Canada - Spill Response Requirements For All Vessels

January 2005

In a recent circular ECM Maritime Services provided this summary of the current regulatory regime in Canada: 

All ships of 400 gross tons or more that carry oil as cargo or fuel, as well as oil tankers of 150 gross tons or more operating in Canadian waters south of 60°N latitude are required to: 

• have an arrangement with a certified response organization (RO); 
• have an approved SOPEP or SMPEP on board. 
• have a Declaration Letter provided by the owner that provides the name of the P&I Club, the person responsible for implementing both the arrangement and the plan who has 24-hour accessibility (Authorized Individual); and attests to an arrangement with a certified RO in respect of all waters where the ship navigates or engages in marine activity.

ECM is a USA based regulatory consulting firm whose contracts for QI, SMT, Canada and Panama pollution compliance services conform with International Group P&I Club guidelines.

Further detail of the regulations is given in a Steamship website article.