Environmental Protection
Provisions concerning reports on incidents involving harmful substances, as outlined in Protocol I to MARPOL, have been reflected in the Pollutant Discharge Reporting Regulations, 1995, of the Canada Shipping Act (CSA). These regulations outline when and how ship's masters or owners and the operator of an oil handling facility must report any discharge of a pollutant that occurs or the probability that such a discharge will occur.
Reports are to be made in accordance with either the:
- Guidelines for Reporting Incidents Involving Dangerous Goods, Harmful Substances and/or Marine Pollutants, TP 9834, or
- General Principles for Ships Reporting Systems and Ship Reporting Requirements, including Guidelines for Reporting Incidents Involving Dangerous Goods, Harmful Substances and/or Marine Pollutants, International Maritime Organization Resolution A.851(20).
Ships are also required to report the presence of any pollutant in the water under the CSA's Vessel Traffic Services Zones Regulations.