Shipping and Transportation
Moving people and products through coastal waters is a major contributor to British Columbia's economy. A significant portion of Canada's grain, coal, lumber, and industrial products are shipped through the major port cities of Kitimat and Prince Rupert. All of this shipping activity requires support from tug boats, port infrastructure and ship servicing, generating significant local economic activity.
Prince Rupert is one of the deepest ice-free harbours in North America, and is the closest port to major markets in the East. Kitimat is an increasingly important port, especially with the proposed Enbridge pipeline, which plans to use the port to ship oil and gas from the tar sands in Alberta to markets in Asia. Shipping oil through this area is a serious threat to coastal ecosystems.
In 2003, approximately 3,000 commercial vessels passed through Canada's North Pacific waters. The Prince Rupert port has seen a major expansion in container shipping, with expectations of further increasing traffic. Over the next 15 years, the volume of containers shipped through Canada's North Pacific Coast is estimated to increase 300 percent.
To see maps of shipping and transportation activity in B.C. waters, visit the Shipping and Transportation pages of the Marine Atlas of Pacific Canada.
Concerns
Increased shipping comes with environmental costs such as water and air pollution from hydrocarbons, bilge and ballast dumping, waste disposal and wildlife disturbance. Potential spills from shipping vessels combined with increased cargo traffic present a real threat to Canada's North Pacific Coast. Managing the expansion of port facilities and an increase in marine transportation must be examined as part of an integrated strategy that includes all environmental, social and economic impacts.
A report prepared by the David Suzuki Foundation, entitled Cleaning Up Our Ocean, an overview of the shipping industry's operations, key sources of marine pollution and trends. The report also includes recommendations for decreasing the impact of shipping on Canada's North Pacific Coast.
A recent report by the Living Oceans Society, entitled Shipping on the British Columbia Coast: Current Status, Potential Casualties, and Our Ability to Respond: A Briefing Report also provides useful information on shipping legislation and Canada's ability to respond to a major marine disaster on the Pacific coast.
