Marine Communications and Traffic Services laws

Marine Communications and Traffic Services supports economic activities by:

• optimizing traffic movement
• ensuring safe marine navigation
• facilitating industry ship-to-shore communications

We derive these functions from a regulatory framework based on the:

• Oceans Act
• Canada Shipping Act
• International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea

The 2001 amendments to the Canada Shipping Act identified and set out important new responsibilities for vessel traffic management. Departmental authorities can now recommend regulations that:

• establish vessel traffic service zones
• impose zone-specific mandatory vessel traffic practices and procedures, such as:
• Vessel Traffic Services Zones Regulations
• Eastern Canada Vessel Traffic Services Zone Regulations (ECAREG)
• Northern Canada Vessel Traffic Services Zone Regulations (NORDREG)

The International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea requires signatories to make provisions for safety radio communications services. As such, we provide vessels with distress and safety coordination and communications, as well as maritime safety information broadcasts.

Measures are also in place with the USA for waters that share our borders, including the:

• Juan de Fuca Strait
• Passamaquoddy Bay
• Detroit and St. Clair rivers