Canadian Coast Guard Information Kit

Newfoundland and Labrador Region

Coverage

The Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Region covers more than 28,956 km of shoreline and 2.5 million km2 of continental shelf.

The severity of weather is second only to the Canadian Arctic. Some of the most severe sea state conditions in Canada are present in this region, including a long ice season with frequent heavy ice conditions, icebergs, reduced visibility, gales and storms, and freezing spray.

Coast Guard services in the NL Region are provided by 16 vessels, 75 small craft and three helicopters.

Approximately 950 employees provide Coast Guard services in this region. The regional headquarters office is located in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Marine Communications and Traffic Services (MCTS)

There are five MCTS centres across the NL Region, all of which operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They provide a safety watch on international distress frequencies and manage vessel traffic. They are located in Placentia, St. John’s, Port aux Basques and St. Anthony, Newfoundland, as well as in Goose Bay, Labrador.

Aids to Navigation

More than 1,400 fixed and floating aids to navigation, four long-range navigation stations and four differential global positioning system transmitting stations assist mariners in NL waters. The region has a fully lighted buoyage system, using the latest technology light emitting diode lights. There is a total of 55 lighthouses in NL Region, 23 of which are staffed.

Waterways Management Services

The NL Region is responsible for surveying the bottom of seven channels for available depths, identifying hazards to navigation, and providing the information to mariners through Notices to Mariners (NOTMAR) and Notices to Shipping (NOTSHIP). In 2007/08, Fortune Harbour approaches were surveyed and both Errington Narrows and the Goose Bay area were surveyed with the results forwarded to mariners and shippers.

Environmental Response Services (ER)

The Regional Environmental Response Division responds to an average of 200 marine pollution reports annually. With the largest oil-handling port in Canada, a rapidly expanding offshore oil industry and millions of tons of potential polluting cargo and vessel fuel transiting regional waters each year, the region maintains an immediate readiness to act effectively to protect the marine environment.

Icebreaking Services

With the second longest ice season and among the harshest sea conditions in Canada, the NL Region is one of two CCG regions where ice is a year-round hazard to navigation. Icebreaking is particularly important, as 90% of the coastline is ice covered during the winter months.

Search and Rescue (SAR)

NL Region has four CCG stations, and three inshore rescue boat stations. In an average year, the Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland responds to approximately 500 SAR cases. Of these, 28% are classified as distress or potential distress incidents in which, on average, 600 lives are saved. The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary has 1,000 members and 460 vessels in NL Region. Each year, the Auxiliary responds to 35% of the maritime search and rescue incidents.