431-00043 (Transportation)

Transport Canada’s goal for managing anchorages is one where commercial shipping is conducted safely for the benefit of all Canadians, managed efficiently and to the extent possible, minimizes the impact to the marine environment and surrounding communities. In Canada, as in many other countries, the right to navigate including anchoring is part of the common law right of navigation. A ship is generally free to anchor temporarily and for a reasonable period of time in any appropriate location.  In addition, all vessels in Canadian waters, whether domestic or foreign, are bound by Conventions of the International Maritime Organization, to which Canada is a signatory and by applicable laws of Canada.  

The Government of Canada recognizes that transportation safety, environmental protection and economic development must be aligned to ensure sustainable outcomes for Canadians. As a trading nation, the marine transportation system is key to Canada’s continued economic and social well-being, and anchorages are an integral part of safe navigation.

Commercial shipping anchorages are selected based on the quality of their anchor-holding ground, shelter from high winds and proximity to shipping routes and port logistics. These criteria ensure the safety of vessels and their crew as well as the safety of other users of the water and surrounding environment.

As part of the Oceans Protection Plan, Transport Canada launched the Anchorages Initiative aimed at creating a framework for identification of new anchorage sites, examining the management of anchorages outside of public ports and articulating best practices for ships at anchor.

In 2018, an Interim Protocol for the Use of Southern British Columbia Anchorages was introduced in the Southern Gulf Islands. The Interim Protocol includes voluntary procedures to balance the use of anchorage locations outside of ports and to mitigate the disturbance to residents from light and noise from ships at anchor. Assignment to an anchorage in the Southern Gulf Islands is contingent on the vessel agreeing to the guidelines in the Interim Protocol as well as providing specific information to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA) such as vessel length, expected duration of stay and reason for anchorage. The Port Authority then assigns anchorages as equitably as possible, subject to individual anchorage size restrictions, using a computerized queuing system that takes into account anchorage usage over the previous 30 days. The objective is to balance the usage, so that no single anchorage is in constant use, ensuring an equitable rotation of use through all suitable anchorages.

It is important to note that the Port of Vancouver is the largest port in Canada and third largest in North America. Since 2014, the Port has seen an increase in congestion and utilization of anchorages due to the growth of Canada’s Asia-Pacific gateway and record levels of Canadian natural resources export volumes and large commercial deep-sea vessels. In 2018, the VFPA handled 43% of all tonnage and 51% of all containers passing through Canada Port Authorities. Given the importance of this gateway, there are no plans to eliminate anchorages. 

The Government's long-term strategy is aimed at improving the management of anchorages outside of public ports with a view to ensuring the long-term efficiency and reliability of the supply chain, and mitigating environmental and social impacts as much as possible.

As part of this work, consideration is being given to understanding the safety, environmental and social implications of anchorage activities. Transport Canada therefore continues to engage with a range of key stakeholders, including port and industry players as well as Indigenous and coastal communities, to define and gather feedback on the key challenges they perceive. In addition, the department is examining legal, operational and commercial considerations that have bearing on anchorage practices and management.

This work, along with the lessons derived from the Interim Protocol, will inform potential new measures pertaining to site identification, anchorage use and mitigation measures, as well as management practices more generally. Potential new measures will be advanced in due course, recognizing the complex nature of this issue.