British Columbia North Coast Waterway Management Guidelines issued by Transport Canada

Transport Canada has issued a ship safety bulletin entitled British Columbia North Coast Waterway Management Guidelines.

The purpose of this bulletin is to advise vessel owners and operators about the North Coast Waterway Management Guidelines which came into effect on September 1, 2022.

This bulletin applies to all vessels navigating on the route between Kitimat and Browning Entrance.

This area includes:
• Douglas Channel
• Wright Sound
• Lewis Passage
• Otter Channel
• Nepean Sound, and
• Principe Channel

The North Coast Waterway Management Guidelines are voluntary guidelines that aim to improve safety on the water by reducing conflicts between First Nations’ marine use activities, such as fishing and shoreline harvesting, and commercial vessels on the shipping route between Kitimat and Browning Entrance.

The guidelines came into effect on September 1, 2022, and will be reviewed from time to time.

YOU CAN READ THE NEW GUIDELINES HERE

Nothing in these guidelines replaces or changes how we apply any Canadian or international laws or regulations, including the Collision Regulations.

Nothing in these guidelines prevents or limits the master or pilot of a vessel from making any decisions to protect the vessel, the crew, or the marine environment.

The guidelines contain information for:

• all vessels that covers:
  - inshore safety zones
  - routing measures
  - speed reductions
  - guidelines for meeting and passing
  - a special operating area in Wright Sound, and
  - guidelines in case of a mechanical or electrical breakdown
• large commercial vessels, including bulk carriers, general cargo vessels, liquid bulk vessels, and passenger vessels
• tugs and barges, and
• vessels operating in First Nations Areas of Concern.

Masters of vessels operating in First Nation Areas of Concern must pay special attention to make sure local community users can transit and use the area safely.

Map of area where the guidelines apply.

The area is made up of waterways between Kitimat and Browning Entrance including Douglas Channel, Wright Sound, Lewis Passage, Otter Channel, Nepean Sound and Principe Channel.

RELEVANT DOCUMENT (AVAILABLE ONLY TO SUBSCRIBERS):

British Columbia North Coast Waterway Management Guidelines