Canadian waters safer but more research needed into risks: report
A NEW workshop report released by the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) shows that Canadian waters are becoming safer, but there's still a lack of available data on the causes of accidents, the stages at which accidents occur, and the frequency of shipments by cargo type and region.
The report, entitled Commercial Marine Shipping Accidents: Understanding the Risks in Canada, explores risk by focusing on the likelihood of commercial marine shipping accidents across Canada as well as the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts of such accidents, the ScienceDaily reported.
Chair of the workshop steering committee and academic director at the Marine Institute of Memorial University, Captain Dr James Parsons, said: "Overall, the evidence shows that Canada's waters have been getting safer over the past decade, with fewer commercial marine shipping accidents.
"Commercial marine shipping has benefited from improved traffic control technology, better ship designs, and a strengthened regulatory regime. Accidents do still occur, yet typically do not result in large impacts."
The data from the report show that the St. Lawrence River region experiences the highest level of commercial marine accidents in Canada, but these accidents have been the least likely to lead to casualties or serious injuries. The Pacific Region has the highest level of shipping activity, but has a relatively low risk profile.
With regard to oil spills, the workshop report confirms that while the likelihood of an accident resulting in an oil spill in Canada is low, the potential impact of such an accident would be significant.
"Canada has not experienced a large oil spill in the past decade," noted Captain Parsons. "But, evidence from around the world suggests that when large spills do occur, the impact on the environment, and the subsequent social, economic, and health impacts, can be substantial."
Although Canada has a well-developed oil spill response regime, the workshop report points to the need for a hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) preparedness and response regime across Canada, as well as further research into how substances classified as HNS behave in a marine environment.
A NEW workshop report released by the Council of Canadian Academies (CCA) shows that Canadian waters are becoming safer, but there's still a lack of available data on the causes of accidents, the stages at which accidents occur, and the frequency of shipments by cargo type and region.
The report, entitled Commercial Marine Shipping Accidents: Understanding the Risks in Canada, explores risk by focusing on the likelihood of commercial marine shipping accidents across Canada as well as the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts of such accidents, the ScienceDaily reported.
Chair of the workshop steering committee and academic director at the Marine Institute of Memorial University, Captain Dr James Parsons, said: "Overall, the evidence shows that Canada's waters have been getting safer over the past decade, with fewer commercial marine shipping accidents.
"Commercial marine shipping has benefited from improved traffic control technology, better ship designs, and a strengthened regulatory regime. Accidents do still occur, yet typically do not result in large impacts."
The data from the report show that the St. Lawrence River region experiences the highest level of commercial marine accidents in Canada, but these accidents have been the least likely to lead to casualties or serious injuries. The Pacific Region has the highest level of shipping activity, but has a relatively low risk profile.
With regard to oil spills, the workshop report confirms that while the likelihood of an accident resulting in an oil spill in Canada is low, the potential impact of such an accident would be significant.
"Canada has not experienced a large oil spill in the past decade," noted Captain Parsons. "But, evidence from around the world suggests that when large spills do occur, the impact on the environment, and the subsequent social, economic, and health impacts, can be substantial."
Although Canada has a well-developed oil spill response regime, the workshop report points to the need for a hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) preparedness and response regime across Canada, as well as further research into how substances classified as HNS behave in a marine environment.
