Annual Report to Parliament 2003-2004

MARINE

Occurrence Statistics and Investigations

ANNUAL STATISTICS

Shipping accidents, which accounted for 88% of marine accidents, totalled 481 in 2003-up from 449 in 2002, but comparable to the 1998-2002 average of 477. Approximately half of all vessels involved in shipping accidents were fishing vessels. Accidents to persons aboard ship, which include falls, electrocution and other types of injuries requiring hospitalization, totalled 65 in 2003, up from 36 in 2002 and the 1998-2002 average of 60.

Marine activity for Canadian commercial non-fishing vessels increased by 10% from the 1998-2002 average, resulting in a 16% decrease in the accident rate from 3.2 to 2.7 accidents per 1000 movements. Although marine activity for foreign commercial non-fishing vessels remained relatively unchanged compared to the 1998-2002 average, accidents decreased yielding a 33% reduction in the accident rate from 2.1 to 1.4 accidents per 1000 movements.

In 2003, shipping accidents resulted in 9 fatalities, down from 19 in 2002 and the 1998-2002 average of 21. Accidents aboard ship resulted in 9 fatalities, equal to the 2002 total but lower than the 1998-2002 average of 13.

There were 34 vessels reported lost in 2003, comparable to the 32 reported lost in 2002 but lower than the 1998-2002 average of 43. This decrease is mainly accounted for by a reduction in lost vessels under 15 tons gross tonnage.

In 2003, 221 marine incidents were reported in accordance with TSB mandatory reporting requirements. This represents a 27% increase from the 2002 total of 174 and a 10% increase over the 1998-2002 average of 201. This increase is primarily attributable to an increase in close-quarters situations.

MARINE INVESTIGATIONS STARTED IN 2003-2004

The following information is preliminary. Final determination of events is subject to the TSB's full investigation.

Date	Location	Vessel (s)	Type	Event	Occurrence No.
2003.04.15	Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.	Emerald Star	Tanker	Grounding	M03C0016
2003.05.02	Near North Head, St. John's, Nfld.	Sir Wilfred Grenfell	CCG-search and rescue	Collision	M03N0047
		Genney and Doug	Fishing
2003.05.03	Portuguese Cove, N.S.	Shinei Maru No. 85	Fishing	Grounding and taking water	M03M0040
2003.05.12	Off Hood Point, Howe Sound, B.C.	Queen of Surrey	Passenger-vehicle ferry	Fire in engine room	M03W0073
2003.05.13	5 nm SSW of Port Aux Basques, Nfld.	Joseph and Clara Smallwood	Passenger-vehicle ferry	Fire in cargo space	M03N0050
2003.06.25	3 nm S of Petit-de-Gras, N.S.	Silent Provider	Fishing	Fire in engine room	M03M0077
2003.09.29	5 nm North of Heath Point, Anticosti Island, Que.	Evan Richard	Fishing	Foundering and grounding	M03L0124
2003.11.08	Sand Heads, Fraser River, B.C.	Cielo Del Canada	Container	Grounding	M03W0237
2003.12.06	Anchorage Saint-Jean, Île d'Orleans, Que.	Yong Kang	Bulk carrier	Grounding	M03L0148
2003.12.22	Mission, Fraser River, B.C.	Mistral Tiger Shaman Packmore 4000	Pleasure craft Tug Barge	Collision	M03W0265
2004.02.26	Queen Charlotte Sound, B.C.	Hope Bay	Fishing	Capsizing	M04W0034
2004.03.04	10 nm NNE of Low Point, N.S.	Caribou	Passenger-vehicle ferry	Fire in boiler/furnace	M04M0013

MARINE REPORTS RELEASED IN 2003-2004

Date	Location	Vessel (s)	Type	Event	Report No.
1999.09.24	Off Île Rouge, St. Lawrence River, Que	Norwegian Sky	Passenger	Grounding	M99L0098
1999.11.09	Cap Tourmente, Que.	Alcor Eternity Canmar Pride	Bulk carrier Tanker Container	Grounding Subsequent near collision	M99L0126
2000.04.27	Port of Sorel, St. Lawrence River, Que.	Federal Fuji Tecam Sea	Bulk carrier Bulk carrier	Striking	M00L0039
2000.06.01	Bruce Mines Wharf, Georgian Bay, Ont.	Algowood	Bulk carrier	Structural failure	M00C0026
2000.08.14	Stormont, N.S.	Mersey Venture	Freezer trawler	Uncontrolled descent of freight elevator	M00M0083
2000.09.14	Colburne Passage, B.C.	Spirit of Vancouver Island Star Ruby	Passenger-vehicle ferry Pleasure craft	Collision	M00W0220
2000.10.08	North Twillingate, N.L.	127606	Open boat CFV	Capsizing	M00N0089
2000.10.26	English Bay, Vancouver, B.C.	Pacmonarch	Bulk carrier	Accidental release of lifeboat	M00W0265
2000.10.31	Bridges Passage, N.L.	Mokami	Tanker	Grounding	M00N0098
2000.12.18	Pitt River Highway Bridge, B.C.	Miller Richmond Miller 201 Miller 206	Tug Barge Barge	Striking of a bridge	M00W0303
2001.03.22	Off Chebucto Head, N.S.	Kitano	Container	Container fire	M01M0017
2001.04.01	Near Pier 23, Hamilton Harbour, Ont.	Hamilton Energy Provmar Terminal Utviken	Tanker Tanker Bulk cargo	Striking	M01C0008
2001.04.19	Off Belle Isle, N.L.	Fame	Shrimp factory freezer trawler	Flooding and sinking	M01N0020
2001.09.05	Off Pointe-Sapin, N.B.	Alain-Josée	Small fishing	Swamping	M01M0100
2001.09.29	Off Havre-Saint-Pierre, Que.	Alex B.1	Scallop dragger	Major water ingress	M01L0112
2002.03.19	32 nm North of the Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Que.	Lake Carling	Bulk carrier	Hull fracture	M02L0021
2002.04.13	Gabriola Island, B.C.	Bowen Queen	Passenger-vehicle ferry	Malfunction of automatic steering control for right angle drives	M02W0061
2002.08.13	Off entrance to Fraser River, B.C.	Cap Rouge II	Small fishing	Capsizing and loss of life	M02W0147

MARINE RECOMMENDATIONS ISSUED IN 2003-2004

Recommendation	Response	Board Assessment of Response
Bruce Mines Wharf, Georgian Bay, Ontario - 1 June 2000 Structural Failure- Bulk Carrier Algowood		Occurrence No. M00C0026
M03-01 The Department of Transport require that masters on all Canadian bulk carriers of 150 m in length and over have continuous access to on-board or company shore-based hull stress monitoring systems to help ensure that maximum allowable hull girder stresses are not exceeded.	Response received 20 November 2003.	To be reported next fiscal year.
Off Havre-Saint-Pierre, Quebec - 29 September 2001 Major Water Ingress - Scallop Dragger Alex B. 1		M01L0112
M03-02 Transport Canada, in coordination with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, fisher associations and training institutions, develop a national strategy for establishing, maintaining and promoting a safety culture within the fishing industry.	Response received 20 November 2003.	To be reported next fiscal year.
Cap Tourmente, Quebec - 9 November 1999 Grounding and Constructive Total Loss - Bulk Carrier Alcor		M99L0126
M03-03 The Department of Transport, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and Canadian pilotage authorities, in consultation with marine interests, develop, implement, and exercise contingency plans to ensure that risks associated with navigation-related emergencies are adequately addressed.	Awaiting response.
Pitt River Highway Bridge, British Columbia - 18 December 2000 Striking of a Bridge - Tugboat Miller Richmond and Barges Miller 201 and Miller 206		M00W0303
M03-04 The Fraser River Port Authority and the provincial Ministry of Transportation, in collaboration with the bridge tenders and vessel operators, review and, if necessary amend, their current policies, practices and procedures, and ensure implementation so that the safety of vessels, bridges and bridge traffic is not compromised.	Awaiting response.
Off entrance to Fraser River, British Columbia - 13 August 2002 Capsizing and Loss of Life - Small Fishing Vessel Cap Rouge II		M02W0147
M03-05 The Department of Transport require all new inspected small fishing vessels of closed construction to submit stability data for approval.	Response received 17 February 2004.	To be reported next fiscal year.
M03-06 The Department of Transport require all existing inspected small fishing vessels currently without any approved stability data be subjected to a roll period test and a corresponding freeboard verification not later than their next scheduled quadrennial inspection.	Response received 17 February 2004.	To be reported next fiscal year.
M03-07 The Department of Transport, in collaboration with the fishing community, reduce unsafe practices by means of a code of best practices for small fishing vessels, including loading and stability, and that its adoption be encouraged through effective education and awareness programs.	Response received 17 February 2004.	To be reported next fiscal year.

Note: No safety action has been taken yet for the above-mentioned investigations

ASSESSMENT OF RESPONSES TO MARINE RECOMMENDATIONS ISSUED IN 2002-2003

Recommendation	Response Summary	Board Assessment of Response	Safety Action Taken
Bridge 11, Welland Canal and Bulk Carrier Windoc Welland Canal, Allanburg, Ontario - 11 August 2001 Striking and Subsequent Fire on Board			Occurrence No. M01C0054
M02-01 The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) reassess and clearly identify safety-sensitive positions in their organization in which incapacity due to impairment could result in direct and significant risk of injury to the employee, others or the environment.	SLSMC reassessed and clearly identified those positions that are safety-sensitive.	Fully satisfactory	A new SLSMC Drug and Alcohol Abuse Policy addresses safety-sensitive positions.
M02-02 The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation establish programs and policies which are pro-active and promote early detection of impairment and safety risk of employees occupying safety-sensitive positions by management, supervisors or peers and which provide an effective mechanism for remedial action.	A new SLSMC Drug and Alcohol Abuse Policy was being developed in cooperation with the union representing SLSMC employees.	Fully satisfactory	The new Drug and Alcohol Abuse Policy was introduced to all employees and training in its application is being provided to all SLSMC management personnel, union executives and safety representatives. Supervision of employees at isolated sites has been enhanced.
M02-03 The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation conduct, in collaboration with the other appropriate authorities and organizations, exercises to respond to vessel-related emergencies which may be encountered within the Seaway, including the Welland Canal, in order to evaluate the preparedness for responding to a major vessel-related emergency.	SLSMC contingency plans were updated and included an exercise schedule. An internal exercise was being developed and an exercise involving outside agencies was being planned for the fall of 2003.	Satisfactory in part	Two internal table-top exercises were conducted in each SLSMC region, the results of which were integrated in their contingency plan. Annual exercises are to be conducted, and arrangements to conduct an inter-agency exercise are ongoing.
M02-04 The Department of Transport ensure that overall preparedness is appropriate for responding to vessel-related emergencies within the Seaway.	The Board is clarifying the jurisdiction of the Minister of Transport.	Pending	To be reported next fiscal year.
M02-05 The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation ensure that physical and administrative defences are in place to ensure that Seaway bridges are prevented from coming into contact with transiting vessels.	SLSMC is evaluating sensor technology to establish the reliability and effectiveness of tools to detect the presence of vessels under a bridge and prevent it from being lowered if a vessel is present.	Satisfactory in part	Two vessel detectors have been installed at Bridge 11 and are to be integrated into the operation of the bridge for the upcoming navigation season. Similar detectors are to be installed at other Seaway bridges.

OTHER MARINE SAFETY ACTION TAKEN

• TC stated it will review the requirements for a second means of escape from crew spaces on small fishing vessels.
• TC stated it will amend the Marine Emergency Duties A3/A4 courses to include special training on boarding rigid liferafts.
• The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO)/Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) made improvements to the aids to navigation at the approaches to Port Hardy, British Columbia.
• The ferry company Marine Atlantic Inc. amended its safety management manuals and took action to ensure safety briefings are carried out on the ferries.
• Marine Atlantic Inc. stated that it will take action to improve crew familiarity with the ferry fire detection system and improve internal shipboard communications.
• Effective 1 August 2003, when transiting Seaway waters, a duplicate set of the ship's fire control plans is required by the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation to be permanently stored in a prominently marked weathertight enclosure outside the vessel's deckhouse (superstructure) for the assistance of shore side fire-fighting personnel.
• As of 1 October 2003, the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation requires vessels within the Seaway to have qualified personnel in the wheelhouse at all times and to have sufficient and well-rested crew members available for mooring operations.
• In conjunction with the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, TC sent a survey to over 150 fire departments across Canada to evaluate the preparedness of Canadian firefighters in responding to shipboard incidents at Canadian ports.
• On 24 February 2004, TC's Life Saving Equipment Regulations were amended to require the stowage of life-saving equipment so that it is readily accessible.

PIPELINE

Occurrence Statistics and Investigations

ANNUAL STATISTICS

Pipeline activity is estimated to have increased by 5% over last year, yielding an accident rate of 1.5 pipeline accidents per exajoule6 in 2003, down from 1.58 in 2002 and the 1998-2002 average rate of 1.67.

In 2003, 38 pipeline incidents were reported in accordance with TSB mandatory reporting requirements, up three from the 2002 total and the 1998-2002 average. In 2003, 84% of incidents involved uncontained or uncontrolled release of small quantities of gas, oil and high vapour-pressure products.

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