*505/23Canadian Hydrographic Service – Magnetic Declination Calculations

(Recurrent publication of notice *505/23, originally published in the Notices to Mariners – Monthly Western Edition 05/2023 publication.)

Mariners are advised that CHS has adopted the harmonized World Magnetic Model (WMM), as found on the NCEI/NOAA website. Old compass rose declination information on CHS navigational products can be updated using the Magnetic Declination Estimated Value website. While the differences in the model declinations are small each year, they can become more significant over a large period of time.

*1207/23Canadian Hydrographic Service – Inappropriate Geographical Names Review Process

(Recurrent publication of notice *1207/23, originally published in the Notices to Mariners – Monthly Western Edition 12/2023 publication.)

The records of the Canadian Hydrographic Service could contain geographical names that may be considered inappropriate, offensive and derogatory. Geographical naming authorities are in the process of addressing many offensive place names, the review process is underway. For more information, about inappropriate geographical names, please see the following announcement. 

*208/24West Coast Haida Gwaii – Voluntary Protection Zone for Shipping

(Recurrent publication of notice *208/24, originally published in the Notices to Mariners – Monthly Western Edition 02/2024 publication.)

Reference: Notice *1105/21 is cancelled.

Voluntary Protection Zone for Shipping, western shore of Haida Gwaii
(formerly Queen Charlotte Islands)

Haida Gwaii’s remote location, rugged coastline, variable sea and weather conditions, and rich ecological and cultural heritage make it vulnerable to the potential for pollution from shipping breakdowns and accidents. Increasing the distance vessels travel offshore can increase the amount of time available to address propulsion, steering or other issues, and the likelihood of a towing vessel being able to respond to a vessel in distress or drifting. This in turn reduces the risk of grounding and oil spills.

A Voluntary Protection Zone for Shipping on the western shore of Haida Gwaii is currently in effect. In the Voluntary Protection Zone, commercial vessels of 500 gross tonnage or greater are requested to observe a minimum distance of 50 nautical miles from the western shore of Haida Gwaii with the following exemptions:

Exemptions from requested 50 nm distance:

•Cruise vessels, which are asked to observe a minimum 12 nm distance from shore;
•Vessels transiting from Alaska to British Columbia or Washington State, or vice versa, through the Voluntary Protection Zone are asked to observe a distance of at least 25 nm from shore
•No minimum distance is requested for tugs and barges (including pushing and towing alongside) or vessels engaged in commercial fishing.

•Vessels to which this bulletin applies are not required to observe requested minimum distances if doing so may compromise navigational, vessel, passenger or cargo safety.

The Voluntary Protection Zone for Shipping coordinates are:

Vessels are requested to adhere to these distances on a voluntary basis and only when it does not jeopardize the safety of navigation, the vessel, the persons onboard, and the cargo.

*1105/24Transport Canada – British Columbia North Coast Waterway Management Guidelines

(Recurrent publication of notice *1105/24, originally published in the Notices to Mariners – Monthly Western Edition 11/2024 publication.)

Reference: Notice *1004/23 is cancelled.

The North Coast Waterway Management Guidelines are voluntary guidelines that aim to improve safety on the water by reducing conflicts between First Nations’ marine use activities, such as fishing and shoreline harvesting, and commercial vessels on the shipping route between Kitimat and Browning Entrance. The guidelines came into effect on September 1, 2022, and will be reviewed from time to time.

The guidelines apply to all vessels navigating on the route between Kitimat and Browning Entrance, on the north coast of British Columbia. This area includes:

The complete guidelines document is available at British Columbia North Coast Waterway Management Guidelines.
Nothing in these guidelines replaces or changes how we apply any Canadian or international laws or regulations, including the Collision Regulations. Furthermore, nothing in these guidelines prevents or limits the master or pilot of a ship from making any decisions to protect the vessel, the crew, or the marine environment.

The guidelines include information for:

•all vessels that covers:

­- inshore safety zones
­- routing measures
­- speed reductions
­- guidelines for meeting and passing

­- a special operating area in Wright Sound, and
­- guidelines in case of a mechanical or electrical breakdown

•large commercial ships, including bulk carriers, general cargo vessels, liquid bulk vessels, and passenger vessels
•tugs and barges, and

•vessels operating in First Nations Areas of Concern where you must pay special attention to make sure local community users can transit and use the area safely.

*505/26Anguniaqvia Niqiqyuam Marine Protected AreaS (ANMPA), Tarium Niryutait Marine Protected Areas (TNMPA) and Beluga and Bowhead Whale Protection: Voluntary Avoidance and Slowdown Areas

(Recurrent publication of notice *505/26, originally published in the Notices to Mariners – Monthly Western Edition 05/2026 publication.)

The two established Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Canada’s Western Arctic are located within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, as such all activities must comply with the Inuvialuit Final Agreement. Protection and preservation of Arctic wildlife, the environment and biological productivity is one of the principles of the Inuvialuit Final Agreement and it is this principle that led the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the Inuvialuit Game Council to initiate establishment of the Western Arctic MPAs. The waters in and near the MPAs, and the offshore marine habitats of the Beaufort Sea and Amundsen Gulf, are important summer foraging habitats and travel routes used seasonally (May-October) by the Eastern Beaufort Sea beluga stock, and the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort bowhead population.

REGULATORY PROTECTION MEASURES

All whale species are protected under the Marine Mammal Regulations, pursuant to the Fisheries Act requiring immediate reporting of accidental contact between a vehicle or fishing gear and a marine mammal to the Minister. Within the boundaries of the MPAs, a general prohibition is set out in the Regulations, pursuant to the Oceans Act prohibiting activities that disturb, damage, destroy or remove any living marine organism from the areas. Any accident, including those with a marine mammal within the Tarium Niryutait Marine Protected Areas (TNMPA) must be reported within two hours after its occurrence, to the Canadian Coast Guard. For marine accidents such as collisions that occur within the Anguniaqvia Niqiqyuam Marine Protected Areas (ANMPA) or outside the MPAs or for any situation involving a marine mammal that is dead or in trouble, report to the Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Inuvik office at (867) 777-7500.
For more information on the ANMPA and TNMPA, including local contacts and species-specific minimum distances, see Section A2 - Notices 5 and 5A.3 of the Notices to Mariners Annual Edition.

VOLUNTARY PROTECTION MEASURES

Voluntary measures are in effect from June 1^st to October 31^st. See map above.
These measures apply to merchant vessels, cruise ships, small vessels and adventure craft within the boundaries of the MPAs and the additional identified areas to prevent collisions with whales and to mitigate the underwater noise generated by the vessels. These measures should only be taken when they will not jeopardize navigational safety.
Avoid (red area): To reduce the risk of underwater noise disturbance and collisions with whales within the MPAs, vessels should avoid transiting through the MPAs if possible. If passage through this area is necessary, vessels should slow down to a speed not exceeding 10 knots over the ground and post additional lookouts such as a marine mammal observer in order to increase the chances of seeing the whales and thus taking necessary measures to avoid them. If bypassing the whales is not possible, slow down and wait for the animals to move away to a distance greater than 400 metres (0.215 nautical miles) before resuming original speed not exceeding 10 knots over the ground. It is more difficult to see the animals in rain, fog, or in rough sea states, therefore increased caution is recommended.
Slow down to 10 knots over the ground or less (yellow areas): To reduce the risk of underwater noise disturbance and collisions with whales within these areas, it is recommended that vessels should slow down to a speed not exceeding 10 knots over the ground, navigate within the marked community supply channels and post additional lookouts.
These voluntary measures are secondary to rights under the Inuvialuit Final Agreement.

MPA Coordinates

The Tarium Niryutait Marine Protected Areas consist of three areas of the Mackenzie Bay: Okeevik, Kittigaryuit and Niaqunnaq. The three areas are bounded by straight lines and lines following the low water line which connect the following geographical coordinates [Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) North America Datum 1983 (NAD 83)].

The Anguniaqvia Niqiqyuam Marine Protected Areas consist of two areas in Darnley Bay and Amundsen Gulf in the Beaufort Sea: Zone 1 and Zone 2. The areas consist of the seabed, the subsoil to a depth of five metres and the water column, including the sea ice. The two areas are bounded by straight lines and lines following the low water line which connect the following geographical coordinates [Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) North America Datum 1983 (NAD 83)].

*601/26Canadian Hydrographic Service – Nautical Charts

*602/26Canadian Hydrographic Service – Electronic Navigational Charts

*603/26Canadian Hydrographic Service – Raster Digital Charts (BSB V3)

*604/26Transport Canada - Ship Safety Bulletins #06, #07, #08, #09 and #10/2026

New Ship Safety Bulletins have recently been posted on the Transport Canada website.
To view or download these bulletins, please click on the links below:
SSB#06/2026 – Coming into force of the Vessel Traffic Services Zones Regulations (SOR/2025-275)
SSB#07/2026 – 2026 Fire Hazard Prevention Concentrated Inspection Campaign
SSB#08/2026 – Protecting killer whales in the waters of southern British Columbia, 2026
SSB#09/2026 – Safety measures concerning life-saving appliances
SSB#10/2026 – Now in force: Discharge requirements for cruise ships
Sign up for e-Bulletin to receive an e-mail notice each time a new Ship Safety Bulletin is published on our website.
Contact us at marinesafety-securitemaritime@tc.gc.ca or 1-855-859-3123 (Toll Free).

*605/26Canadian Coast Guard Publication - Amendments to the Notices to Mariners Annual Edition 2026 - Section A3, Notice 6: Ice Navigation, Routeing and Requests for Icebreaker Assistance

Page 1:
AMEND AS FOLLOWS:

1Hudson Strait and Canadian Arctic

Northern Canada Vessel Traffic Services (NORDREG) Zone
Mariners should be aware of the existence of the Northern Canada Vessel Traffic Services Zone established by the Northern Canada Vessel Traffic Services Zone Regulations. These regulations require certain vessels to report information to the Northern VTS before entering the Northern VTS zone and while navigating within it. In general, the Northern VTS zone covers the waters of Ungava Bay, Hudson Bay and James Bay and Canada’s coastal northern waters within the area enclosed by the 60^th parallel of north latitude, the 141^st meridian of west longitude and the outer limit of the exclusive economic zone; however, where the international boundary between Canada and Greenland is less than 200 nautical miles from the baselines of the territorial sea of Canada, the international boundary shall be substituted for that outer limit.
Ice operations support in Northern VTS waterways is provided by the Canadian Coast Guard. Icebreaker assistance as well as ice information and ice routing should be requested through Northern VTS. For more detailed information on this VTS system, the definition of waters it covers and the requirements to make certain reports and obtain clearance, mariners should refer to Part 3 of the Radio Aids to Marine Navigation (Atlantic, St. Lawrence, Great Lakes, Lake Winnipeg, Arctic and Pacific).

(a)For general information on ice conditions:

During Business Hours (0700-1900 Eastern Time 7-days/week):
Ice Operations:

Telephone: 514-283-2784
Email : DFO.ICEOPS-ARCGLACE.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Ice Conditions:
Tel: (514) 283-1752

Email :ssgarctique-issarctic@ec.gc.ca

For After Hours Ice Information:

1.1Ice Regime Routeing Message

Every message required by paragraph 9(1) of the ASSPPR must contain all designators listed in Table 2. The update message required by paragraph 9(2) of the ASSPPR must include designators A to K. Every message must be addressed to TRANSPORT CANADA and be provided to one of the Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centres that is designated by the Canadian Coast Guard to receive Northern VTS reports. The intended route described by designator G of Table 2 may include more than one Shipping Safety Control Zone.

Page 3:
AMEND AS FOLLOWS:

2East Coast, Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence

During the winter navigation season a similar service is provided to ships intending to transit or to operate in the East Coast and Gulf of St. Lawrence waters. Access to this service can be obtained by contacting the Eastern Canada Traffic System (Eastern VTS). Eastern VTS communications procedures are specified in the current Radio Aids to Navigation publications.

*606/26Canadian Coast Guard Publication - Amendments to the Notices to Mariners Annual Edition 2026 - Section A3, Notice 7: Information about Navigation in Ice

Page 3:
AMEND AS FOLLOWS:

7.4.1Entering the Ice

The route recommended by the Ice Superintendent through the appropriate reporting system i.e. Eastern VTS or Northern VTS, is based on the latest available information and Masters are advised to adjust their course accordingly. The following notes on ship-handling in ice have proven helpful:

*607/26Canadian Coast Guard Publication - Amendments to the Notices to Mariners Annual Edition 2026 - Section A3, Notice 7A: Voyage Planning for Vessels Intending to Navigate in Canada's Northern Waters

Page 2:
AMEND AS FOLLOWS:

5Ice Advisory Service, Northern VTS Reporting, and Sails Plans

The CCG operates an ice advisory service for the support of vessels navigating in Canada’s northern waters during the navigation season. Vessels can obtain up-to-date information on ice conditions, advice on routes, aids to navigation and icebreaker support, when available and considered necessary, by contacting Northern Canada Vessel Traffic Services (Northern VTS). Weather, ice advisories, and forecasts are also broadcasted daily. Vessels subject to the Northern Canada Vessel Traffic Services Zone Regulations must report to Northern VTS as required by the regulations.
Vessels not required to report to Northern VTS should, as a minimum, file a sail plan with a responsible person. This person should be instructed to call the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre if the vessel becomes overdue. In circumstances where it is not possible to file a sail plan with a responsible person, a Sail Plan may be filed by telephone, radio or in person, with a Marine Communications and Traffic Services (MCTS) Centre. While at sea, masters and operators who have filed a sail plan are encouraged to file a daily position report during long trips. After completion of the voyage, the vessel must close (or deactivate) their sail plan. Forgetting to do so can result in an unwarranted search.
All vessels to which Part 1 of the Arctic Shipping Safety and Pollution Prevention Regulations (ASSPPR) applies must report, as per section 9 of that regulation. More information on this topic can be found in section 8 of this notice.
The CCG publication Radio Aids to Marine Navigation should be consulted for further information including details on the Northern VTS Zone, reporting, radio frequencies and times for ship/shore communications and broadcasts.

*608/26Canadian Coast Guard Publication - Amendments to the Notices to Mariners Annual Edition 2026 - Section A8, Notice 20: Safety of Offshore Exploration and Exploitation Vessels

Page 1:
AMEND AS FOLLOWS:

.4.1"Eastern VTS" for East Coast waters,
.4.2"Northern VTS" for Arctic waters,
.4.3"Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centre (MCTS) Sarnia (Sarnia Traffic)" for Canadian Great Lakes waters, and
.4.4"Western VTS" for West Coast waters; and

Page 4:

AMEND AS FOLLOWS:

5Before entering an area of exploration and exploitation

5.1Mariners are advised to obtain up-to-date position reports on drilling vessels and production installations before entering an area of exploration or exploitation. This information is available by contacting, as appropriate, Eastern VTS, Northern VTS or Western VTS via any Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centre (MCTS).

*609/26Canadian Hydrographic Service – Chart 3488 Partially Replaced by New
Chart 3886

Chart 3488, Fraser River/Fleuve Fraser, Pattullo Bridge to/à Crescent Island, has been partially replaced by new chart 3486. The A-B panel has been cancelled. The remaining panel will be cancelled at a later date.

Section 1A: Temporary and Preliminary Notices

Reminder – Comment Period for Active Preliminary Notices

This is a reminder that the comment period is still open for the following active Preliminary notices:

Please refer to the Notices to Mariners - Monthly Summary of Temporary and Preliminary Notices publication for details.

No notices applicable for this edition.

No notices applicable for this edition.

No notices applicable for this edition.

No notices applicable for this edition.