Under Economic Action Plan 2015, $5.6 million over four years has been set aside for the Canadian Coast Guard to conduct four reviews that will identify enhancements to the Arctic marine navigation system. These reviews build on recommendations made by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development and the Tanker Safety Expert Panel.
$1.7 million to design Arctic aids to navigation systems
This review will identify and assess the level of risk in a navigable waterway and then ascertain the appropriate combination of aids to mitigate that risk, in consultation with affected mariners. Common types of aids used in the Arctic include buoys, beacons and radars. This review will increase efficiency of Canadian Coast Guard aids to navigation services in the future by bringing the Arctic system in line with user needs and focusing resources where they are needed most.
$2.8 million to review electronic monitoring and communication capability in the Arctic
This review will identify coverage and capacity gaps, as well as potential future enhancements to support maritime safety and security in the North. The systems and infrastructure under review are used for voice communication, data sharing, and vessel monitoring. Together they form the information technology backbone for the Arctic marine navigation system.
$1.1 million to identify Canada’s requirements to implement a resilient position and timing system in the Arctic
Mariners in Canada and around the world rely on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) as their primary source of positioning data. Such systems are used in conjunction with navigational charts to help mariners safely navigate waterways. This review will identify current and future GNSS needs in the Arctic.
Existing resources to identify Canada’s requirements to implement a marine navigation traffic system in the Arctic
An intelligent traffic system would integrate information on vessels movements, vessel information (e.g., voyage plans and cargo), information on waterways, and environmental conditions to enable vessel monitoring and automated traffic services. By integrating all the available information and data into a single intelligent system, the Canadian Coast Guard would be better able to track vessel movements and identify high risk situations to improve prevention of marine accidents, groundings, and oil spills in the Arctic. Such a system is currently being defined for south of 60. Its scope will be extended to cover Arctic waters.
Modernizing Marine Navigation in the Arctic (Inuktitut version PDF)
