A3Ice Navigation

6Ice Navigation, Routeing and Requests for Icebreaker Assistance

1Hudson Strait and Canadian Arctic

Northern Canada Vessel Traffic Services (NORDREG) Zone

Mariners should be aware of the existence of the Northern Canada Vessel Traffic Services Zone established by the Northern Canada Vessel Traffic Services Zone Regulations. These regulations require certain vessels to report information to NORDREG before entering the NORDREG Zone and while navigating within it. In general, the NORDREG zone covers the waters of Ungava Bay, Hudson Bay and James Bay and Canada’s coastal northern waters within the area enclosed by the 60th parallel of north latitude, the 141st meridian of west longitude and the outer limit of the exclusive economic zone; however, where the international boundary between Canada and Greenland is less than 200 nautical miles from the baselines of the territorial sea of Canada, the international boundary shall be substituted for that outer limit.

Ice operations support in NORDREG waterways is provided by the Canadian Coast Guard. Icebreaker assistance as well as ice information and ice routing should be requested through NORDREG. For more detailed information on this VTS system, the definition of waters it covers and the requirements to make certain reports and obtain clearance, mariners should refer to Part 3 of the Radio Aids to Marine Navigation (Atlantic, St. Lawrence, Great Lakes, Lake Winnipeg, Arctic and Pacific).

(a)For general information on ice conditions:

During Business Hours (0700-1900 Eastern Time 7-days/week):
Ice Operations:

Telephone: 514-283-2784
Email : DFO.ICEOPS-ARCGLACE.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Ice Conditions:
Tel: (514) 283-1752

Email :ssgarctique-issarctic@ec.gc.ca

For After Hours Ice Information:

Address:



Telephone:
Facsimile:

NORDREG CANADA,
P.O. Box 189,
Iqaluit (NU)
X0A 0H0

(867) 979-5724 or 979-5269
(867) 979-4264

1.1Ice Regime Routeing Message

Every message required by paragraph 9(1) of the ASSPPR must contain all designators listed in Table 2. The update message required by paragraph 9(2) of the ASSPPR must include designators A to K. Every message must be addressed to TRANSPORT CANADA and be provided to one of the Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centres that is designated by the Canadian Coast Guard to receive NORDREG reports. The intended route described by designator G of Table 2 may include more than one Shipping Safety Control Zone.

Table 2 – Ice regime routing message template

Item

Designator

Subject

Information

1

A

Vessel

The vessel’s name and the name of the state whose flag the vessel is entitled to fly.

2

B

Call Sign and
IMO Number

The vessel’s call sign and International Maritime Organization (IMO) ship identification number.

3

C

Vessel Ice Class

The Ice Class that corresponds to the Ice Class indicated on the Polar Ship Certificate. For vessels with no Polar Ship Certificate, the Ice Class indicated on the vessel Classification Society Certificate.

4

D

Date & UTC Time

A 6-digit group followed by a Z:
the first 2 digits giving the day of the month,
the next two digits giving the hour, and
the last two digits giving the minutes.

5

E

Final Destination

The name of the final destination.

6

F

Position, Course & Speed

A 4-digit group giving the latitude in degrees and minutes suffixed with N, and a 5-digit group giving the longitude in degrees and minutes suffixed with W.
The true course. A 3-digit group.
The speed in knots. A 2-digit group.

7

G

Intended Route

A series of 4-digit groups giving the latitude in degrees and minutes suffixed with N, and
5-digit groups giving the longitude in degrees and minutes suffixed with W to describe the planned route.

8

H

Ice Regime(s) to be encountered

For each regime along the planned route, a series of ice concentration in tenths (C), the corresponding ice type (IT) using the ice type symbol or the egg code, followed by the letter IN for AIRSS message or RIO for POLARIS message and the resulting Ice Numeral (IN) or Risk Index Outcome (RIO):
AIRSS
C1, IT1, C2, IT2, …, CTn, ITn, INxx
POLARIS
C1, IT1, C2, IT2, …, CTn, ITn, RIOxx

9

I

Source(s) of Ice Information

Indicate the source(s) used to determine the ice conditions,
e.g. ice charts name/date, visual observations, reports from shore stations and from other ships in the area, helicopter (or drone) reconnaissance, satellite and airborne visual and radar imagery, or other means.

10

J

Other pertinent information or comments

Provide additional information that may have been considered or is pertinent to the assessment, such as limitations associated with the ice regime assessment, near regimes that are likely to drift into the proposed route, an alternate route that may be considered, or planned escorting needs.

11

K

Name of Escorting Vessel

Provide the name of the escorting vessel if the ice numeral has been determined for the track of an escorting vessel.

12

L

Ice Navigator(s) and officers certified for ships operating in polar waters

Name(s) and certification information of Ice Navigator(s) and officers certified in accordance with the STCW Convention requirements for ships operating in polar waters.

13

M

Ship Master

Name of the Master and certification information in accordance with the STCW Convention requirement for ships operating in polar waters.

2East Coast, Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence

During the winter navigation season a similar service is provided to ships intending to transit or to operate in the East Coast and Gulf of St. Lawrence waters. Access to this service can be obtained by contacting the Eastern Canada Traffic System (ECAREG CANADA). ECAREG communications procedures are specified in the current Radio Aids to Navigation publications.

(a)For general information on ice conditions and icebreaker assistance along the main shipping route in the Gulf of St. Lawrence:

24 hours assistance, 7-days/week:

Icebreaking operations:

Telephone:
Email:

514-283-1746
DFO.IceOpsStLawrence.GlacesOpsStLaurent.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca


Ice conditions (Business hours)

Telephone:
Toll-Free:
Email:

514-283-1752 / 2069
1-855-201-0086
ec.ssgstlaurent-issstlawrence.ec@canada.ca

Mailing address

Montreal Ice Centre
Canadian Coast Guard
105 McGill Street, 5th floor
Montréal, Québec, H2Y 2E7


Outside of Business Hours:
Les Escoumins Traffic
Email : ecareg.escoumins@innav.gc.ca
Telephone : 418-233-3483

(b)For general information on ice conditions and icebreaker assistance in Chaleur Bay, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador waters:

Telephone:
Toll-Free:
Facsimile:

709-772-2078
1-800-565-1633
709-772-6640 (Business hours only)

Email (24 hour assistance):
Email (general inquiries):
Email (ice conditions):

vts.labrador@innav.gc.ca
iceatl.cggc@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
ec.ssgatlantique-issatlantic.ec@canada.ca

Mailing address

P.O. Box 5667
80 East White Hills Rd
St. John's, NL  A1C 5X1

3St. Lawrence River

In the St. Lawrence River west of longitude 66°00'W to Montréal, ship movement is under the general control of the Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) system. During the winter navigation season, the ice operation center will provide, via "Escoumins Traffic" or "Québec Traffic", the recommended ice routes to be used.

For general information on ice conditions and icebreaker assistance:

During 24 hours assistance 7-days/week:

Icebreaking operations:

Telephone:
Email:

514-283-1746
DFO.IceOpsStLawrence.GlacesOpsStLaurent.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca


Ice conditions (Business hours)

Telephone:
Email:

514-283-1752 / 2069
ec.ssgstlaurent-issstlawrence.ec@canada.ca

Mailing address

Montreal Ice Centre
Canadian Coast Guard
105 McGill Street, 5th floor
Montréal, Québec, H2Y 2E7


Outside of Business Hours :

Les Escoumins Traffic
Email : ecareg.escoumins@innav.gc.ca
Telephone : 418-233-3483

Quebec Traffic
Telephone : 418-648-7244
Email : queraa1@innav.gc.ca



4Canadian Great Lakes

Vessels entering Canadian waters of the Great Lakes may obtain ice information, routing advice and request icebreaker assistance by contacting the following address:

During Business Hours (0700-1900 Eastern Time 7-days/week):

Icebreaking operations:

Telephone:
Email:

514-283-2784
DFO.IceOpsGreatLakes.GlacesOpsGrandsLacs.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca


Ice conditions

Telephone:
Email:

514-283-1752 / 2069
ec.ssggrandslacs-issgreatlakes.ec@canada.ca

Mailing address

Montreal Ice Centre
Canadian Coast Guard
105 McGill Street, 5th floor
Montréal, Québec, H2Y 2E7


Outside of Business Hours:
Sarnia Traffic
Telephone: 519-337-6221
Email: supervisor.sarnia@innav.gc.ca



5General Remarks

A limited number of icebreakers are available for the support of shipping and icebreaking requests are prioritized according to the Levels of Service. It is emphasized, therefore, that it may not be possible to provide icebreaker support at short notice. In order to make the most efficient use of all available resources, it is important that the MCTS Centres are kept informed of the position and projected movements of vessels in Canadian waters.

E-NAV Portal:
Icebreaking Website:
General Information:

Ice Conditions (canada.ca)

Icebreaking
info@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Authority: Canadian Coast Guard