada to enhance marine security since September 11, 2001. These actions include, among others: committing $308 million to strengthen marine security; committing $115 million for the Marine Facility Security Contribution Program to assist ports and port facilities with security enhancements; requiring vessels to provide at least 96 hours advance notice before they enter Canadian waters; introducing new boarding protocols to improve the response to threats before vessels arrive at Canadian marine facilities or ports; establishing enhanced security procedures, in partnership with the United States, for vessels entering the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Seaway system; working with international partners to develop new marine international security requirements; and committing $172.5 million for a broad range of initiatives to enhance the security of Canada's marine transportation system and maritime borders including the use of aerial surveillance and vessel monitoring systems, such as automatic identification systems, which will enhance Canada's ability to track vessels entering and operating in Canadian waters. The Marine Transportation Security Regulations have been established in order to meet the International Maritime Organization's July 1, 2004 deadline for implementation of the Security Code requirements. A backgrounder on marine security and the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code is attached. - 30 - Contact: Christina Van Loon Office of the Minister, Ottawa (613) 991-0700 Bernard Pilon Transport Canada 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. BACKGROUNDER MARINE SECURITY- INTERNATIONAL SHIP AND PORT FACILITY SECURITY CODE On July 1, 2004, the International Maritime Organization's International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code will take effect. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations which focuses on the improvement of safety at sea and the prevention of pollution from vessels. Transport Canada is implementing the ISPS Code through the Marine Transportation Security Regulations which apply to commercial vessels of 500 tons (gross tonnage) or more, or carrying more than 12 passengers and travelling between countries, and marine facilities and ports serving such vessels. The regulations require the completion of security assessments and security plans, and the designation of security officers. In addition to implementing the IMO requirements, Canada's regulations will extend these requirements to: cargo vessels of 100 tons (gross tonnage) or more other than towing vessels; towing vessels that tow barges carrying certain dangerous cargoes; and marine facilities and ports that serve the above vessels. During the late summer and fall of 2003, Transport Canada held a number of meetings with marine stakeholders on ISPS Code issues in order to develop the new regulations. The department also formed four working groups, which included representatives of government and the marine sector, to help formulate draft regulations in key sectors of the marine industry covered by the ISPS Code: vessels, marine facilities, mobile offshore drilling units and the Marine Facility Restricted Area Access Clearance Program. Moreover, Transport Canada and U.S. Coast Guard have worked closely together to coordinate and harmonize the marine security regimes of the two countries so that Canadian-flagged ships that meet Canadian security requirements can enter U.S. harbours and U.S.-flagged vessels that meet U.S. requirements can enter Canadian harbours. Transport Canada requested that vessels meeting both the Canada-U.S. and the ISPS Code criteria, and the marine facilities that serve these vessels, conduct the security assessments and submit their security plans by January 31, 2004. Approval of these plans will be completed by the end of May 2004, after which the department will issue compliance documents and International Ship Security Certificates to marine and port facilities, and vessel operators. These certificates are required to comply with the Marine Transportation Security Regulations as of July 1, 2004 and to facilitate entry to ISPS Code-compliant marine facilities in Canada and abroad. Transport Canada continues to work diligently to further improve the security of the transportation system in Canada and takes all reasonable actions to promote heightened safety and security in all modes of transportation. May 2004
