All canola shipments to China stopped

Richardson is no longer the only Canadian canola producer being shut out of the Chinese market. There are now 18 members of the group that represents the industry in Canada, including Viterra Inc., Louis Dreyfus Company, Cargill Ltd. and Parrish & Heimbecker Ltd. which say that their contracts to sell in China are drying up. Canada's Minister of Agriculture Marie-Claude Bibeau said China only recently agreed to have scientists assess the claim that they have found organisms in Canadian canola, after they claimed that about Richardson's.  About 40 per cent of Canada's canola seed exports last year went to China, worth about $2.7 billion. Canada also sent about $1 billion worth of canola oil to China, and about $500 million worth of canola meal. Up until the recent disruption, Chinese demand for Canadian canola has been strong, the group says.

Viau Terminal to increase container handling capacity

The Montreal Port Authority (MPA) and LOGISTEC Corporation have announced that Viau Terminal will undergo construction to increase its handling capacity by 250,000 TEUs, bringing its total capacity to 600,000 TEUs. The project will help the MPA to accommodate anticipated growth in the container sector, When the expansion is fully operational in December 2020, Viau Terminal will generate 2,500 direct and indirect jobs, as well as $340 million in economic benefits. The terminal will continue to apply new technologies, including electrification and the noise mitigation systems. This is the final phase of Viau Terminal's construction, and was largely funded through investments from the MPA, LOGISTEC and the federal government.

CL Aquarius is now on Shore Power

Canship Ugland and Suncor who jointly operate the bunkering vessel, CL Aquarius, has announced that upgrades to its home berth at Roger’s Sugar have been completed, providing shore power to the vessel. The infrastructure was installed and commissioned with the assistance from Lantic Sugar electricians as well in-house technical expertise within Canship’s company.

Ship collides in Vancouver Harbour on March 17

The Transportation Safety Board is investigating a vessel colliding with another at anchor in Vancouver Harbour early Sunday.  The Caravos Harmony was laden inbound for bunkers when the collision with the Pan Acacia occurred.  No injuries or pollution resulted from the collision.  The hull of the Pan Acacia was punctured above the water line and is awaiting repairs while the investigation continues. 

Notice of Amendment to Vancouver’s Port Information Guide

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has issued a Notice of Amendment to the Port Information Guide. The amendments include

• Replacing the existing Vancouver and Approaches Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) with the English Bay Routing System (EBRS).
  
• Establishing associated procedures for the operation of vessels within the EBRS.

Comments or concerns re the proposed amendments must be submitted in writing to the VFPA by April 18, 2019.

Canada invests in oilspill research

The Government of Canada has announced that six international organizations will receive more than $4.1 million for research projects that will help improve protocols and decision-making to minimize the environmental impacts of oil spills.  The recipients include: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation; Johns Hopkins University; New Jersey Institute of Technology; SINTEF Ocean; Texas A&M University; and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. These projects are part of the $45.5 million Multi-Partner Research Initiative, announced last year to leverage collaboration among oil spill experts in Canada and abroad to ensure we have the capability to provide the best scientific advice and tools to respond to oil spills in our waters.  The Multi-Partner Research Initiative will support a variety of different but interrelated research projects on alternative response measures for oil spills while facilitating partnerships among the best researchers across Canada and around the world. These collaborative efforts will improve our knowledge of how oil spills behave, how best to contain them and clean them up, and how to minimize their environmental impacts.

Court of Appeal reviews BC’s ability to restrict transportation of commodities

The BC Court of Appeal will hold a five-day hearing to consider provincial powers in the political battle over the future of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project. The BC government is seeking the ability to restrict the transport of oil through its territory and restrict bitumen shipments from Alberta.  The Court will determine whether the proposed amendments in BC’s Environmental Management Act will be valid or overridden by federal law.

Ottawa to enter talks with Indigenous groups on Trans Mountain equity stake, revenue sharing

A letter from Finance Minister Bill Morneau has indicated that exploratory talks may soon be underway with Indigenous groups on possible equity and revenue-sharing arrangements on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.  Key discussion points will be on the opportunity for meaningful economic participation in the project and the economic development of their communities in keeping with the spirit of reconciliation.

Budget 2019 Invests in Middle Class but Offers Little to Address Economic Growth

The 2019 Federal Budget was tabled earlier this week. With a focus on securing voters, it contains little in the way of substantial opportunity to address competitiveness, productivity, and investment certainty. It offers billions in targeted support for students, seniors, first-time homebuyers, workers and national pharmacare. Overall, it is projecting a $19.7 billion deficit for 2019-20.

On the marine front, topics that were addressed include:

• Pilotage. The Government proposes to introduce amendments to the Pilotage Act that would support the Oceans Protection Plan by strengthening the governance of Canada’s pilotage authorities and enforcement provisions, streamlining fee-setting, and increasing transparency.
• Innovation of Regulations. Budget 2019 makes a commitment to increase funding for regulatory review, modernization, and harmonization.  $219.1 million over five years is committed to move forward the regulatory roadmaps in transportation and infrastructure, agri-food and aquaculature, and health and bio-sciences
• Skills & Immigration. Budget 2019 proposes to establish a new Canada Training Benefit to provide workers with access to a training allowance and leave provisions that will support those seeking additional training and/or skill upgrades. To deliver this new program, Budget 2019 proposes to invest more than $1.7 billion over five years, and $586.5 million per year ongoing. 

New surveillance plane to monitor Vancouver Island fisheries

Fisheries and Oceans Canada will be starting a new aerial operation in 2020 with the use of a new surveillance plane. The plane is set to help spot any illegal fishing activity in the waters off Vancouver Island. The aircraft will operate out of Campbell River, with additional planes operating out of St. John’s and Halifax. In addition to illegal fishing, the planes can also gather information about vessel movement, environmental conditions, pollution levels and species.

ICS releases updated Flag State Performance Table

The International Chamber of Shipping has published the latest update of its Flag State Performance Table. The report provides an indication of the performance of individual flag administrations, using information available in the public domain. The purpose of the table is to encourage ship operators to examine whether a flag state has substance before using it and to put pressure on their current flag administrations if improvements might be needed. 

Cargo Ship Capsizes in Iranian Port

The SL Star, a 4,400 dwt cargo ship operated by Sea Link Shipping capsized earlier this week while berthed in Shahid Rajaei Port in Bandar Abbas, Iran. The ship was loaded with 153 containers. All fourteen crew members who were on board at the time of the incident were rescued. Initial reports point to the cause being a lack of coordination between the ship’s officer and the contractor charged with unloading the vessel. Preparations have been made to deal with possible pollution and container removal operations have begun.

Vitol to take over of VALT bitumen joint venture

Vitol will be expanding its global tanker fleet via a takeover of the VALT bitumen joint venture. The company will be acquiring the final 50 percent of the joint venture which it established with Sargeant Marine in 2016, giving Vitol 100 percent ownership of VALT. VALT operates a fleet of eleven asphalt/bitumen tankers and handles around 1.4 million metric tons of asphalt per annum.

HMM commits to investing in environmentally friendly technology

HMM has signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a win-win fund for scrubber installation in preparation for IMO 2020 and to seek cooperation in the shipping-related industries. HMM plans to complete the scrubber installation on its 19 containerships currently operated by the first half of 2020. HMM is investing KRW 46 billion, with Hyundai Corporation, SKTI, Hyundai Global Service, DSEC, and PANASIA together contributing an additional KRW 62.3 billion. The total investment amount will be KRW 153.3 billion. The five companies invested in a win-win fund will get the first priority for the contract negotiation for long-term fuel supply, supply of scrubber equipment, and scrubber installation etc.