Government of Canada
SPECIAL EDITION (Version 2)

July 9, 2019

ccg_crest_eng

Safety First, Service Always

Published Monthly by the

CANADIAN COAST GUARD

www.notmar.gc.ca/subscribe/

Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Official Publication of the Canadian Coast Guard
Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada

*701   IMPORTANT AMENDMENT: GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE – PROTECTION OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE

(Please note that this notice replaces notice *412/19. All major changes are highlighted in yellow.)

Due to changing migration of North Atlantic right whales and their increased presence in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Government of Canada has established seasonal speed restrictions in a specific zones. These restrictions combine “static zones” and “dynamic speed” sectors. See the map below for details.

Note: Navigational Warnings with these speed restrictions are considered to be Notices to Shipping, which vessels must follow under section 7 of the Collision Regulations.

Changes to speed restriction zones

In response to consultations with industry, and based on scientific data, we have made two changes to the restriction zone this year, which took effect on April 28, 2019:

We removed the southeast corner of the speed restriction zone, around the Magdalen Islands.

To help reduce impacts on the marine shipping industry, we are allowing vessels, in the absence of North Atlantic right whale sightings, to travel at safe speeds in a larger area north of Anticosti Island, extending to the mainland.

In response to the recent deaths in June 2019 of 6 NARW, additional changes have been made to the restriction zone, which took effect on July 9, 2019:

As the speed restriction in the static zone may be lifted when there are adverse weather conditions forecast in the area, the static zone has been divided in two sections in order to diminish the impact of the lifting of the mandatory speed restriction. This modification will be in effect for the rest of the year.

Dynamic sector E has been added and the static zones have been extended to cover the area around new dynamic sector E.

All speed restrictions apply to vessels above 13 m.

Please refer to the latest NAVWARN issued by the Canadian Coast Guard for all speed restrictions currently in force.

Static zones

In the static zones, all vessels above 13 m in length overall (LOA) must proceed at a speed of not more than 10.0 knots over the ground.

NEW coordinates for the northern static zone:

50° 20’ N 065° 00’ W
49° 13’ N 065° 00’ W
48° 40’ N 064° 13’ W
48° 40’ N 062° 40’ W
48° 00’ N 061° 00’ W
49° 04’ N 061° 00’ W
49° 04’ N 062° 00’ W
49° 43’ N 063° 00’ W
50° 20’ N 063° 00’ W

NEW coordinates for the southern static zone:

48° 40’ N 065° 00’ W
48° 40’ N 062° 40’ W
48° 00’ N 061° 00’ W
47° 10’ N 062° 30’ W
47° 10’ N 065° 00’ W

Mariners will be notified ahead via a NAVWARN on which of these sections are not subject to a speed restriction, due to inclement weather.

Within any static zone that is not subject to a speed restriction, mariners may proceed at a safe operational speed. However, we recommend that mariners proceed with extreme caution while transiting in these sections and avoid excessive speed in order to minimize potential strikes with NARWs.

Dynamic sectors

The static zone has 5 “dynamic sectors”: A, B, C, D and E.

When the Government of Canada determines that North Atlantic right whales do not appear to be in these sectors, vessels may transit through them at a safe operational speed.

When we determine that North Atlantic right whales are present in a dynamic sector, vessels above 13 m in length overall (LOA)

will be notified through a NAVWARN; and

must proceed at a speed of not more than 10.0 knots over the ground within that sector.

Note: Dynamic sector D has changed since we issued the last Ship Safety Bulletin on this subject (06/2018) and Dynamic sector E is a new sector as of July 2019.

Dynamic sector coordinates:

Sector A

49⁰ 41’ N, 065⁰ 00’ W
49⁰ 20’ N, 065⁰ 00’ W
49⁰ 11’ N, 064⁰ 00’ W
49⁰ 22’ N, 064⁰ 00’ W

Sector B

49⁰ 22’ N, 064⁰ 00’ W
49⁰ 11’ N, 064⁰ 00’ W
48⁰ 48’ N, 063⁰ 00’ W
49⁰ 00’ N, 063⁰ 00’ W

Sector C

49⁰ 00’ N, 063⁰ 00’ W
48⁰ 48’ N, 063⁰ 00’ W
48⁰ 24’ N, 062⁰ 00’ W
48⁰ 35’ N, 062⁰ 00’ W

Sector D

50⁰ 16’ N, 064⁰ 00’ W
50⁰ 00’ N, 064⁰ 00’ W
49⁰ 56’ N, 063⁰ 00’ W
50⁰ 16’ N, 063⁰ 00’ W

Sector E

48⁰ 35’ N, 062⁰ 00’ W
48⁰ 24’ N, 062⁰ 00’ W
48⁰ 10.5’ N, 061⁰ 00’ W
48⁰ 00’ N, 061⁰ 00’ W

Speed restrictions in the dynamic sectors

These speed restrictions will be in effect for 15 days from the date we issue them. We may extend a restriction past the 15 days if North Atlantic right whales continue to be present. Speed restriction zones and sectors will be announced through NAVWARNs.

These restrictions will be in effect from April 28 to November 15, 2019. These dates may change, depending on when whales are present.

During this period, vessels above 13 m in length (LOA) must reduce their speed so as not to exceed 10.0 knots over the ground in the presence of North Atlantic right whales.

Outside the restriction period, once the mandatory speed restriction is lifted, we ask vessels to reduce their speed voluntarily so as not to exceed 10.0 knots over the ground

in the presence of North Atlantic right whales; and

only if maritime conditions permit safe operation of their vessel at that speed.

Map of the Gulf of St. Lawrence

The following map shows

the speed restriction zone, in red (static sectors); and

the dynamic shipping sectors, in green.

Map showing the static restriction area and the five dynamic sectors (A, B, C, D and E).

Navigational Warnings (NAVWARNs) Broadcasts

The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) continues to promulgate valid Navigational Warnings via radio broadcasts over various terrestrial systems and also online at http://www.marinfo.gc.ca/e-nav or http://nis.ccg-gcc.gc.ca. Mariners shall ensure that they have correct and up-to-date information concerning the protection of the North Atlantic right whales as contained in all applicable Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) and Navigational Warnings.

Canada has replaced its Notice to Shipping (NOTSHIP) with Navigational Warnings (NAVWARNs). NOTSHIPs are no longer being issued. Mariners and other users will be able to search for NAVWARNs, or subscribe to receive NAVWARNs by email, by visiting the following web page: http://nis.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/public/rest/messages/en/search.

Until updates are completed to Canadian nautical charts and publications, Notice to Shipping or NOTSHIPs will continue to be referenced. All references to Notices to Shipping and to NOTSHIPs must be read as meaning Navigational Warnings or NAVWARNs.

Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs) will still be issued as usual and can be searched by visiting the following web page: https://www.notmar.gc.ca/monthly-mensuel-en.php.

Aids to navigation

In addition, CCG continues to test the use of virtual Automatic Identification System aids to navigation (AIS AtoN), referred in NOTMAR 819(T)/2016. These aids will notify a mariner of a dynamic sector that is subject to a speed restriction. Each dynamic sector will be delimited by four virtual AIS AtoN which could be displayed on the ship’s navigation equipment such as: ECDIS, ECS, RADAR, Minimum Keyboard Display, and Electronic Nautical Charts. The virtual AIS AtoN will be broadcasted only when a speed restriction is in effect in one or more sectors. The mariner is required to select the virtual AIS AtoN symbol to view a message as such: “SectA1 Spd Lim 10 kt.” This message refers to a speed restriction in effect for a specific sector. As this system continues to be in the testing phase, it is not the primary means of communicating with the mariner.

Compliance and enforcement

NAVWARNs are enforced in the same way as Notices to Shipping. You must comply with these warnings under section 7 of the Collision Regulations.

If you do not comply with any instructions in the NAVWARNs, you could face

administrative monetary penalties ranging from CAN $6,000 to CAN $25,000; and/or

penal sanctions under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001.

If your vessel appears to have violated the speed restriction, Transport Canada Marine Safety inspectors will review all information provided through AIS and seek information from the master.

We will not grant exemptions to the speed restriction in advance. However, Transport Canada will review and consider reasons such as

navigating to ensure vessel safety;

weather conditions;

force majeure (unforeseeable circumstances); and

responding to emergencies.

Report a North Atlantic right whale sighting

If you see a North Atlantic right whale that is entangled, dead or injured, please report it to your nearest Canadian Coast Guard Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centre, or as follows:

Southern part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence

Marine Animal Response Society

Telephone: 1-866-567-6277

Newfoundland and Labrador

Whale Release and Strandings

Telephone: 1-888-895-3003

For the Québec Sector

Marine Mammal Emergencies

Telephone: 1-877-722-5346

If you see live, free-swimming whales

Call 1-902-440-8611 (local) or 1-844-800-8568 (toll free)

Email: XMARWhalesightings@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Please consult WhaleMap for the latest right whale observations:

https://whalemap.ocean.dal.ca/