Canadian Coast Guard Publication – Comments and Suggestions on Notices to Mariners (NOTMAR) Publications

In an effort to continuously improve the Notices to Mariners publications and to provide the most efficient service possible, the Notices to Mariners team invites all mariners and other interested parties to submit comments and suggestions on possible improvements to its various publications and services at the following email address: Notmar.XNCR@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Transport Canada – COVID-19 Measures, Updates and Guidance

(Recurrent publication of notice *401/20, originally published in the Notices to Mariners – Monthly Western Edition 04/2020 publication.)

Please refer to the link below for the latest updates to transportation related measures taken by Transport Canada in response to the evolving novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19):
https://www.tc.gc.ca/en/initiatives/covid-19-measures-updates-guidance-tc.html.

For travel advice and all other updates, please visit: Canada.ca/coronavirus.

West Coast Haida Gwaii – Voluntary Protection Zone for Shipping

(Recurrent publication of notice *1105/21, originally published in the Notices to Mariners – Monthly Western Edition 11/2021 publication.)

Reference: Notice *903/21 is cancelled.

Voluntary Protection Zone for Shipping, West Coast Haida Gwaii (formerly Queen Charlotte Islands)

Haida Gwaii’s remote location, rugged coastline, variable sea and weather conditions, and rich ecological and cultural heritage make it vulnerable to the potential for pollution from shipping breakdowns and accidents. Increasing the distance vessels travel offshore can increase the amount of time available to address propulsion, steering or other issues, and the likelihood of a towing vessel being able to respond to a vessel that is disabled or drifting. This in turn reduces the risk of grounding and oil spills.
A Voluntary Protection Zone for Shipping on the West Coast of Haida Gwaii is currently in effect. In the Voluntary Protection Zone, commercial vessels of 500 gross tonnage or greater shall observe a minimum distance of 50 nautical miles offshore when transiting along the West Coast of Haida Gwaii with the following exceptions:

–Cruise vessels, to observe a minimum 12 nm distance from shore;

–Vessels transiting between Pacific Northwest ports (Washington, Alaska, BC), to observe a minimum 25 nm distance from shore;
–Tugs and barges (including pushing and towing alongside), no minimum distance; and

–Fishing vessels, no minimum distance.

The Voluntary Protection Zone for Shipping coordinates are:

Vessels are requested to adhere to these distances on a voluntary basis and only when it does not jeopardize the safety of navigation, the vessel, the persons aboard, and the cargo.

(NW-P-1085-20)

Canadian Hydrographic Service – Paper Chart Catalogues – Printing to be Discontinued

(Recurrent publication of notice *1205/21, originally published in the Notices to Mariners – Monthly Western Edition 12/2021 publication.)

The Canadian Hydrographic Service will permanently discontinue the printing of all volumes of the Paper Chart Catalogues effective March 1st, 2022. As such, they will only be available digitally and will not be available in paper format. The Paper Chart Catalogues are available for free in a variety of digital formats on charts.gc.ca:

•Downloadable PDF of the updated Paper Chart Catalogues
•Chart Index – an interactive web map showing both digital and paper chart coverage areas

•Searchable List of Paper Charts

Advances in technology bring a new era of marine navigation with a focus on digital and electronic products. The Canadian Hydrographic Service is transforming the way it delivers quality data and services to clients, in a timely manner, to support decision-making. For more information, visit charts.gc.ca.

Canadian Hydrographic Service – Atlases of Tidal Currents – Printing to be Discontinued

(Recurrent publication of notice *1206/21, originally published in the Notices to Mariners – Monthly Western Edition 12/2021 publication.)

The Canadian Hydrographic Service has made available free downloadable PDF files of the Atlases of Tidal Currents on charts.gc.ca and will permanently discontinue the printing of all volumes listed below effective March 1^st, 2022. All future volumes will only be available digitally and will not be sold in paper format.

•P240 St. Lawrence Estuary from Cap de Bon-Désir to Trois-Rivières
•P241 Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine
•P244 Juan de Fuca Strait to Strait of Georgia

Advances in technology bring a new era of marine navigation with a focus on digital and electronic products. The Canadian Hydrographic Service is transforming the way it delivers quality data and services to clients, in a timely manner, to support decision-making. For more information, visit charts.gc.ca.

Canadian Hydrographic Service – Sailing Directions – Section 4 Notices to Mariners and Printing of Volumes to be Discontinued

(Recurrent publication of notice *1207/21, originally published in the Notices to Mariners – Monthly Western Edition 12/2021 publication.)

Sailing Directions are updated as required throughout the year to ensure safe navigation. The process to communicate these changes to the mariners will be amended as follows starting January 2022:

•All digital volumes will include a new section entitled “Record of Changes” which will list all updates that were incorporated during the current calendar year;
•The Canadian Hydrographic Service will permanently discontinue the publication of these changes in Section 4 of the monthly Notices to Mariners;
•Section 4 of the monthly Notices to Mariners will instead list the titles of the volumes that were amended during the previous month and link to their download page on charts.gc.ca; and

•CHS will no longer maintain the separate “Cumulative Corrections for Sailing Directions” currently available on notmar.gc.ca.

Due to the availability of all volumes of the Sailing Directions on charts.gc.ca as free downloadable PDF files, the Canadian Hydrographic Service will permanently discontinue their printing effective March 1^st, 2022. As such, all future volumes will only be available digitally and will not be sold in paper format.
Advances in technology bring a new era of marine navigation with a focus on digital and electronic products. The Canadian Hydrographic Service is transforming the way it delivers quality data and services to clients, in a timely manner, to support decision-making. For more information, visit charts.gc.ca.

*101/22Canadian Hydrographic Service – Nautical Charts

*102/22Canadian Hydrographic Service – Electronic Navigational Charts

*103/22Transport Canada – Ship Safety Bulletins #20/2021, #21/2021 and #01/2022

New Ship Safety Bulletins have recently been posted on the Transport Canada website.

To view or download these bulletins, please click on the links below:

SSB#20/2021 – Hydrostatic testing of pressure containers under the Vessel Fire Safety Regulations
RDIMS#18147872

SSB#21/2021 – Updated guidelines respecting the mobility of asymptomatic, presumed non-Covid-19-carrying* seafarers in the marine sector during the Covid-19 pandemic – December 24, 2021
RDIMS#18197185

SSB#01/2022 – New small vessel compliance program for tugs
RDIMS#18234365

Sign up for e-Bulletin to receive an e-mail notice each time a new Ship Safety Bulletin is published on our website.

Contact us at marinesafety-securitemaritime@tc.gc.ca or 1-855-859-3123 (Toll Free).

Section 1A: Temporary and Preliminary Notices

Reminder – Comment Period for Active Preliminary Notices

No notices applicable for this edition.

No notices applicable for this edition.

No notices applicable for this edition.