Official Sources on Canadian Marine Transport

Updated 2026-11-10

Official Sources on Canadian Marine Transport

Canadian marine transportation is regulated and documented by several federal bodies, each with its own website, legislation and data. Some publish charts and tide tables, some publish accident reports, some run waterways, and some set the legal rules that apply to ships. Two United Nations bodies and the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System add international and regional reference material.

This page lists those open sources and describes what each one holds. Statistics, ballast water, economic impact and cabotage have their own articles on this site and appear here only as pointers.

Federal departments and agencies

Transport Canada

Transport Canada is the federal department responsible for policy and regulation across road, rail, air and marine transportation. It is headquartered in Ottawa and, since a reorganization in 1994, has concentrated on policy and regulation rather than operating transportation services. In the marine field it sets requirements for vessels, certifies Canadian seafarers and enforces marine legislation.

Its marine pages are grouped by subject. The list includes vessel licensing and registration, vessel inspection and certification, marine training and certification, protecting navigable waters, Arctic shipping, marine pollution and environmental response, ports, harbours and anchorages, marine liability and compensation, marine accidents and investigations, marine security, and a section of marine publications.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Fisheries and Oceans Canada manages fisheries and marine resources. Its home page groups material under headings that include fisheries, aquaculture, aquatic species, science, fish habitat and projects near water. The navigation material covers marine conditions, search and rescue and small craft harbours. The department's science sector produces data and advice on aquatic environments.

Canadian Coast Guard

The Canadian Coast Guard is a civilian agency whose core services are marine search and rescue, aids to navigation, marine communications and traffic services, icebreaking, environmental response and waterways management. It sat within Fisheries and Oceans Canada from 2005. An Order in Council made on 2 September 2025 moved it to the Department of National Defence, where it continues as a civilian Special Operating Agency.

Canadian Hydrographic Service

The Canadian Hydrographic Service is the country's hydrographic office and part of the science sector of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. It publishes official paper and digital nautical charts, with more than 1,000 in all, along with sailing directions and nautical publications. Its site, charts.gc.ca, also carries the monthly Notices to Mariners, the annual tide and current tables, an Arctic voyage planning guide and licensing terms for non-navigational use of its data.

Canadian Ice Service

The Canadian Ice Service is published through the Environment and Climate Change Canada website. It provides ice forecasts and observations for navigable waters: an interactive map of current ice conditions, bulletins, charts, ice climatology including an Arctic ice atlas, historical archives and oil pollution monitoring.

Transportation Safety Board of Canada

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is an independent investigative body that began operating on 29 March 1990. It covers aviation, rail, pipeline and marine occurrences. It investigates selected events, identifies safety deficiencies, issues recommendations and reports publicly. Its recommendations have no legal force, and the responsible federal minister must respond to them within 90 days. Published material includes investigation reports, safety advisories and a Watchlist of safety issues.

Canadian Transportation Agency

The Canadian Transportation Agency is an independent quasi-judicial tribunal headquartered in Gatineau, Quebec. It was established under the Canada Transportation Act, which received royal assent on 29 May 1996. The Agency handles dispute resolution, accessibility and economic regulation for federally regulated air, rail and marine transportation. In marine matters its best-known role concerns the Coasting Trade Act, where it determines whether a suitable Canadian ship is available. That process is explained in the article on fleet renewal and cabotage.

Canada Border Services Agency

The Canada Border Services Agency was created in 2003 and handles border control, immigration enforcement and customs. For marine transport its public material concerns cargo and conveyance reporting. Under the Advance Commercial Information program, data on shipborne cargo must reach the agency at least 24 hours before loading.

Statistics Canada

Statistics Canada organizes its transportation subject page into air, rail, road and water transportation, among other categories. Marine data sit under the water transportation heading. Figures are covered in the shipping statistics article on this site.

Waterway and port operators

The St. Lawrence Seaway

The St. Lawrence Seaway runs for about 600 kilometres between Montreal and Lake Erie and has 15 locks, seven on the St. Lawrence River portion and eight on the Welland Canal. It opened in 1959. Two organizations manage it: the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation in Canada and the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation in the United States.

The joint website of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System is published by the Canadian corporation. It carries traffic reports, tolls and charges, notices to shipping, water levels, bridge status and opening and closing information for the navigation season.

Canada Port Authorities

Ports are governed by Part 1 of the Canada Marine Act, passed in 1998. Under section 8, a port authority can be incorporated for a port that is financially self-sufficient, strategically significant to trade, linked to a major rail line or highway and handles diversified traffic. Letters patent set the board at seven to eleven directors, and appointments come from the federal government, municipalities and provinces, with a three-year term and a nine-year consecutive maximum. A special examination of each authority must take place at least every five years.

Seventeen Canada Port Authorities are currently active, and 34 remote ports remained under federal supervision after the 1998 reform. Each authority maintains its own website with tariffs, terminal information and statistics, which are the primary sources for individual ports.

The statutes behind the sources

Several Acts explain why each body exists and what it publishes. They are available in English and French at the Justice Laws Website.

Canada Shipping Act, 2001

The Canada Shipping Act, 2001 (S.C. 2001, c. 26) is the principal statute for vessel safety and marine pollution prevention. Section 6 lists its objectives, which include protecting the health of people working in marine transport, promoting safety in commercial shipping and recreational boating, protecting the marine environment, encouraging an efficient marine transportation system and helping Canada meet its international obligations.

Its parts cover general provisions, registration, listing and recording of vessels, personnel, safety, navigation services, incidents, accidents and casualties, pollution prevention and response, pleasure craft, and enforcement. Section 9 makes the Minister of Transport responsible for administering the Act unless it provides otherwise. The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans shares responsibility for navigation services (Part 5) and for pollution prevention and response (Part 8).

Marine Liability Act

The Marine Liability Act (S.C. 2001, c. 6) deals with compensation. Its parts address personal injury and fatality claims, apportionment of liability, limitation of liability under the 1976 Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims as amended by the 1996 Protocol, carriage of passengers by water, carriage of goods by water under the Hague-Visby Rules, and liability and compensation for pollution, including the Bunkers Convention. Further parts cover the Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund and general provisions.

Marine Transportation Security Act

The Marine Transportation Security Act (S.C. 1994, c. 40) provides for the security of marine transportation. It applies to vessels and marine facilities in Canada and to Canadian ships abroad, and excludes vessels and facilities operated under the Minister of National Defence. The Governor in Council may make regulations on screening, restricted areas and record keeping. The Minister may formulate security measures and, by written notice, require or authorize operators to carry them out. The Act also provides for designated security inspectors and screening officers.

Coasting Trade Act and Canada Marine Act

The Coasting Trade Act governs which ships may carry goods or passengers between Canadian points, and it is covered in the article on fleet renewal and cabotage. The Canada Marine Act, described above, sets out national marine policy as well as the framework for port authorities. Its declaration of policy refers to marine infrastructure that supports national, regional and local objectives, high safety and environmental standards, and local management of port services. Its long title also refers to the Seaway and ferry services.

Canada Transportation Act and its review

The Canada Transportation Act sets the national transportation policy in section 5. The policy describes a competitive, economic and efficient system in which competition and market forces are the main drivers, with regulation and public intervention used where needed for economic, safety, security, environmental or social outcomes. Section 53 requires the Minister to appoint one or more people to review the Act and related economic-regulation legislation within eight years of that subsection coming into force. The review consults purchasers and suppliers of transportation services, reports within 18 months of the appointment, and the Minister tables the report in both Houses of Parliament.

International sources

International Maritime Organization

The International Maritime Organization is a United Nations specialized agency based in London. It is responsible for the safety and security of shipping and for preventing marine and air pollution from ships. Its conventions include SOLAS on safety of life at sea, MARPOL on pollution from ships and STCW on seafarer training and certification, and member states carry them into national law. Its site offers publications, including the IMDG Code for dangerous goods. The Canada Shipping Act, 2001 lists helping Canada meet its international obligations among its objectives.

UN Trade and Development

UN Trade and Development, known as UNCTAD, was established by the General Assembly in 1964 and is based in Geneva. Its mandate covers trade, transport, finance and technology as they relate to development. Its publications include the Review of Maritime Transport, which compares seaborne trade and fleets across countries.

Frequently asked questions

Which federal department regulates ships in Canada?

Transport Canada administers most marine safety and registration rules, mainly through the Canada Shipping Act, 2001. Fisheries and Oceans Canada holds responsibilities under certain parts of that Act, including navigation services and pollution response.

Who publishes official nautical charts?

The Canadian Hydrographic Service, part of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, publishes the official paper and digital charts. Its site also provides Notices to Mariners, tide and current tables and Arctic voyage planning material.

Does the Transportation Safety Board of Canada assign blame for marine accidents?

No. It investigates to determine causes and contributing factors, identify safety deficiencies and make recommendations. The responsible federal minister must respond to its recommendations within 90 days, though they are not legally binding.

Which agency manages the St. Lawrence Seaway?

The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation manages the Canadian part and the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation manages the American part. The Seaway has 15 locks and has been open since 1959.

What does the Marine Liability Act cover?

It covers personal injury and fatality claims, apportionment of liability, limits of liability for maritime claims, carriage of passengers and goods by water, pollution liability and the Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund.

How are Canadian ports governed?

Under Part 1 of the Canada Marine Act, port authorities are incorporated by letters patent. Each has a board of seven to eleven directors and a special examination at least every five years.