*401/20Transport 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.

*1105/21West 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)

*905/22Transport Canada – British Columbia North Coast Waterway Management Guidelines

(Recurrent publication of notice *905/22, originally published in the Notices to Mariners – Monthly Western Edition 09/2022 publication.)

The North Coast Waterway Management Guidelines are voluntary guidelines that aim to improve safety on the water by reducing conflicts between First Nations’ marine use activities, such as fishing and shoreline harvesting, and commercial vessels on the shipping route between Kitimat and Browning Entrance. The guidelines came into effect on September 1, 2022, and will be reviewed from time to time.

The guidelines apply to all vessels navigating on the route between Kitimat and Browning Entrance, on the north coast of British Columbia. This area includes:

The complete guidelines document is available at the following link:

https://www.notmar.gc.ca/publications/monthly/documents/NorthCoastWaterwayManagementGuidelines_Sept2022.pdf

Nothing in these guidelines replaces or changes how we apply any Canadian or international laws or regulations, including the Collision Regulations. Furthermore, nothing in these guidelines prevents or limits the master or pilot of a ship from making any decisions to protect the vessel, the crew, or the marine environment.

The guidelines include information for:

•all vessels that covers:

-inshore safety zones
-routing measures
-speed reductions
-guidelines for meeting and passing

-a special operating area in Wright Sound, and

-guidelines in case of a mechanical or electrical breakdown

•large commercial ships, including bulk carriers, general cargo vessels, liquid bulk vessels, and passenger vessels
•tugs and barges, and

•vessels operating in First Nations Areas of Concern where you must pay special attention to make sure local community users can transit and use the area safely.

*1206/22Canadian Coast Guard – Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) Service in Canada Permanently Discontinued

(Recurrent publication of notice *1206/22, originally published in the Notices to Mariners – Monthly Western Edition 12/2022 publication.)

As of December 15, 2022, the Canadian Coast Guard has permanently discontinued the provision of its DGPS service across Canada.

Discontinuing this service aligns with Coast Guard’s efforts to modernize marine navigation services and find alternatives to aging DGPS infrastructures.

Today’s GPS meets the needs of international Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) requirements. Further, for mariners in Canadian waters, there is no carriage requirement for ground or space-based augmentation capability on board vessels for Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS).

Modern GNSS receivers can use the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) as a viable alternative to DGPS. Coast Guard’s technical review of PNT solutions for Canada, and a study of the performance of WAAS found coverage to be excellent throughout Canada, including up to 72’ north latitude in the Arctic.

*201/23Canadian Hydrographic Service – Electronic Navigational Charts

*202/23 Transport Canada – Ship Safety Bulletin #01/2023

A new Ship Safety Bulletin has recently been posted on the Transport Canada website.
To view or download this bulletin, please click on the link below:
SSB#01/2023 – Equivalency regarding Royal Canadian Navy competencies and Certificates of Competency and/or Certificates of Proficiency from Transport Canada
RDIMS# 19073188
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).

*203/23Canadian Coast Guard Publication – Annual Edition of Notices to Mariners 2023

The Annual Edition of Notices to Mariners 2023 is now available for free download, on the NOTMAR website at https://www.notmar.gc.ca/annual.
Paper copies of this publication are no longer sold. This printable online version is kept up to date.
Amendments to this publication are advertised in Section 1 of the monthly editions of Notices to Mariners (https://www.notmar.gc.ca/monthly).
The 2023 edition has been revised up to February 23, 2023 and supersedes the 2022 edition.

*204/23Canadian Coast Guard – Cessation of Rectangular Broadcasting in NAVAREA / METAREAs XVII and XVIII

Since 2010, the five Arctic NAVAREA/METAREAs have promulgated warnings and forecasts to their areas of responsibility using INMARSAT-C’s rectangular area addressing capability. At that time, it was not possible to code older Inmarsat-C receivers to receive warnings and forecasts directly addressed to the Arctic NAVAREA/METAREAs.
All Inmarsat-C and Mini-C receivers available for purchase today are able to receive warnings and forecasts addressed to the Arctic NAVAREA/METAREAs, and have been for more than a decade.
Effective on January 1st, 2024, the Arctic NAVAREA/METAREAs will commence broadcasting their warnings and forecasts using their unique numeric identifier and will cease using rectangular addressing.
During 2023, the Arctic NAVAREA/METAREAs will transmit test messages using the numeric NAVAREA/METAREA identifier to allow mariners to verify reception on their Inmarsat-C or Mini-C receivers.
Mariners navigating in Arctic waters must ensure that their Inmarsat-C or Mini-C receiver detects the new encoding prior to January 1st, 2024 to continue receiving Arctic NAVAREA/METAREA warnings and forecasts.

*205/23Vancouver Fraser Port Authority – Anchorage Code of Conduct

Purpose of the Code of Conduct:

-The objective of the anchorage code of conduct is to promote enhanced ship safety and environmental protection, while also reducing the effects of ship movements on local communities. Anchorages in Southern British Columbia lie in significantly eco-sensitive coastal waters and have the potential to affect the quality of life for neighbouring coastal and Indigenous communities unless strict mitigations, including the minimization of noise and light pollution, are taken.

-The anchorage code of conduct applies to all anchorages assigned and managed by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, and shall apply at all times, except when instructed by the port authority or the Canadian Coast Guard, and in emergencies when it is the responsibility of the Master to take any and all action to ensure safety of their vessel consistent with the prevailing circumstances and conditions.

Accessing the anchorage code of conduct:

-The code of conduct applies to all anchorages assigned by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority both within the Port of Vancouver and the Southern Gulf Islands.
-The code of conduct is accessed via the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s Port Information Guide available at https://www.portvancouver.com/marine-operations/.

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.

Western Region

*211(P)/23Gull Harbour to/à Riverton – Aids to Navigation to be Discontinued

Reference Chart: 6249

The Canadian Coast Guard proposes to permanently discontinue the following aids to navigation:

Initial publication date: Friday, February 24, 2023
Comment submission deadline: Thursday, May 25, 2023

(P2023-004)

No notices applicable for this edition.

Western Region

*212(P)/23Shuswap Lake – Daybeacon to be Discontinued

Reference Chart: 3053

The Canadian Coast Guard proposes to permanently discontinue the following aid to navigation:

Initial publication date: Friday, February 24, 2023
Comment submission deadline: Thursday, May 25, 2023

(P2023-006)