Our work at the Canadian Coast Guard

The Canadian Coast Guard is a nationally recognized and world-leading symbol of service and safety. We’re entrusted to deliver valuable programs and services to Canadians along 243,000 kilometers of coastline, the longest of any country in the world. We ensure the safety of all mariners on our waters, protect our marine environment, and support our economic growth.

Examples of what we do

• We are mission-ready 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and in almost all weather conditions. We respond to mariners in distress, marine disasters, and emergencies on the water through our effective maritime search and rescue system.
• We support the safe and rapid movement of maritime trade in Canadian waters, contributing to Canada’s economy (valued at approximately $205 billion annually ^{Footnote 1}, or roughly 21.7% of Canada’s total international trade^{Footnote 2}) .
• We maintain floating aids to navigation that mark safe passages through our waterways.
• We provide essential icebreaking services, which keeps our ports open year-round and helps ships to move safely through ice-covered waters throughout the winter.
• We lead on the effective response to all marine pollution incidents in Canada’s waters, including in the Arctic.
• We are a visible symbol of the federal government’s presence, and we provide the capacity to assert Canadian sovereignty, especially in the Arctic.
• We support science by providing platforms for scientists to conduct fish stock assessments, seafloor charting, and oceanographic and freshwater research.
• We also provide vessels to Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s enforcement branch, which safeguards our marine fisheries, aquatic species, and habitats.