12.1 Canadian Hydrographic Services - DFO
The Canadian Hydrographic Service ( CHS ) is responsible for the charting of all Canadian waters. Southern Canada is well charted but north of 60° North much work remains to be done. Soundings in many areas west and south of Resolute Bay are based on reconnaissance surveys only and are therefore not up to international standards. Mariners are thus cautioned to keep an echo sounder running continuously and always to use the largest scale chart available.
A chart catalogue with a full selection of Arctic charts is available from CHS Ottawa (21). The catalogue also provides a list of Canadian chart agents world-wide. The average price of a Canadian chart is C$ 25 plus sales tax. For a Northwest Passage voyage approximately 150 charts are required.
12.2 Canadian Ice Service - Environment Canada
Canada has developed a sophisticated marine ice information service which is recognized internationally. Based in Ottawa, the service provides:
- detailed charts of ice conditions of the Canadian Arctic by facsimile, internet or mail. These Ice Analysis Charts are continuously updated;
- analyses of satellite, airborne reconnaissance, reports from icebreakers and commercial shipping communications, are combined to provide the mariner with the best information available in map format;
- prognostications of expected weekly conditions; and
- a general forecast for the period July to October is issued at the end of May for planning marine operations.
A modest fee is charged for the service depending upon the customer’s area of operation and requirements. Information may be obtained from Environment Canada, Canadian Ice Service (24).
Ice and weather information is also broadcast by the Canadian Coast Guard radio stations in the North. Times and frequencies may be found in the annual Notices to Mariners, Radio Aids to Marine Navigation, or from NORDREG .
12.3 Required Publications
The following publications or their equivalents are required to be on board all vessels.
Available from the Canadian Hydrographic Service, Ottawa (21) or chart agents:
- Arctic Sailing Directions Volumes I, II, and III;
- Arctic Tide and Current Tables;
- Annual Notices to Mariners (previously referred to for information on NORDREG ).
- Ice Navigation in Canadian Waters, published by the Canadian Coast Guard;
Available from Transport Canada Marine (1):
- Arctic Ice Regime Shipping System Standard, published by Transport Canada, Prairie and Northern Region – Marine.
12.4 Ice Navigation in Canadian Waters
Every vessel of 100 gross tons or more, navigating in Canadian waters in which ice may be encountered, is required to carry and make proper navigational use of this publication. It contains operational guidelines and also serves as a reference and introductory training manual.
This document is available from the Canadian Hydrographic Service (21) or from any authorized Canadian hydrographic chart dealer.