NOTICES TO MARINERS
PUBLICATION
WESTERN EDITION

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

CANADIAN HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICE – MODIFICATIONS TO THE 2020 CANADIAN TIDE AND CURRENT TABLES VOLUME 5 – JUAN DE FUCA STRAIT AND STRAIT OF GEORGIA

(Recurrent publication of notice *204/20, originally published in the Notices to Mariners Publication - Western Edition 02/2020.)

The Canadian Hydrographic Service of the Pacific Region has recently been informed of an error in the 2020 Canadian Tide and Current Tables, Volume 5 - Juan de Fuca Strait and Strait of Georgia, page 123, Table 2, Index no. 7120 – VICTORIA.

Mariners should replace the values for Victoria, Index no. 7120 using the attached Table 2 for page 123:

https://www.notmar.gc.ca/publications/monthly-mensuel/images/ed022020-part1-vol5-p123.pdf

TRANSPORT CANADA – COVID-19 MEASURES, UPDATES AND GUIDANCE

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

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

ANGUNIAQVIA NIQIQYUAM MARINE PROTECTED AREA (ANMPA) AND TARIUM NIRYUTAIT MARINE PROTECTED AREAS (TNMPA) – BELUGA AND BOWHEAD WHALE PROTECTION: VOLUNTARY AVOIDANCE AND SLOWDOWN AREAS

(Recurrent publication of notice *505/20, originally published in the Notices to Mariners Publication - Western Edition 05/2020.)

The two established Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Canada’s Western Arctic are located within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, as such all activities must comply with the Inuvialuit Final Agreement. Protection and preservation of Arctic wildlife, the environment and biological productivity is one of the principles of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement and it is this principle that led the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the Inuvialuit Game Council to initiate establishment of the Western Arctic MPAs. The waters in and near the MPAs, and the offshore marine habitats of the Beaufort Sea and Amundsen Gulf, are important summer foraging habitats used seasonally (May-October) by the Eastern Beaufort Sea beluga stock, and the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort bowhead population.

REGULATORY PROTECTION MEASURES

All whale species are protected under the Marine Mammal Regulations, pursuant to the Fisheries Act. Within the boundaries of the MPAs, a general prohibition is set out in the Regulations, pursuant to the Oceans Act. Any incident with a marine mammal within the MPAs must be reported within two hours after its occurrence, to the Canadian Coast Guard. For marine wildlife sightings and incidents such as collisions that occur outside the MPAs or for any situation involving a marine mammal that is dead or in trouble, contact Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Inuvik office at (867) 777-7500.

For more information on the ANMPA and TNMPA, including local contacts and species specific minimum distances, see Section A2 - Notices 5 and 5A.3 of the Notices to Mariners Annual Edition 2020.

VOLUNTARY PROTECTION MEASURES

Voluntary measures are in effect from June 1^st to October 31^st, 2020. See map above.

These measures apply to merchant vessels, cruise ships, small vessels and adventure craft within the boundaries of the MPAs and the additional identified areas to prevent collisions with whales and to mitigate the underwater noise generated by the vessels. These measures should only be taken when they will not jeopardize navigational safety.

Avoid (red area): To reduce the risk of underwater noise disturbance and collisions with whales within the MPAs, vessels should avoid transiting through the MPAs if possible. If passage through this area is required, vessels should slow down to a maximum speed through the water of 10 knots and post a lookout such as a marine mammal observer in order to increase the chances of seeing the whales and thus taking necessary measures to avoid them. If bypassing the whales is not possible, slow down and wait for the animals to move away to a distance greater than 400 metres (0.215 nautical miles) before resuming original speed up to 10 knots. It is more difficult to see the animals in rain, fog, or in rough sea states, therefore increased caution is recommended.

Slow down to 10 knots or less (yellow area): To reduce the risk of underwater noise disturbance and collisions with whales within this area, it is recommended that vessels should slow down to a maximum speed through the water of 10 knots, remain in the navigation and marked community supply channels and post a lookout.

These voluntary measures are secondary to rights under the Inuvialuit Final Agreement.

MPA Coordinates

The Tarium Niryutait Marine Protected Areas consist of three areas of the Mackenzie Bay: Okeevik, Kittigaryuit and Niaqunnaq. The three areas are bounded by rhumb lines connecting the following geographical coordinates [North America Datum 1983 (NAD 83)/World Geodetic System (WGS 84)].

Okeevik Sub Area

Kittigaryuit Sub Area

Niaqunnaq Sub Area

The Anguniaqvia niqiqyuam Marine Protected Areas consist of two areas in Darnley Bay and Amundsen Gulf in the Beaufort Sea: Zone 1 and Zone 2. The areas consist of the seabed, the subsoil to a depth of five metres and the water column, including the sea ice. The two areas are bounded by straight lines connecting the following geographical coordinates [North America Datum 1983 (NAD 83)].

Zone 1

Zone 2

BRITISH COLUMBIA COASTAL WATERS – PROTECTION OF THE SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALE

(Recurrent publication of notice *707/20, originally published in the Notices to Mariners Publication - Western Edition 07/2020.)

All vessels, including recreational boats and whale watching vessels, have an important role to play in reducing acoustic and physical disturbance. For a second consecutive year, the Government of Canada is implementing an Interim Order for the Protection of the Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) in the Waters of Southern British Columbia, including the following mandatory measures:

Approach Distance Prohibition

Vessels are prohibited from approaching any killer whale within 400 metres within Southern Resident killer whale critical habitat and British Columbia coastal waters east of Vancouver Island and south of Campbell River (Cape Mudge) and Malaspina Peninsula (Sarah Point) from June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021.

Details of vessels and persons exempted from the approach distance prohibition are described in Sections 2(2) and 3(2) of the Interim Order.

Interim Sanctuary Zones (ISZ)

Interim Sanctuary Zones create spaces of refuge for the whales on a temporary basis, pending further research into a longer-term approach. The location of these zones is based on scientific knowledge of important foraging areas for Southern Resident killer whales.

From June 1 until November 30, 2020, no vessel traffic or fishing activity is allowed in Interim Sanctuary Zones off the southwest coast of Pender Island, southeast end of Saturna Island and at Swiftsure Bank. Exceptions will be allowed for emergency vessels and vessels engaged in Indigenous food, social and ceremonial fisheries, and additional exceptions apply.

A complete list of vessel exceptions to the Interim Sanctuary Zone prohibitions can be found in Section 4(2) of the Interim Order.

Aids to Navigation

The Canadian Coast Guard has established virtual AIS Aids to Navigation to help delineate the Interim Sanctuary Zones.

6.1.Pender Island

6.2Saturna Island

6.3.Swiftsure Bank

The Canadian Coast Guard is currently testing virtual Automatic Identification System (AIS) aids to navigation (AIS AtoN) in specific areas. These aids notify mariners of an Interim Sanctuary Zone subject to restrictions, per NOTMAR 819(T)/2016.

Each Interim Sanctuary Zone is delimited by virtual AIS AtoNs, which may be displayed on a ship’s navigation equipment, with the proper interface, such as

•Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS);
•Electronic Chart System (ECS);
•RADAR;
•Minimum Keyboard Display (MKD); and
•Electronic Nautical Chart (ENC).

Note: This system is not the primary way we communicate this information.

NAVWARN Broadcasts

The CCG-MCTS issues and publishes NAVWARNs:

•by radio broadcast; and
•online at Canada’s Maritime Information Portal and its Navigational Warnings site.

Mariners must ensure they have accurate and up-to-date information about the protection of the Southern Resident killer whale, as in all applicable NOTMARs and NAVWARNs.

For the Interim Sanctuary Zones and 400 metres approach distance, the NAVWARN that is currently in effect will be provided to vessels subject to the Vessel Traffic Services Zone Regulations.

For those vessels not subject to the above-mentioned regulations, vessel operators are required to monitor broadcasts by the Canadian Coast Guard’s Marine Communications and Traffic Services (MCTS) network for the most up to date information. For marine radio frequencies and broadcast times, information may be found in the Radio Aids to Marine Navigation publication.

Compliance and Enforcement

You must comply with the NAVWARNs broadcasted and published by the Canadian Coast Guard related to any Interim Order made pursuant to the Canada Shipping Act, 2001, aimed at regulating navigation for the purposes of protecting Southern Resident killer whales.

If you do not comply with instructions in the NAVWARNs or in the Interim Order, you could face:

•administrative monetary penalties up to a maximum of CAN $250,000; and/or
•penal sanctions under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001.

If your vessel appears to have entered an Interim Sanctuary Zone or violated the approach distance, Transport Canada Marine Safety inspectors will review all information provided through AIS and other detection methods and may take enforcement action.

If a deviation from the Interim Order restrictions is necessary for safety reasons, the following information must be entered into the bridge logbook:

•Reasons for deviation
•Speed at which vessel is operated
•Latitude and longitude at time of deviation
•Time and duration of deviation
•Master of the vessel shall sign and date the bridge logbook entry

For any deviation, Transport Canada will review and consider reasons such as

•Navigating to ensure vessel safety;
•Weather conditions;
•Force majeure (unforeseeable circumstances); and
•Responding to emergencies.

*801CANADIAN HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICE – NAUTICAL CHARTS

*802CANADIAN HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICE – ELECTRONIC NAVIGATIONAL CHARTS

*803CANADIAN HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICE – RASTER DIGITAL CHARTS (BSB V3)

*804TRANSPORT CANADA – SHIP SAFETY BULLETINS #11, #19 AND #20/2020

New and modified Ship Safety Bulletins have recently been posted on the Transport Canada website at www.tc.gc.ca/ssb-bsn/.

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

SSB#11/2020 – Protecting the North Atlantic right whale: speed restriction measures in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (Modified 2020-07-30)
RDIMS#15505520

SSB#19/2020 – Protecting Killer Whales in the Waters of Southern British Columbia

RDIMS#15682274

SSB#20/2020 – Temporary Measures Regarding Marine Medical Certificates

RDIMS#16749881

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