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House Of Commons News

06 May 2021

Canada Promises Two Arctic Icebreakers

File photo: Canadian Coast Guard Ship Louis S. St-Laurent in the Arctic. (Photo: Patrick Kelley / U.S. Coast Guard)

The Canadian government on Thursday promised to build two Arctic icebreakers and create hundreds of jobs in two politically influential provinces that will help decide an election considered likely this year.The ruling Liberals, citing the need to boost Canada's Arctic footprint as global warming opens up the region, said at least one ship would be ready by 2030 when Canada's sole existing icebreaker CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent will be 62 years old."As northern waterways become more accessible…

10 Dec 2018

Quebec Eyes More Federal Shipbuilding Contracts

Quebec's National Assembly unanimously adopted a motion in support of the Federal government's reform or 'refresh' of the National Shipbuilding Strategy.The motion called upon the federal government to endorse the House of Commons and Senate's recommendations to proceed immediately with the construction at Davie Shipbuilding of a second Resolve-Class Naval Support Ship as well as a new fleet of icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard.During 2017, the Federal government conducted a review of the National Shipbuilding Strategy in order to reform the failed strategy and begin to deliver ships for Canada in a timely and cost-effective manner.

22 May 2017

Vancouver: Maritime’s New Home Address

Kaity Arsoniadis-Stein, Executive Director of the VIMC (Photo: VIMC)

The Vancouver International Maritime Centre (VIMC) is on a mission to grow the city and port into one of the world’s premiere maritime centers. Maritime Reporter & Engineering News recently spoke with Kaity Arsoniadis-Stein, Executive Director of the newly re-established VIMC, for her insights on the pace and direction of the initiative. Let’s start out easily. Why Vancouver? Why now? Why Vancouver? Projections and studies indicate that global trade will increase and shift to the Pacific due to the demand of resources by China and India.

06 Nov 2015

Another Mega-Ship Facility Opens at Felixstowe

The Berth 9 Extension at the Port of Felixstowe, the Port of Britain, has been opened by Dr Therese Coffey MP, Deputy Leader of the House of Commons. The 190-metre extension increases the port's capability to work two of the world's largest containerships simultaneously. More than eighty ships of 18,000+TEU have already been handled at the port in 2015, confirming Felixstowe's position as the port-of-choice for mega-ships in the UK. Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Coffey said, "I am delighted to formally open this latest extension of the Port of Felixstowe. An ever increasing proportion of UK trade is moving on these huge container ships and UK ports need to provide the facilities they require.

19 Sep 2015

Felixstowe Port Goes Green

The Port of Felixstowe is creating an environmental corridor as part of the Go Green campaign launched by Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) and a number of other global port operators. The initiative at Felixstowe will include the refurbishment of part of a system of dykes within the port. The work will include the improvement of habitats for wildlife as well as enhancing green areas within a busy industrial complex by planting a mixture of trees, grasses and wild flowers. “The Port of Felixstowe has a long history of environmental achievements dating back to the creation of the Trimley Marsh Nature Reserve in the 1980s. Our participation in the Go Green initiative is the latest example of a commitment to the environment which…

14 Mar 2015

Has Russian Ship Confronted Canadian Warship?

NATO disputes Conservative claim that Russians confronted Canadian warship. The parliamentary defence secretary said Russian warships confronted a Canadian frigate in the Black Sea. Nonsense, say NATO officials. A report in Ottawa Citizen says that the federal government has ratcheted up its war of words over Ukraine, with the parliamentary defence secretary claiming Russian warships confronted a Canadian frigate in the Black Sea. NATO officials, however, say no such thing happened. Meanwhile, U.S. Rear Admiral Brad Williamson, commander of the maritime group, said at another point two Russian ships were spotted in the distance. The Russians followed all regulations required of vessels in international waters, NATO added.

14 Jul 2014

Scotland Beach Radium Clean-up: UK MOD to Pay Up

Former UK Prime Minister and local MP Gordon Brown says that he welcomes the Ministry of Defence (MOD) agreement to pay costs of the radium contamination clean up of Dalgety Bay and estimates it will cost 10 million pounds. The pollution resulted from dumping 800 WWll wartime planes with radiated dials and other hazardous equipment, and subsequent coastal erosion that has brought the pollution to the surface. A town meeting of Dalgety Bay community has been called for July 21st by the Community Council. This will see the community vote on the Ministry of Defence’s plan to clean up radiation from the beach. He said: “The people of Dalgety Bay have been very patient and now will welcome consolation on the details of their proposals.

25 Jun 2014

UK Minister Rebuffs Plea to Delay SOx Limit Implementation

An attempt by the UK’s Chamber of Shipping last week to persuade the British government that the industry needed more time to comply with new sulphur emission limits entering force on 1 January next year received short shrift from the shipping minister. However the Chamber, along with other European shipowners' associations, is reported to be determined to continue its campaign, reports shipping trade association Maritime London. The owners’ organisations say that switching to distillate fuel will be too costly and would lead to job losses and modal shifts from sea to road transport while the other option of fitting scrubbers has only just become available and it will take time to to fit this equipment.

04 Apr 2014

UK Shipping Industry Broadly Welcomes Commons' Committee Report

Ensign: File photo CCL

The UK government’s new maritime strategy “poses the right questions” about the country's shipping industry but “does not yet provide compelling answers on a range of key points that will have a major impact on this valuable sector of our economy” according to Louise Ellman, chairman of the House of Commons Transport Select Committee. The report here is from shipping trade association 'Maritime London'. Ms Ellman’s remarks launched the publication of a review into the UK shipping industry which was undertaken after the government and industry entered into a ‘strategic partnership’ in 2013.

06 Mar 2014

British Nuclear Submarine to be Refuelled

HMS Vanguard: Photo credit RN

The nuclear reactor in HMS Vanguard is to be refuelled, the Defence Secretary has announced. The decision comes after low levels of radioactivity were detected in a prototype core that has been running at the Naval Reactor Test Establishment at Dounreay in Scotland since 2002. In an oral statement to the House of Commons, the Defence Secretary, Philip Hammond, has announced his decision to refuel the nuclear reactor in HMS Vanguard during its planned deep maintenance period which begins in 2015.

28 Oct 2013

Canada Commits to Coastal Protection, Tanker Safety

The Minister of Transport reintroduced in the House of Commons the Safeguarding Canada’s Seas and Skies Act, an important piece of legislation first tabled in Parliament on March 18, 2013, as part of the government of Canada’s comprehensive measures to establish a World-Class Tanker Safety System. “As the Speech from the Throne reiterated this week, our government remains committed to protecting Canada’s coasts and shores and building a world-class tanker safety system in Canada”, said the Honorable Lisa Ratite, Minister of Transport. Proposed amendments to the Marine Liability Act will fill a critical gap in the current liability and compensation regime and implement a new international convention that covers incidents involving hazardous and noxious substances carried by ships.

03 Jul 2013

Canada to Fund Short Sea Shipping Project

The Honorable Peter Van Loan, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, on behalf of the Honorable Ed Fast, Canada’s Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, Dr. James Lunney, Member of Parliament for Nanaimo—Alberni, and Mr. Robert Bennie, Chair of Nanaimo Port Authority, today announced funding for a short sea shipping project in British Columbia, further bolstering Canada’s Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative (APGCI). Under APGCI, Canada’s government is contributing up to $4.65 million to modernize the Nanaimo Assembly Wharf area and rehabilitate an aging dock that has not been active for over 10 years due to its condition. Short sea shipping is a multimodal concept.

02 Jul 2013

UK Government Shipping Policy to be Scrutinised

House of Commons Debate: Photo courtesy of Maritime London

Government shipping policy is set to come under intense scrutiny as The House of Commons Transport Committee calls for evidence on the government’s strategy for the maritime sector. The committee will take oral evidence in September, coinciding with London International Shipping Week. Meanwhile, Shipping Minister Stephen Hammond has stressed the importance of Britain’s growing shipping industry, who praises the vital economic contribution made by the UK shipping industry, worth GBP14-billion per year, and recognises the continued role of the UK as a leading maritime centre.

17 Jun 2013

2013 ICOMIA/IFBSO Congress News

The 2013 ICOMIA/IFBSO Congress was held in London, United Kingdom from June 11-14,  2013 and was hosted and organized by the British Marine Federation (BMF) at Devonport House, located in London’s exclusive Royal Greenwich, a World Heritage Site. The first two days of Congress consisted of various committee meetings including the first gathering of ICOMIA’s new committees: "Grow Boating," which examines current campaigns dedicated to growing recreational boating globally and the "Exporters Committee," which provides members a forum to share knowledge on export markets, discuss import regulations and exchange information on overseas boat/trade show experiences.

05 Mar 2013

Role of Canada's Ferry Sector Discussed with Government

A Canadian Ferry: Image credit CFOA

Canadian Ferry Operators Association CFOA Board of Directors & Senior Management meeting joined by government officers. During this meeting, representatives from the Board of Directors met with Senator Dennis Dawson, Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Transport and Communications and M.P. Larry Miller, Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. These productive meetings focused on the role of the ferry sector in Canada.

09 Jan 2012

Ince Welcomes FAC Piracy Report

The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee Report on “Piracy off the coast of Somalia”, published today, sets out the findings of the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) enquiry into the efforts of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the UK Government to combat increasing levels of piracy off the coast of Somalia. As part of their enquiry, the FAC invited Ince & Co partner Stephen Askins, who has provided legal advice to the owners and underwriters of a number of vessels hijacked by pirates, to appear before the Committee and provide evidence in connection with some of the legal issues that arise in dealing with the threat of piracy. Among other things, Stephen's input related to the (i) use of private armed security guards (PASGs) and the (ii) payment of ransoms.

05 Jan 2012

SaveOurSeafarers Issues Statement on Somalian Piracy

Statement from the shipping industry’s SOS SaveOurSeafarers campaign with reference to the U.K. House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee’s Report “Piracy off the coast of Somalia”. The shipping industry’s SOS SaveOurSeafarers campaign welcomes the U.K. House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee’s Report “Piracy off the coast of Somalia”. As the FAC observes, gathering evidence against pirates  is challenging. But SOS notes FAC’s comment that not all claims made by the government about the difficulty in securing evidence were wholly convincing.

04 Feb 2009

CA Protects Sovereignty & Safeguards Arctic

Canada's Transport Minister, John Baird, introduced legislation in the House of Commons on Jan. 28 to enhance Canada's sovereignty over Arctic waters and protect them from pollution. This coverage will give Canada greater and more effective control over marine activity in the Canadian Arctic while enhancing environmental protection in Canada's North. This marks an important step forward in the federal government's integrated Northern Strategy. "Our government is taking action to promote economic development while demanding environmental responsibility in Canada's North," said Minister Baird. "Our government will do all we can to protect Canada's Arctic heritage and sovereignty.

05 Dec 2008

Canada Further Protects Arctic Waters

Canada’s Transport Minister, John Baird, today introduced legislation in the House of Commons to enhance Canada’s sovereignty over Arctic waters and protect them from pollution. This coverage will give Canada greater and more effective control over marine activity in the Canadian Arctic while enhancing environmental protection in Canada's North. This marks an important step forward in the federal government's integrated Northern Strategy. “Our government is committed to promoting economic development while demanding environmental responsibility in Canada’s North,” said Minister Baird. “Our government will do all we can to protect Canada's Arctic heritage and sovereignty.

28 May 2008

Canada Proposal Target Dangerous Goods Transport

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today tabled amendments to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992 in the House of Commons. The amendments would enhance security and safety in the transport of dangerous goods. "Our government is committed to ensuring public safety and security when dangerous goods are imported, handled or transported in Canada," said Minister Cannon. They would reinforce the existing Emergency Response Assistance Program, which requires emergency response assistance plans to be in place in the event of safety incidents involving dangerous goods. It would also make it possible for Transport Canada to request the implementation of such plans in the case of a terrorist or other security incident.

02 Apr 2004

Canada CG Asked to Expand Security Role

Mr. Tom Wappel, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, tabled today in the House of Commons the Committee’s unanimous report on the Canadian Coast Guard. The report entitled Safe, Secure, Sovereign: Reinventing the Canadian Coast Guard makes 18 recommendations for the government to overhaul the organization with a series of significant changes, including an expansion of its mandate. “The Coast Guard has been chronically underfunded and has never had the resources to fully meet the goals it was intended to attain,” said Mr. Wappel. “The set of recommendations contained in this unanimous report will bring a radical change to this state of things,” added Mr. Wappel.

10 May 2004

Canada Debuts New Marine Enviro Law

The Honourable David Anderson, Minister of the Environment tabled legislation in the House of Commons that will allow Canada to more forcefully protect its marine environments from polluters. “Marine waters off Canada’s coasts are among the world’s richest in terms of seabird life, and we are determined to better protect them”, said Minister Anderson. “The legislation we are tabling today will raise fines to $1 million. An Act to amend the Migratory Birds Convention Act (1994), and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (1999) will more effectively address enforcement issues in cases of marine pollution. The legislation will also provide clarity for enforcement officials…

23 Jun 2005

Amendments to Canada Marine Act

Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre announced that amendments to the Canada Marine Act have been introduced in Parliament. These amendments would provide Canada Port Authorities (CPA) with access to federal contribution programs for key infrastructure improvements. They would also enhance the safety and efficiency of Canadian waterways by reforming the enforcement regime. "It is important that Canada’s ports be modern, efficient, competitive and able to respond quickly to emerging global opportunities and growing business volumes with China and other markets," said Mr. Lapierre. The Canada Marine Act governs the marine sector in Canada.