Post on 31-Mar-2015
WORLD-CLASS TANKER SAFETY SYSTEM
& ARCTIC INITIATIVES
Houston, TX – February 19, 2014
WORLD-CLASS TANKER SAFETY Government of Canada announced the creation of a World-Class Tanker
Safety System in March 2013.• While the current tanker safety system has served us well for many years, it is essential
that it be strengthened to meet future needs, as the transportation of Canadian exports is expected to grow.
Regional breakdown for oil transported as cargo in Canadian waters over the last 10 years
Region Approx. annual average over last 10 years in million tonnes (MT)
Pacific Coast 6 MT (Canadian Traffic)37 MT (US traffic transitting through Canadian waters)
Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway
24 MT
Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence
67 MT
Atlantic Coast 192 MT
ELEMENTS OF A WORLD-CLASS REGIME:
LIABILITY AND COMPENSATION
• Polluter pay principle• International
consistency• Adequate protection
PREPAREDNESSAND RESPONSE
• Public, private, and community partnerships
• Well-established Incident Command Structure
• Risk-based planning, capacity , and response time
• Well-stocked response “toolkit”
• Science and technology for clean-up
PREVENTION• Safe tankers• Modern and charted
navigation system• Navigation plans for
high-traffic waters• Systematic surveillance
and monitoring
Preventing Spillsfrom Happening
Responding and Cleaning in Case of a Spill
Polluters Pay; Adequate Compensation for Damages
FEDERAL ACTIONS TO CREATE A WORLD-CLASS REGIME
• Measures already taken include:– Inspect 100% of foreign tankers annually and every year thereafter– Expand National Aerial Surveillance Program– Implement an Incident Command System within the Canadian Coast Guard– Review existing pilotage and tug escort requirements– Designate port at Kitimat as public to enhance traffic control– Conduct scientific research on diluted bitumen– Make targeted improvements to Canada’s system of aids to navigation and develop
options to enhance Canada’s current navigation system– Review current liability and compensation regime
• Bill C-3 - Safeguarding Canada’s Seas and Skies Act– Amend Canada Shipping Act, 2001 to strengthen current requirements for oil handling
facilities, increase oversight/enforcement, and enhance response to spill incidents
• Creation of the Tanker Safety Expert Panel to review and recommend ways to strengthen Canada’s Marine Oil Spill Preparedness and Response Regime
TANKER SAFETY EXPERT PANEL: CONTEXT
• Panel mandate: to review and assess Canada’s current Ship-Source Oil Spill Preparedness and Response regime, and propose new ways to enhance it• Phase I: Regime South of 60° (completed November 2013)• Phase II: Regime for the Arctic (North of 60°) and Hazardous
and Noxious Substances (September 2014)
• Over the Spring and Summer 2013, the Panel conducted public engagement, research and analysis on the regime South of 60°
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TANKER SAFETY EXPERT PANEL: KEY RECOMMENDATIONS (SOUTH OF 60°)
• The Panel recognized that, due in large part to the strong prevention measures in place, Canada has not had any significant oil spills since the current regime was implemented
• To help ensure Canada is prepared for future opportunities, the Panel made 45 recommendations that fall into five themes:– Preparedness and Response– Strengthening the Polluter Pays Principle– Leadership and Stewardship– Communication and Engagement– Continuous Improvement
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PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS: PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE
• “One size does not fit all”: proposes adopting a risk-based Area Response Planning model
– Conduct national and local risk assessments– Tailor responses to local risks/conditions– Increase collaboration with Response Organizations and
other stakeholders– Expand “toolkit” of response techniques (e.g., Spill-Treating
Agents)– Increase access to scientific expertise/information– Ensure Response Organizations have capacity to respond to
most probable spill scenarios, and have access to additional support in the event of a worst-case scenario
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OTHER PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS
• Leadership and Stewardship: recommends a number of steps to:– Strengthen integration and collaboration across government,
industry, and communities– Enhance scientific leadership
• Communication and Engagement: proposes measures to enhance public communications/outreach
• Continuous Improvement: proposes measures to ensure that the regime remains World-Class through regular feedback and assessment
PANEL RECOMMENDATION: STRENGTHENING SHIP-SOURCE LIABILITY AND COMPENSATION
• Canada remains party to international conventions and funds (International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds)
• Abolish limit of liability for Ship-Source Oil Pollution Fund (SOPF)
• Federal backstopping to be available in the extreme event that damages exceed amounts available in the SOPF, with amounts to be reimbursed with interest through a levy on users
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OTHER ISSUES UNDER REVIEW
• Options for enhancing Canada's current navigation system (e.g., aids to navigation, hydrographic charts)
• The behaviour of non-conventional petroleum products,
such as diluted bitumen, in a marine environment
NEXT STEPS
• Engage key stakeholders across Canada on Panel recommendations for a World-Class Tanker Safety System (South of 60°)– Broad range of stakeholders, including Response
Organizations, industry, ports, provincial governments– First Nations– Western Canada (completed in January)– Central and Eastern Canada (completed in January)
• Tanker Safety Expert Panel beginning its review of preparedness and response regime for:– Oil spills in the Arctic (North of 60°)– Hazardous and Noxious Substances
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NEXT STEPS (CONT’D)
• Consider Area Response Planning to address future needs to ensure that Canada’s regime is as effective as possible
─ Should the response system be more flexible and responsive to risk type/level and local conditions?
─ How would we implement such a system?
─ How should we work with interested parties and the broader public be kept informed of steps taken in preventing spills, responding to them when they do happen, and ensuring that reasonable compensation is available?
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ARCTIC INITIATIVES
Domestic • Preparation for updates to
the Canadian Arctic regime• Northern Marine Corridors
International• Mandatory Polar Code
Julie GasconExecutive Director
Domestic Vessel Regulatory Oversight & Boating Safety Marine Safety and Security
Transport Canadajulie.gascon@tc.gc.ca
(613) 949-3819