Toolkit: The Facts on Marine Shipping in Canada

Canada is fortunate to have a vast wealth of natural resources which contribute significantly to the nation’s economy. It is perhaps no surprise, then, that the majority of Canada’s marine exports and imports, by volume, are natural resource-based bulk commodities.

Commercial marine shipping is inherently an international activity. As such, the industry requires regulation at the international level. International maritime regulations, also known as conventions, are developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Test your Canadian maritime knowledge!

Discover the Great Lakes waterway: Its geography, main shipping routes, cargo ports, and unique climate-related challenges.

The St. Lawrence marine corridor plays a key role in Canada’s economy and supply chain. The geography as well as the unique physical attributes and water dynamics of the St. Lawrence challenge the commercial ships transiting through this maritime route in more than one way.

Clear Seas convenes a roundtable to gather perspectives on the use of LNG as fuel for marine shipping in Canada’s north.

Come aboard a Canadian Coast Guard research vessel for a day in the life at sea, collecting data to reduce underwater noise and protect marine mammals.

Using coastal and inland waterways to move cargo over short distances can cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and could also ease congestion on roads and railways.

As Canada’s international trade and the global demand for its products continues to grow, the need for anchorages, which allow ships to wait outside a harbour to unload or pick-up their cargos, has increased. This has an impact on coastal areas, the environment and on the traditional activities of Indigenous communities.

Climate change leads to more sea ice and higher risks for commercial marine shipping