Shipping Recommendations
There are straightforward ways to reduce the impacts of the shipping industry. The report Cleaning Up Our Ocean makes the following ten recommendations:
1. Establish additional pumping stations at ports in Canada's North Pacific Coast to allow marine vessels with holding tanks to release raw sewage or treated effluent.
2. Equip Ports throughout Canada's North Pacific Coast with facilities to properly dispose of oil wastes.
3. Establish regulated “no-dumping” zones within four nautical miles of the nearest 20-metre depth contour or designated areas of high ecological significance, while travelling at a speed of no less than six knots.
4. Designate no-discharge zones for bilge water within four nautical miles of protected areas and/or areas of high ecological significance throughout the Pacific North Coast.
5. Impose a ban on grey-water disposal within four nautical miles of shellfish beds and shorelines or within protected bays with low tidal exchanges throughout Canada's North Pacific Coast.
6. Enhance the inspection requirements for cracks and fractures in vessel cargo tanks for all large marine vessels travelling through Canada's North Pacific Coast.
7. Increase emergency planning and preparedness capacity to address the impacts of potential oil spills.
8. Establish seasonal ship transport closures and/or speed limits along known large whale migration routes.
9. Improve boat-repair sites or boat grids for hull repair by locating these services in boatyards where proper disposal methods for spilled or excess chemicals are employed in order to keep waste out of the marine environment.
10. Adjust shipping lanes to avoid shipping conflicts with other values that would be compromised by shipping activity in protected areas or other areas of high ecological significance.
