No. H032/06
For release May 9, 2006
OTTAWA — In response to the Transportation Safety Board's report on the Queen of Surrey, Transport Canada today committed to reviewing international marine
regulations and standards for fixed fire-extinguishing systems to ensure future
Fire Safety Regulations meet or exceed international standards.
"Transport Canada's top priority for Canadian ferries is to develop and maintain
regulations that help ensure the safe passage of people and goods," said
Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.
The Transportation Safety Board's final report and recommendations, released in
February 2006, follow a non-fatal engine room fire on the BC ferry Queen of
Surrey on May 12, 2003. In this report, the Transportation Safety Board
recommended that Transport Canada: review Canadian and international marine
regulations and fixed fire-extinguishing systems; and require Canadian passenger
vessels over 500 gross tons to meet international standards for structural fire
protection.
Transport Canada is also working to develop future Fire Safety Regulations with
the goal of requiring new passenger vessels over 150 gross tons and operating
beyond sheltered waters to meet and, in some areas, exceed Safety of Life at Sea
(SOLAS) Convention standards for structural fire protection. Existing vessels
undergoing major modifications will also be required to comply with SOLAS
Convention standards.
While future Fire Safety Regulations will enhance safety on Canadian ferries,
ferry operators must currently meet a number of stringent safety requirements in
terms of design, construction, fire protection, detection and extinction
systems, and training of crew. For example, the Canada Shipping Act requires
carbon dioxide fire suppression systems to be examined and tested by a
fire-extinguishing expert and the vessels to be inspected by Transport Canada.
Immediately following the fire aboard the Queen of Surrey, Transport Canada
required BC Ferries to double check all carbon dioxide fire suppression systems
aboard its ferries to ensure they were fully compliant.
In addition to its two recommendations, the Transportation Safety Board also
indicated concern with the adequacy of regulatory inspections.
"Transport Canada remains committed to the continuous improvement of its quality
management system, and in particular, with the training of its inspectors to
ensure the highest quality of inspection," said Minister Cannon.
BC Ferries provided Transport Canada with updates on the review and repair of
carbon dioxide fire suppression systems throughout its fleet. Transport Canada
will continue to monitor the fleet during normal annual inspections of the
vessels.
The future Fire Safety Regulations will fall under the Canada Shipping Act,
2001, which is an updated and more comprehensive version of the original 1936
legislation. It will help the marine community operate in a manner that is
safer, more efficient, and environmentally sound. It is scheduled to be brought
into force early in 2007.
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Contacts:
Natalie Sarafian
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Transport,
Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
(613) 991-0700
Kirsten Goodnough
Communications
Transport Canada, 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.
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