Tuesday, 18 June 2019 16:28
Chamber of Shipping Supports Trans Mountain Decision
Vancouver BC, June 18, 2019 – Following an extensive reconsideration process, we are pleased that the Government of Canada has reaffirmed its commitment to the Trans Mountain Expansion Project. The decision comes with a strategy to address a number of key issues identified by the National Energy Board, including capacity building, cumulative effects management, added response capacity and quieter vessels. The approval will further enhance Canada’s marine transportation framework to appropriately manage risk and protect coastal waters, while opening up access to new markets for our members. “The marine transportation industry is supportive of the safe and responsible export of oil to world markets and we are pleased to see that the federal government is supportive of our ability to move oil safely,” said Robert Lewis-Manning, President of the Chamber of Shipping. “We are optimistic about the future of this…
Friday, 10 May 2019 10:06
BC "Big Ships" Support Protection of Endangered Killer Whales
Vancouver, May 10, 2019 – As Canada continues to increase its focus towards sustainable trade growth, nine key groups have come together in support of conservation on the nation’s west coast. The Conservation Agreement, announced today by the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast supports the continuation of the Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation Program (ECHO), a Port of Vancouver-led initiative aimed at better understanding and mitigating the impact of shipping activities on the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) in the Salish Sea. Commercial shipping accounts for nearly 50% of the acoustic noise in the Salish Sea. The Conservation Agreement encourages large commercial vessels to slow down in key foraging areas for the SRKW to reduce underwater noise that may disrupt their ability to find prey. The agreement also pledges ongoing support to the ECHO…
Wednesday, 10 April 2019 09:51
Chamber of Shipping pleased with Pilotage Act Amendments
Vancouver BC, April 10, 2019 – With an emphasis on good governance and adapting with emerging technologies, the Government of Canada’s proposed amendments to the Pilotage Act deliver long-awaited changes. Wrapped into the Budget Implementation Act, the amendments to the Pilotage Act follow an extensive review chaired by Mr. Marc Grégoire and adopt several key recommendations tabled in the final report. Bill C-97 addresses several themes, including centralization of regulatory powers and standardization, increased transparency, and necessary powers of enforcement. The Chamber of Shipping applauds these changes and supports the improvements that they will have on the safety, efficiency, and overall competitiveness of the industry. “Canada’s pilotage framework is executed by a team of professional mariners that is second to none. These recent amendments will enhance safety and competitiveness at a time when marine transportation faces new pressures for coastal…
Friday, 22 February 2019 14:06
Chamber of Shipping Applauds NEB Decision
Vancouver, Canada – Today, the National Energy Board (NEB) released its report and recommendations on the Reconsideration Hearing. The report will play a substantial role in the Governor in Council’s decision on the Trans Mountain Expansion Project. The Report determines that the Project is in the interest of all Canadians and imposes 156 conditions and provides 16 recommendations to the Government of Canada that specifically address the potential impact of the Project-related marine activity, including: safety, cumulative impact, response planning, protection of species at risk, reduction of greenhouse gases, and continued engagement with First Nations. “We are pleased with the NEB’s recommendation to proceed with the Project and the determination that marine shipping can support the safe and responsible export of oil to world markets,” said Robert Lewis-Manning, President of the Chamber of Shipping. “As many of the 16 recommendations address…
Tuesday, 19 February 2019 13:59
Respect Bi-national Collaboration to Protect Salish Sea
U.S. and Canadian Marine Transportation Interests Urge Governments to Respect Binational Collaboration to Protect the Salish Sea Vancouver/Seattle – The Canadian based Chamber of Shipping and the United States’ based Pacific Merchant Shipping Association today expressed their joint support for continued binational federal leadership in ensuring safe and sustainable shipping. Both organizations are focused on the Pacific Northwest and the Salish Sea as a vital gateway for marine commerce in Canada and the United States, and as a significant part of the larger North American supply chain that supports businesses, jobs and a high standard of living in both nations. The Salish Sea is a sensitive ecosystem and, while it plays a crucial role in our economies, ensuring its ecological sustainment and protecting species at risk is a shared responsibility. The marine transportation industry is committed to doing its part, including…
Wednesday, 26 September 2018 18:53
COS appears before TRAN Parliamentary Committee
Canadian Transportation & Logistics Strategy Study Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities Vancouver, British Columbia September 24, 2018 Speaking Notes for Robert Lewis-Manning, President, Chamber of Shipping Good afternoon Madam Chair and members of the Committee. I appreciate the opportunity to offer certain observations and recommendations that pertain to the Committee’s study. My comments are provided from the perspective of commercial marine transportation and international trade more generally. Who We Are The Chamber of Shipping represents the interests of ship owners, agents, and service providers responsible for moving people and commodities globally to and from Western Canada. Our members’ ability and capacity to move them safely, in a timely manner, and competitively is good for Canadians, the Canadian economy, and our environment. Commercial marine carriers compete in a global marketplace and generally view the Canadian market positively but…
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Wednesday, 05 September 2018 18:47
Industry remains committed to SRKW recovery
Vancouver, September 5, 2018 – Commercial marine shipping is delivering tangible protective measures for Southern Resident Killer Whales on Canada’s West Coast now, and is committed to progressing innovative and practical solutions into the future. Southern Resident Killer Whales face at least three anthropogenic threats including prey availability, acoustic and physical disturbance, and contaminants from the environment. They are known to frequent the waters off the B.C. coast and a large part of the Salish Sea is designated as critical habitat and protected by law. Approximately 50 per cent of the vessel-generated noise in the Salish Sea is attributable to international shipping. For the past three years, the Chamber of Shipping and its members have participated in the Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) Program. This multi-stakeholder forum has progressed science associated with vessel-generated noise that led to a successful…
Wednesday, 08 August 2018 10:15
Recommendations on Interim Anchorage Protocol
Dear Minister Garneau, Transport Canada, with the support of the commercial marine transportation sector, the Pacific Pilotage Authority, and the Vancouver Fraser and Nanaimo Port Authorities, has been instrumental in the successful implementation of the six-month Interim Anchorage Protocol established to reduce the impact of anchorage operations on local coastal communities on the South Coast of British Columbia. The Protocol has resulted in a more equitable distribution of vessels using existing anchorage locations and has diminished to a degree of noise and light pollution from vessels anchored in the region. While it was not anticipated, the launch of the Interim Anchorage Protocol coincided with extreme supply chain congestion as railways encountered significant constraints in their ability to deliver Canadian commodities to the west coast. The trade corridor challenges resulted in a high demand for all available anchorages for an extended…
Tuesday, 13 March 2018 20:37
Statement on Minister of Transport’s remarks at our AGM
Vancouver, March 13, 2018 – The Chamber of Shipping was pleased to host federal Minister of Transport, Marc Garneau, at its Annual General Meeting of members. The Minister used this opportunity to highlight the Government of Canada’s support for the marine shipping industry and the importance it plays in ensuring a competitive, fluid and environmentally sustainable national supply chain and trade corridor. “Over the past year, we have been working closely with the federal government on many issues related to the shipping industry, but specifically on those that help to deliver on commitments made under the Oceans Protection Plan,” said Robert Lewis-Manning, President of the Chamber of Shipping. “We see a real opportunity to contribute to this critical dialogue by providing evidence-based advocacy which will ultimately help us to strike a balance between a strong economy and a healthy environment.”…
Thursday, 08 March 2018 19:30
Statement on the need for better fluidity in Canada’s supply chain
Vancouver, March 8, 2018 – The Chamber of Shipping wishes to stress the urgent need for Canadian railways to meet the service expectations of shippers and customers as it relates to the prompt shipment of all commodities and containers to and from Western Canadian ports. The importance of a predictable and well-functioning supply chain cannot be overemphasized as supply chain efficiency is critical to the competitiveness and environmental sustainability of Canadian ports. Trade growth, which is further enabled through agreements like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) being signed today in Chile by Canada’s Minister of International Trade, requires that our internal systems and networks are reliable and prepared for further growth. At present, the lack of fluidity and congestion in the supply chain has caused an undesirable number of vessels to wait at anchor until sufficient cargo is available for loading. This inefficiency has negative consequences on coastal communities in addition to extra costs that make Canadian gateways less competitive. Every year, commercial shipping results in…
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Thursday, 22 February 2018 16:25
Statement on the Interim Protocol for Anchorages
Vancouver, February 22, 2018 – The Chamber of Shipping welcomes the Government of Canada’s announcement of further details concerning the review and modernization of anchorage operations as part of the Oceans Protection Plan. The success of the Canada’s international trade through its western gateways continues to put pressure on the need for anchorages when fluidity of the supply chain is challenged during the winter months.The current framework for managing anchorages throughout the South Coast of British Columbia has not been coordinated in a manner that addresses the impacts on coastal communities. The Interim Anchorage Protocol implemented on February 8, 2018 was developed with the support of the Chamber of Shipping, Pacific Pilotage Authority, and the Vancouver and Nanaimo port authorities, in an effort to immediately lessen the impact of vessels in anchorages where possible. During the period of the Interim…
Tuesday, 06 February 2018 14:33
Statement on the Petition for an Emergency Protection Order for Orca Whale Recovery
VANCOUVER, Feb. 6, 2018 /CNW/ - The Chamber of Shipping reiterates its commitment to the protection of the Southern Resident Killer Whale and other threatened and endangered species. This commitment includes ongoing and substantive actions to mitigate the effects of vessel-generated noise and physical disturbance, many of which are developed through multi-stakeholder efforts such as the Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation program spear-headed by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. A coalition of non-governmental organizations has recently petitioned the Government of Canada to implement an Emergency Protection Order under the Species at Risk Act, including recommendations related to commercial shipping. While our sector is supportive of action to address all anthropogenic threats, such action must be considered with a complete understanding and appreciation of the complexity of operating large commercial vessels safely, all while avoiding unintended safety, operational, or ecological consequences.…
Tuesday, 28 November 2017 08:03
Marine Industry Seeks Better Coastal Management
Vancouver, November 28, 2017 – This weekend’s marine incident off British Columbia’s Central Coast involving an articulated tug and barge operation in gale force winds highlights the need for improved risk prevention and management for Canada’s coastal waters. B.C.’s Central and North Coast is one of the richest marine ecosystems in the world, has enormous cultural significance to the people who live there, and contains important resources for British Columbia’s economy - protecting it should be a priority. While the response actions by the vessel’s crew, the Canadian Coast Guard, and supporting commercial vessels in adverse conditions was heroic, this incident demonstrates the urgent need to focus efforts on preventing such incidents. “The concerns of the Heiltsuk First Nation and coastal communities are notable and reflect both an innate understanding of the environment and commitment to protect it,” stated the…
Friday, 17 November 2017 09:52
Chamber of Shipping welcomes Government of Canada's review and modernization of anchorage operations
Vancouver, November 17, 2017 – The Chamber of Shipping welcomes the federal government’s announcement of details concerning the review and modernization of anchorage operations as part of the Oceans Protection Plan. Commercial shipping results in $30 billion of economic activity annually in Canada and, at 1.8% of the Canadian economy, ships move more than $200 billion worth of goods to and from global markets. From farmers to retailers, many Canadian jobs depend on a healthy and thriving trade environment supported by a robust and fluid marine transportation network. The current framework for anchorage operations for the South Coast of British Columbia is not optimized for efficient commercial operations and results in unnecessary costs, delays, unpredictability, and impacts on certain coastal communities. As trade in this region is expected to increase, the time has arrived to develop a more holistic approach…