Questions and Answers on Icebreaking Operations

• What icebreaking services does the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) provide?
• Where and when are icebreaking services available?
• How do I request an icebreaker?
• How long is the wait for an icebreaker?
• Do some ships or ports have priority over others?
• Do commercial ships get preference over fishing vessels?
• Will the CCG escort fishing vessels in ice?
• Will the CCG break out fishing harbours?
• Why will the CCG not provide support to the Seal fisheries?
• If an icebreaker is in the area, why will it not respond to my request for an escort?

What icebreaking services does the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) provide?

The Canadian Coast Guard provides icebreaking services for commercial ships, ferries and fishing vessels in ice covered Canadian waters. These services include escorts, harbour breakouts, track maintenance through shore-fast ice, ice routing advice and ice information services. The CCG also monitors ice conditions on the St. Lawrence River and mitigates flooding by breaking up ice jams.

Where and when are icebreaking services available?

During the winter, from about mid-December to May, fifteen icebreakers and two hovercraft operate along Canada’s east coast from Newfoundland to Montréal and in the Great Lakes. During the summer, from late June to early November, six icebreakers operate in the Arctic, assisting shipping, delivering cargo to some isolated communities, maintaining a sovereign presence and conducting essential science missions.

How do I request an icebreaker?

Requests for icebreaking services can be made to the nearest Canadian Coast Guard Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centre. It is important to clarify whether you require an icebreaker for a routine escort or whether you are in a distress or emergency situation.

How long is the wait for an icebreaker?

The CCG has response time targets for various geographic areas, for example:

• North East Coast of Newfoundland - 8 hrs
• Gulf of St. Lawrence - 12 hrs
• St. Lawrence and Saguenay Rivers - 5 hrs
• Great Lakes - 8 hrs
• Canadian Arctic - 10 hrs
• Fishing Harbour Breakouts - 24 hrs

The actual response time will depend upon the weather and ice conditions, the number of available icebreakers in the area, the amount of traffic needing assistance and other factors.

Do some ships or ports have priority over others?

All requests for icebreaker assistance are received by the Ice Operations Centres, which assess all the demands against established CCG priorities:

1. all distress and emergency situations take precedence;
2. service requests from ferry services provided in accordance with the Terms of Union will be given priority; other ferry services will receive priority as deemed appropriate by the CCG;
3. ships with vulnerable cargoes (i.e. the potential for pollution, dangerous goods, perishable) and vessels transporting cargo which is vital to the survival of communities;
4. marine traffic and fishing vessels; and
5. fishing harbour breakouts.

There are a limited number of CCG icebreakers available, so all icebreaking activity is jointly co-ordinated by the Ice Operations Centres in Quebec, Maritimes, Newfoundland and Central & Arctic Regions to ensure the best utilization of icebreakers, to minimize the risks and reduce the impacts to marine shipping.

Do commercial ships get preference over fishing vessels? Will the CCG escort fishing vessels in ice?

The priority of the Canadian Coast Guard is the safety of life at sea. The CCG also provides services to ensure the safety of navigation and to improve the efficiency of traffic movement in ice covered waters. When a vessel requests icebreaker assistance, the CCG must consider the capability of the vessel to navigate safely along its intended route. This policy pertains to commercial ships, ferries, fishing vessels and pleasure craft. Typically, fishing vessels engaged in sealing activities are not strengthened or reinforced enough for navigation in ice (hulls, shafts, propellers and rudders); therefore, the CCG will not escort fishing vessels into the ice due the high risk for ice damage.

CCG may provide escorts to assist sealing vessels out of heavy ice conditions and into workable-ice or open water only.

CCG will not provide escorts to allow sealing vessels direct access to seal herds or break up ice floes to prevent sealing vessels from damaging their vessels while attempting to reach seal herds.

Each winter during the annual seal fisheries, the CCG responds to hundreds of distress situations, requests for assistance from disabled vessels, as well as requests for fuel, food, water and spare parts from the fishers. There are not enough icebreakers available to provide assistance to every vessel that would like an escort.

Will the CCG break out fishing harbours?

CCG may provide fishing harbour breakouts when requested. Fishing harbour breakouts will be considered as a low priority icebreaking service. Consideration will be given to scheduling this service to efficiently breakout a series of neighbouring harbours. Provision will depend on the ability of the vessel to reach its fishing grounds with minimal assistance.

Icebreaking will not be provided if a breakout may result in fishing vessels standing into dangerous ice conditions once clear of the harbour; if there is risk of damage to fishing vessels or harbour shore facilities; or if geographic, meteorological or operational conditions would endanger CCG crew, ships, equipment, or those vessels who requested the services.

Often the CCG will recommend that fishing vessels remain at their wharves until the ice and weather conditions improve. For fishing harbours in areas of heavy ice conditions, the CCG may chose not to provide the service until the situation improves.

Why will the CCG not provide support to the Seal fisheries?

Decisions on harbour breakouts will be guided by safety considerations. Advice from Fisheries and Aquaculture Management (FAM) will be sought in terms of impact on the overall seal hunt. CCG and FAM will work closely to ensure that operating conditions are as safe as possible for opening of the seal hunt.

If an icebreaker is in the area, why will it not respond to my request for an escort?

Icebreakers might be tasked to provide icebreaking services, but they may also be involved in search and rescue activities. As well, each winter a dedicated icebreaker may be used as a platform to assist DFO Conservation and Protection personnel with enforcement and monitoring functions, or to assist the RCMP, the Sûreté du Québec and other police in the event there are attempts to disrupt the seal hunt.

All requests for escorts or harbour breakouts will be assessed and prioritized by the Ice Operations Centre and icebreakers will be tasked accordingly. As there are a limited number of icebreakers available, it is challenging for the CCG to respond to every request, so emergency situations have precedence.