Canada introduces mandatory registration for larger ships

The Canadian Government has published new rules to regulate domestic and foreign shipping in northern waters.

According to the Canwest News Service, the planned Northern Canada Vessel Traffic Services Zone, as announced by Canadian Transport Minister John Baird, fell short of opposition demands to target all sizes of vessels. The plan could also face opposition from foreign countries, particularly the US, which views the Northwest Passage as an international strait, rather than a Canadian strait.

The government’s plan is to implement mandatory registration for ships weighing 300 tonnes or more and for tugs with a two-ship weight of over 500 tonnes, as well as any vessel carrying dangerous goods or potential pollutants.
Mr Baird said that mandatory vessel reporting would help keep maritime traffic moving safely and efficiently.

“Knowing the positions and movements of vessels, for example, will make it easier to respond quickly to an oil spill,” the news service quoted him as saying. “This information will become more important as vessel traffic rises due to the development in the Arctic.” (source: Baird Maritime)

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