Research Projects

Building on its previous work on shipping risks, Clear Seas examined the rates of vessels involved in maritime incidents and accidents in Canada, based on the type of ship and occurrence and the volume of marine traffic in each region.

Assessment of marine shipping trends over the past 30 years in the Canadian Arctic, focusing on two sites in the Northwest Passage. The project offers recommendations on risk management strategies, impact mitigation, and including Inuit knowledge and perspectives in policymaking.

Clear Seas examined the spatial distribution of commercial marine shipping incidents and accidents in and around Canadian waters and created an interactive, user-friendly visualization tool to share this data. Accessible to all, this tool can be used to highlight areas of potential shipping risks, identify trends in marine incident reporting, and help inform policymakers and the public on the safety of marine shipping in Canada.

Clear Seas contracted Nuka Research to analyse vessel traffic and oil movements in Canada’s Pacific region. This study is the fifth body of work associated with Clear Seas’ Marine Transportation Corridor initiative in Canada’s Pacific Region.

In collaboration with Clear Seas and funded by MEOPAR, a team led by researcher Dr. Amanda Giang at the University of British Columbia is undertaking a project to assess how decarbonization of marine shipping can provide air quality co-benefits to coastal communities.

Clear Seas partnered with the Angus Reid Institute again to update the findings of its 2018 nation-wide public opinion poll on marine shipping. This third study in the series features a Shipping Confidence Index designed to provide a ranking of the various viewpoints on marine shipping.

Clear Seas commissioned Dillon Consulting to identify and map sensitive coastal areas along most of Canada’s Pacific Coast.

Clear Seas commissioned Nuka Research to examine the availability and capability of commercial tugs – known as tugs of opportunity – to respond to a request for an emergency tow from a disabled ship in Canada’s Pacific region.

Clear Seas partnered with the Angus Reid Institute again in 2018 to update the findings of a 2016 public opinion poll. Canadians view marine shipping as increasingly important to Canada.

Clear Seas commissioned Vard Marine Inc. to assess emergency towing vessel needs for different types of large commercial ships transiting Canada’s Pacific coast, including container ships, bulk carriers, vehicle carriers, LNG carriers, passenger ships, and tankers.