*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.

*1004/23Transport Canada – British Columbia North Coast Waterway Management Guidelines

(Recurrent publication of notice *1004/23, originally published in the Notices to Mariners – Monthly Western Edition 10/2023 publication.)

Reference: Notice *905/22 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 the following link:

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.

*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.

*505/24Voluntary Avoidance of Anguniaqvia Niqiqyuam Marine Protected AreaS (ANMPA) and Tarium Niryutait Marine Protected Areas (TNMPA) and Voluntary Slowdown in Beluga and Bowhead Whale Areas

(Recurrent publication of notice *505/24, originally published in the Notices to Mariners – Monthly Western Edition 05/2024 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 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. Within the boundaries of the MPAs, a general prohibition is set out in the Regulations, pursuant to the Oceans Act. Any incident with a marine mammal within the MPAs must be reported within two hours after its occurrence, to the Canadian Coast Guard. For marine wildlife sightings and incidents such as collisions that occur outside the MPAs or for any situation involving a marine mammal that is dead or in trouble, contact 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 of the Notices to Mariners Annual Edition 2024.

VOLUNTARY PROTECTION MEASURES

Voluntary measures are in effect from June 1^st to October 31^st, 2024. 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 required, vessels should slow down to a maximum of 10 knots over the ground and post a lookout 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 up to 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 area): To reduce the risk of underwater noise disturbance and collisions with whales within this area, it is recommended that vessels should slow down to a maximum speed of 10 knots over the ground, remain in the navigation and marked community supply channels and post a lookout.
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 rhumb lines connecting the following geographical coordinates [North America Datum 1983 (NAD 83)/World Geodetic System (WGS 84)].

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 connecting the following geographical coordinates [North America Datum 1983 (NAD 83)].

*803/24Canadian Hydrographic Service – Transboundary Agreement

(Recurrent publication of notice *803/24, originally published in the Notices to Mariners – Monthly Western Edition 08/2024 publication.)

A new gridded ENC transboundary agreement covering Dixon Entrance and Pearse Canal/Portland Canal has been created and signed by NOAA and CHS. New NOAA and CHS ENCs will be released in late 2024. Full ENC coverage will be available from both agencies, but the product scales may differ. For more details, please contact chsinfo@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

*817(P)/24Milbanke Sound and Approaches/et les approaches – Paper Chart to be Discontinued

(Recurrent publication of notice *817/24, originally published in the Notices to Mariners – Monthly Western Edition 08/2024 publication.)

Reference chart: 3728
The Canadian Hydrographic Service proposes to permanently discontinue paper chart 3728 called Milbanke Sound and Approaches/et les approaches.
Mariners and other interested parties are invited to comment on this action until October 31, 2024.
Comments should be directed to the following email address: chsinfo@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.
Any objections raised must state the facts on which they are based and should include supporting information on safety, commerce and public benefit.

*1001/24Canadian Hydrographic Service – Electronic Navigational Charts

*1002/24Transport Canada – Ship Safety Bulletins #24 and #25/2024

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#24/2024 – New Simplified Grain Form (82-0579B) for Type II vessels loading grain
RDIMS# 20551111
SSB#25/2024 – Archival of expired Ship Safety Bulletins
RDIMS# 20470753

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).

*1003/24Canadian Coast Guard Publication - Amendments to the Notices to Mariners Annual Edition 2024 - Section A, Notice 2: Cautions in the Use of Aids to Navigation

Page 1:
ADD AS FOLLOWS:

4.Mariners are cautioned that aids to navigation may fail to exhibit their advertised characteristics. Lights may be extinguished or aural signals may not function due to ice, collisions, mechanical failure and, in the case of bell and whistle buoys, calm water. The shape of an aid to navigation may be altered by ice formation or damage. The colour of an aid to navigation may be altered by freezing spray, marine growth or fouling by birds. AIS aids, transponders, or shore-based systems may fail, and errors may be introduced by some electronic navigation systems.

Page 2:
ADD AS FOLLOWS:

18.Mariners should be aware of the type of AIS aid to navigation they are using. Physical AIS aids are broadcast from a traditional aid, so their actual positions are reported, and they may be flagged as off position. Virtual AIS aids are broadcast from remote stations, and there are no associated traditional aids at their broadcast position. A Synthetic (Predicted) AIS aid is broadcast from a remote station as a signal placed over the position of a traditional fixed aid and its position will remain static if the associated aid is moved, damaged, or destroyed. AIS aid to navigation types may be differentiated by their information displays.

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.

Western Region

*1026(P)/24Juan de Fuca Strait – Virtual AIS Aid to Navigation to be Established

Reference chart: 3606

The Canadian Coast Guard proposes to permanently establish the following virtual AIS aid to navigation :

Initial publication date: Friday, October 25, 2024
Comment submission deadline: Thursday, January 30, 2025

*1027(T)/24Canadian Coast Guard – Automatic Identification System (AIS)

Reference: Notice *111(T)/23 is cancelled.

Mariners are advised that the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) has brought AIS aids to navigation (AIS AtoN) to full operational capability.

Some AIS AtoN that were deployed in a testing capacity may either be maintained or discontinued at the discretion of CCG Regions, while those deployed outside established CCG levels of service may continue to be maintained in an experimental capacity. Changes to CCG aids to navigation are communicated via Notices to Mariners.

General information on AIS and AIS AtoN is available on the CCG e-Navigation Maritime Information Portal and in the Canadian Aids to Navigation System. Specific information on deployed AIS AtoN is available on the e-Navigation website.