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Sections 20-28

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20. Advanced Wastewater Treatment Systems

20.1 Some cruise lines have installed wastewater treatment systems that utilize advanced technologies designed to result in effluent discharges that are of a high quality and purity. Effluents of high quality and purity may be exempted from the discharge requirements noted in section 18 of these Guidelines, subject to confirmation from Transport Canada Marine Safety in accordance with section 25 of these Guidelines.

20.2 Recognizing that technology is progressing at a rapid rate, any new equipment or management practices that are equivalent to or better than those described in these Guidelines are encouraged.

21. Air Emissions

21.1 Cruise ships shall comply with the provisions of the Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and for Dangerous Chemicals under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 that relate to air emissions. These provisions implement Annex VI of MARPOL and also include Canadian requirements regarding the emission of black smoke within 1 nautical mile of shore.

21.2 Cruise ships should use fuels with the lowest sulphur content available for the class of fuel that the ship's engines are designed for. The desired goal for average sulphur content of all fuels (bunker and marine gas oil) used on board cruise ships during each cruise season is to not exceed 1.5% (calculated on a corporate fleet basis annually), subject to availability. The maximum sulphur content of bunker fuel should not exceed 3.0% and the maximum sulphur content of marine gas oil should not exceed 0.5% (Canadian regulations require that the sulphur content of any fuel oil shall not exceed 4.5%). Cruise ships shall report, annually, the sulphur contents and quantity of all fuel deliveries, both at Canadian and non-Canadian terminals, for any fuel being used while operating in waters under Canadian jurisdiction to Environment Canada as per section 28.2.

21.3 Cruise ships should adopt the best practical technology to achieve the lowest emissions possible. At a minimum, cruise ships shall meet the requirements of the Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and for Dangerous Chemicals and Annex VI of MARPOL for:

  1. diesel engines installed on cruise ships or that undergo a major conversion after January 1, 2000; and
  2. incinerators installed on cruise ships after January 1, 2000.

21.4 Cruise ships in port shall not use incinerators and should consider using shore power where it is available, safe, reliable and where it would produce less air pollution.

21.5 Cruise ship operators are encouraged to participate in regional initiatives to reduce air pollution.

21.6 Regarding incinerator operations, cruise ships shall follow related International Maritime Organization guidelines and Annex VI of MARPOL 73/78.

22. Halocarbons

22.1 Cruise ships shall comply with the Federal Halocarbon Regulations, 2003 under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, which among other things:

  1. prohibits the release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), Halons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), except to fight a fire not set for training purposes;
  2. requires releases of halocarbons in excess of 10 kg to be reported to Environment Canada as indicated in section 28.1.

22.2 Cruise ship operators may consider replacing CFCs and Halons with alternatives before scheduled refilling is required.

22.3 For further information on halocarbon, cruise ship operations may contact Environment Canada as indicated in section 28.1.

23. Anti-Fouling Paints

23.1 In accordance with the International Convention on the Control of Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001 and the Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and for Dangerous Chemicals, after January 1, 2003, cruise ships shall not apply or re-apply organotin compounds which act as biocides in anti-fouling systems.

23.2 Cruise ships shall either:

  1. not bear organotin compounds on their hulls or external parts or surfaces; or
  2. bear a coating that forms a barrier to organotin compounds leaching from the underlying system.

24. Ballast Water

24.1 Cruise ships shall comply with the provisions of Transport Canada's Ballast Water Control and Management Regulations. Cruise ships should also refer to the Transport Canada publication "A Guide to Canada's Ballast Water Control and Management Regulations", TP 13617 for further information on Canadian requirements regarding the discharge of ballast water.

25. Equivalent Equipment, Practices and Procedures

25.1 Where a Canadian flagged cruise ship proposes to use or uses equivalent or other acceptable practices and procedures, such as improved systems for treating sewage and graywater, this shall be communicated to the Transport Canada Marine Safety office.

25.2 Where a non-Canadian flagged cruise ship uses equivalent or other acceptable practices and procedures that pertain to these Guidelines, this shall be communicated to Transport Canada Marine Safety during any Port State Control inspection or in advance of arriving in waters under Canadian jurisdiction.

26. Training and Educational Materials

26.1 Cruise ship lines should develop programs that raise the level of environmental awareness on the part of both the passengers and the crew.

26.2 Training in shipboard safety and environmental management procedures should be provided for those directly involved in these areas.

26.3 Those directly responsible for processing wastes should be given instruction in their duties and responsibilities and in the operation of the various equipment and waste management systems.

26.4 Actions to train employees and increase passenger awareness should include:

  1. announcements over the public address system and notices in ship newsletters that caution against throwing any waste overboard;
  2. signage and colorful posters placed in crew and passenger areas encouraging environmental awareness and protection;
  3. safety and environmental information booklets in crew cabins and crew lounges; and
  4. regular meetings of ship safety and environmental committees consisting of officers and crew from all departments to review methods of improving performance, including better and more effective environmental practices.

27. Related Inspections

27.1 Transport Canada Marine Safety verifies compliance with Canadian legislation related to shipping as part of annual inspections of Canadian cruise ships and as part of Port State Control inspections of non-Canadian flagged cruise ships.

27.2 Compliance monitoring by Transport Canada may include passenger ship examinations that include review of environmental systems, Safety Management System documentation and such MARPOL-mandated documents as the Oil Record Book and the Garbage Record Book.

28. Reporting

28.1 Cruise ships shall report any halocarbon release to Environment Canada using the following telephone numbers. Other spills or environmental emergencies may be reported to Environment Canada at these telephone numbers.

Region

Telephone number

Newfoundland and Labrador

800-563-2444

Nova Scotia, PEI, and New Brunswick

800-565-1633

Quebec

514-283-2333

Ontario

416-346-1971

Northwest Territories and Nunavut

867-920-8130

British Columbia and Yukon

604-666-6100

28.2 Cruise ships agree to provide, in either electronic or hardcopy format, an annual report of:

  1. all discharges in Canadian waters and of landed wastes for garbage, sewage, oily wastes, and hazardous wastes; and
  2. all fuel deliveries received

by every November 30, to

Environment Canada,
Marine Environment Branch,
Ottawa, Ontario, KIA OH3,
Facsimile: 819 953-0913,
Email: cruiseships@ec.gc.ca.

The required data to be contained in this report is provided in Schedule 3.

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Date modified:
2010-09-23