7DVessels Intending to Navigate in the St. Lawrence Waterway, West of Les Escoumins Pilot Station Starting from December Each Year

The following requirement will be enforced for vessels transiting the St. Lawrence waterway, west of Les Escoumins pilot station starting December each year. Enforcement date will be broadcast through Navigational Warning (NAVWARN) except for Wide beam vessels (Notice 27A) with breadth greater than 32.5 meters en route to a location upstream of Quebec bridges up to Montreal. For Wide beam vessels, enforcement date is fixed to start on December 1^st.

Canadian Regulations for Navigation in frazil ice or ice slush

The Gulf of St-Lawrence and the St-Lawrence River provide unique conditions for navigation during winter months. Between the months of December and March, whenever the water temperature drops below +0.5° C (at the port of Quebec) chances of encountering frazil ice may arise therefore vessel icing or any machinery system blockage can occur without warning.

Vessels navigating the Gulf and river of the St-Lawrence are not required to be ice classed.

Canadian regulations require that foreign vessels in the internal waters of Canada and Canadian vessels that navigate in frazil ice or ice slush conditions meet the requirements for the design and construction of sea inlets set out in the annex to IMO Circular MSC/Circ.504, Guidance on design and construction of sea inlets under slush ice conditions, are complied with or that other equivalent means are used to prevent frazil ice or ice slush from blocking sea inlets.

Foreign vessels should refer to Vessel Construction and Equipment Regulations SOR/2023-257

section 117. Canadian vessels should refer to the Regulations and publication TP 15415 Canadian Modifications for the Vessel Construction and Equipment Regulations.

Transport Canada will restrict any non-compliant vessel from transiting the St-Lawrence waterway, west of Les Escoumins pilot station by enforcing the above requirement.
A temporary system installation may be accepted based on the following:

•For one voyage only,
•Approved and installed in accordance with rules of a Classification Society,
•Underwater modifications may be postponed until next scheduled dry docking,
•Any returning vessels having had a temporary system will once again require Classification Society approval, and

•Other requirements may apply.

Ship specific procedures as per ISM Code, shall address all risks associated with the vessel operation in cold weather climates and strictly followed by all crew members.
Any vessel experiencing operational difficulties caused by icing or sea water cooling issues during its transit shall make immediate corrective actions. If not, the vessel’s Master may be directed to seek any necessary assistance to proceed to a place of refuge.

Compliant Sea Water (S.W.) Cooling system

A compliant S.W. cooling system is required on each vessel transiting through the St. Lawrence waterway, west of Les Escoumins pilot station. Transport Canada maintains a list of known vessels with compliant S.W. cooling system. Vessels are encouraged to ensure that their IMO numbers are on the list. If they are not in the list, contact Transport Canada Winternav office at winternav@tc.gc.ca.

Vessels are deemed compliant provided their IMO number is on the list and that S.W. cooling system has not been modified/altered since last information submitted to Transport Canada.

When a vessel S.W. cooling system is non-compliant or an unknown type, Winter Navigation Vessel Information Form about the vessel’s system must be forwarded to Transport Canada Winternav office at winternav@tc.gc.ca.

The annual winter navigation documentations listed below can be obtained by writing to winternav@tc.gc.ca:

•Winter Navigation Vessel Information Form
•Diagrams of compliant and non-compliant S.W. cooling systems
•List of vessel IMO numbers with compliant S.W. cooling system

•Marine Safety Checklist for Operation in Ice Covered Waters to use for guidance only.

Following mandatory and recommended documents to be kept on board during winter months by all vessels transiting west of Les Escoumins pilot station:

•Ice Navigation in Canadian Waters, Canadian Coast Guard, 2022
•TP 14335 Winter Navigation on the River and Gulf of St. Lawrence, 2011 (available upon request through the Transport Canada Marine Publications website)

•TP 15163 Joint Industry – Government Guidelines for the Control of Oil Tankers and Bulk Chemical Carriers in Ice Control Zones of Eastern Canada JIGGS, 2015.

Authority: Transport Canada