Maintain the navigation and dredging coordination committees as part of integrated management of the St. Lawrence

Navigation coordination committee

This committee is made up of 25 members from various Canadian and Quebec government departments, shipping industry and recreational boating associations, and environmental groups. It is co-chaired by representatives of Transport Canada and the Quebec Department of Transport, Sustainable Mobility and Transport Electrification (MTMDET) and meets three or four times a year. Since the NCC’s objective is to harmonize shipping and recreational boating practices with the protection of ecosystems, it is expected to reconcile the varied and sometimes divergent interests of the groups represented.

Results

First Sustainable Navigation Strategy

In 2004, the committee unveiled its <media 763 - external-link-new-window "TEXTE, Sustainable Navigation Strategy for the St. Lawrence, SND_longue_e.pdf, 4.5 MB">first Sustainable Navigation Strategy</media> for the St. Lawrence. The document proposed ten guiding principles providing a framework for the committee’s actions and identifies priority issues. A first action plan to address those issues was developed in 2010. The first action plan produced successful projects such as the creation of the Dredging Activity Planning Registry, the adoption of a voluntary speed-reduction measure for commercial vessels in erosion-prone areas, and a study of the impacts of climate change on marine transportation.

Second Sustainable Navigation Strategy

The response framework for the second Sustainable Navigation Strategy (2012–2017) consisted of nine issues, which generated all of the objectives and projects implemented by the members of the NCC. Some of those projects are part of the Joint Action Program undertaken by the various participating organizations.

Production of an information guide on marine transportation, “Navigation on the St. Lawrence: Echo of the Past, Path to the Future”

Marine transportation on the St. Lawrence is an important driver of economic prosperity for Quebec, bringing a number of environmental and socioeconomic benefits. An information guide is currently being prepared that will cover the many challenges facing marine transportation: atmospheric emissions, hydrocarbon spills, invasive exotic species (sometimes transported in ballast water), wastewater management, erosion of banks by waves produced by commercial and recreational vessels, harmonization of the various uses of the St. Lawrence, etc. There is also a section on socioeconomic issues, as well as information about the key environmental and governmental stakeholders with an interest in marine transportation and the initiatives taken by the shipping industry to reduce its environmental impact. The guide will be made available on the SLAP website.

Voluntary speed-reduction measure for commercial vessels 

Erosion affects all waterways, and it has many causes. One cause is wave action produced by the wakes of ships and recreational craft. In the fall of 2000, the shipping industry voluntarily adopted a speed-reduction measure for commercial vessels in a 25 km stretch of the St. Lawrence between Sorel and Varennes: vessel pilots are strongly urged not to exceed 10 knots. Since this voluntary measure was introduced, the industry has shown a very high level of compliance (98% on average, from April 2015 to July 2016). As part of this project, the speeds of various ships in these sensitive areas are measured monthly to verify compliance.