Department Of Fisheries And Oceans News

The decades long mystery of a missing U.S. Coast Guard Ship has finally been solved. U.S. Revenue Cutter (USRC) Bear, lost at sea in 1963, has been found on the seafloor about 90 miles south of Cape Sable, Nova Scotia, NOAA Rear Adm. Nancy Hann announced Thursday.Widely considered one of the most historically significant ships in American history, Bear was purchased by the U.S. government and first put into service by the U.S. Navy as part of the rescue fleet for the Greely Expedition to the Arctic in 1884, attaining legendary status for the rescue of the expedition's few survivors.

exactEarth Ltd. has signed an agreement with MDA to provide advanced Satellite-AIS data services as part of MDA's recently announced Dark Vessel Detection (DVD) program for the Government of Canada. The DVD program is intended to detect and identify vessels that have switched off their AIS transponders and are engaged in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.IUU fishing is a global problem that results in significant economic loss—estimated at $23 billion per year…

Turner Designs, along with scientists from around the world participated in a research cruise aboard the RV Meteor, a vessel owned by the Federal Republic of Germany through the Ministry of Research and Technology (BMFT) and funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). The goal of this cruise was focused on ballast water sampling techniques and protocols. Various instruments were used to test collected ballast water enabling researchers to determine efficiency for the various sampling techniques employed.

SATCOM edges closer to providing standardized services to the workboat sector. It’s affordable now and someday soon, you won’t be able to afford to be without it. Dartmouth, Nova Scotia-based JouBeh Technologies today makes it possible for far flung workboats to transmit critical data back to principals and at the same time, allow regulators and operators alike the possibility of reliable asset tracking on the water. Maybe it’s not YOUR workboat, but someday soon, it could be. As a reseller and integrator for Iridium Communications, JouBeh’s business mix penetrates many sectors. On the water, what they are doing for the federal government of Canada in two different applications has potential for North American commercial inland operators, as well.

Vital access channels in the Fraser River in Steveston & Ladner will be kept navigable by a US$ 10-million joint dredging contract. Economic activity in the area will be facilitated as a result of unprecedented collaborative work bringing together a $10 million joint commitment by Port Metro Vancouver, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, the Corporation of Delta, and the City of Richmond. "Providing clear, safe, local navigation channels is enormously important to our communities…

STX Canada Marine Awarded Contract to Design the Canadian Coast Guard’s New Polar Icebreaker. STX Canada Marine is pleased to announce that they have been awarded the contract to design the new polar icebreaker for the Canadian Coast Guard. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans announced today the award on behalf of the Government of Canada. The work will be carried out at STX Canada Marine’s Vancouver office and be completed by the end of 2013. The polar icebreaker will be named after former Prime Minister John George Diefenbaker (CCGS John G. Diefenbaker).

The St. Lawrence Seaway concluded its 50th anniversary season on December 28 with the passage of the JW Shelley. The vessel transited the Iroquois Lock at 7:37 p.m. on route to Lake Ontario. The Seaway navigation season for 2009 spanned 274 days. The Welland Canal, which has been in operation since 1932, remained open to navigation until December 30, as the CSL Tadoussac transited Lock 1 at 3:04 p.m. and cleared Port Weller entering Lake Ontario at 3:22 p.m. Total Seaway cargo volume for 2009 is estimated to amount to 30.5 million tonnes, the lowest volume witnessed since the early 1960's. The 25% decrease in cargo volume compared to 2008 can be attributed to the depth of the recession, which sharply curtailed movements of iron ore and steel on the waterway.

The Government of Canada will assist Canada's ports with the cost of modernizing and strengthening their security systems and programs. The funding announcement was made by Transport Minister Tony Valeri at the Port of Halifax's Pier 21. The Marine Facility Security Contribution Program is a three-year, $115 million commitment to assist ports and port facilities with security enhancements. It forms part of the Government of Canada's National Security Policy announced on April 27, 2004 by Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan. "Canada's ports are among the most competitive in the world," said Mr. Valeri. In compliance with new international security requirements…

Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre announced the purchase of new marine pollution aerial surveillance equipment that will significantly strengthen Transport Canada's National Aerial Surveillance Program. The $2.3 million contract will cover the purchase of the equipment, as well as the on-board crew training. "The Government of Canada is committed to preventing pollution from ships and to continuously enhancing the protection of our marine environment," said Mr. Lapierre. Transport Canada conducts aerial surveillance to detect marine pollution from ships. When such pollution is detected, charges may be laid under the Canada Shipping Act.

President George Bush has signed into law legislation repealing a four year old rule imposing a 50% duty on the cost of routine repairs and maintenance carried out by U.S. merchant mariners while their vessel is at sea. The elimination of the duty, which customs authorities have levied on US-flag carriers since April 2001, represents a victory for the domestic shipowning community. The community has lobbied hard against it since its introduction. President Bush signed into law the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (S. 2845). The major emphasis of the legislation is reform of the U.S. intelligence organization. Other measures, though, may impact the maritime community.

Canada needs a new shipbuilding strategy that will help domestic firms become more globally competitive, says the president of the Shipbuilding Association of Canada (SAC). But Peter Cairns is not calling for policies that enable Canadian companies to build ships for overseas markets. He wants Ottawa to introduce tax breaks and other incentives so that Canuck firms can beat out international rivals on domestic deals to build ships that sail in Canadian waters. Ottawa-based SAC, which represents Canada's ship-building and ship-repair companies across the country, is forecasting $8.6 billion worth of demand for Canadian vessels over the next 15 years.

The Canadian Press has reported that the federal Canadian government has approved an additional $45m for the Canadian Coast Guard this year, in an effort tokeep many of its existing vessels ship shape. Reports said that the $45m covers just the annual shortfall in coast guard funding for core operations. In 2005, the coast guard received $26 million in one-year interim funding to help bridge the annual gap. But the Department of Fisheries and Oceans had to cover any remaining deficit, the documents note. The funding infusion will enable the coast guard to carry out a series of refits to vessels, such as deck replacement and upgrading on the Cygnus and a major engine overhaul on the Pearkes.

MetalCraft Marine recently delivered the first modular catamaran barge of the Polar Series. This 65 ft. vessel was built for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, operating as a buoy tender on Lake of the Woods. The catamaran design is easily driven and can be disassembled for shipping and redeployment. The beam of the hulls maximize transportability, fitting on two trucks with a total load width of only 8.5 ft. The hulls have relatively shallow draft for better access to landing and beaching conditions with the full keelson/grounding bar offering exceptional directional stability enhancing operational conditions. The centerworking deck panels are removable, allowing access through the deck for recovery operations.

MetalCraft Marine Inc., of Kingston, Ontario, is nearing completion of its second Hydrographic Survey Craft for the Canadian Government's Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Canadian Hydrographic Service. The 30 x 10.3 ft. vessel will carry three transducers, the largest being a state of the art 332 mm Multi-beam Transducer by Kongsberg-Simrad, Model EM-3000. The total Multi-beam system is worth approximately three times the value of the vessel, which was sold for $129,000. The Canadian Hydrographic Service, Central and Arctic Regions is responsible for updating and validating Canadian navigational charts for all inland and Arctic waters, including the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway.