Marine Programs - Canadian Coast Guard

The mission of Marine Programs is to ensure safe and environmentally responsible use of Canada's waters, facilitate the use of our waters for shipping, recreation and fishing, and provide marine expertise in support of Canada's domestic and international interests.

Marine Programs is responsible for policies and programs related to Aids to Navigation, Marine Communications and Traffic Services, Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR), Pollution Response, Icebreaking and Waterways Development and Maintenance, as outlined in acts and legislation such as theConstitution Act, and theOceans Act.

Summary

Aids to Navigation Program

The Aids to Navigation Program provides, operates and maintains approximately 18 000 conventional aids to navigation (buoys, fixed aids) and two electronic systems (Loran-C and DGPS) to provide safe, efficient and accessible waterways by:

• assisting mariners in determining their position and course;
• identifying safe landfall, hazards and channels;
• indicating preferred routes, separate traffic; and
• providing safety information through Notices to Mariners (Notmar.com).

Marine Communications and Traffic Services Program

The Marine Communication and Traffic Services Program helps ensure safety of life at sea, protection of the environment, efficient movement of shipping and information for business and national interests by:

• providing distress-safety communications and coordination to detect distress situations, ensure timely assistance and saving of lives;
• providing vessel screening to prevent the entry of unsafe vessels into Canadian waters;
• providing vessel traffic regulating services for marine risk reduction;
• managing an integrated marine information system in support of economic benefits and national interests; and
• providing public correspondence services to facilitate ship-shore communications.

Search and Rescue Program

The Search and Rescue Program helps ensure the safety and efficiency of Canadian waterways by:

• detecting marine SAR incidents;
• in cooperation with the Department of National Defence (DND), coordinating, controlling, and conducting SAR operations in marine SAR situations within Canadian areas of federal responsibility;
• providing marine resources to help with air SAR operations as necessary; and
• when and where available, providing SAR resources to assist in humanitarian and civil incidents within provincial, territorial or municipal areas of responsibility.

Environmental Response Program

The Environmental Response Program is responsible for responding to marine spills and will fulfill the federal monitoring and/or on-scene command roles for the Government of Canada. The basic responsibilities are outlined as follows:

• response to mystery spills and ship-source spills in waters under Canadian jurisdiction;
• initial response agency for south of 60^o north;
• primary Response Agency north of 60^o north;
• federal monitoring and on-scene command for the Government of Canada;
• response Management (National Response Team);
• maintain and exercise Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) emergency response plans;
• CCG Claims and compensation; and
• ship-source Oil Pollution Fund (SOPF) liaison.

Icebreaking Program

The Icebreaking Program facilitates safe and efficient movement of marine traffic through ice-covered waters and to reduce the risk of flooding in areas prone to or threatened by it as a result of ice build-up and support a Canadian presence in the Arctic by:

• escorting ships separately or in convoy and maintains tracks through shore-fast;
• providing ice information and ice routing advice;
• breaking out ice from wharf faces and harbour approaches;
• preventing the formation of ice jams and facilitating ice flow during spring break-up; and
• transporting dry cargo and fuel to government Arctic sites during the summer ice season.

Waterways Development Program

The Waterways Development Program contributes to the safety and efficiency of Canadian waterways by:

• providing standards for the design and safe use of waterways, monitoring their application and advising mariners, other stakeholders and public;
• maintaining international channels in Detroit and Ste. Claire Rivers;
• monitoring the channel bathymetry;
• managing channel maintenance programs on behalf of owners and operators on the St. Lawrence River;
• providing and maintaining channel and ice cover control structures;
• monitoring and control of water level fluctuations in the St. Lawrence River;
• providing water depth forecasts; and
• providing safety information to users.

For more information, you may visit the following Web sites or communicate with the appropriate regional contacts:

• Canadian Coast Guard
• International St. Lawrence River Board of Control

Manitoba Contact(s):
Regional Operations Centre
Ice Sarnia
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
105 Christina Street South
Sarnia, Ontario  N7T 7W1
Telephone: 519-383-1814
Fax: 519-337-2498
Toll-free (information): 1-800-265-0237
Web site: http://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/eng/CCG/Home
 

Mr. David Fitland
Regional Director CCG
Central and Arctic Region
Fisheries and Oceans
Suite 703
201 North Front Street
Sarnia, Ontario  N7T 8B1
Telephone: (519) 383-1800
Fax: (519) 383-1998
Web site: http://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/eng/CCG/Home
 

Mr. Geoff Morris
A/Director, CCG Planning
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Suite 703
201 North Front Street
Sarnia, Ontario  N1T 8B1
Telephone: (519) 383-3987
Fax: (519) 383-1994
TTY (hearing impaired): 613-941-6517
Web site: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/home-accueil_e.htm
Hours of operation: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday (Eastern Time).

National Contact(s):
Mr. Charles J. Gadula
Assistant Deputy Commissioner
Commissioner's Office, Canadian Coast Guard
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Centennial Towers
200 Kent Street
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0E6
Telephone: 613-998-1570
Fax: 613-990-2780
TTY (hearing impaired): 613-941-6517
E-mail: info@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/home-accueil_e.htm
Hours of operation: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday (Eastern Time).