ECM Client Alert

Members are referred to Transport Canada’s Ship Safety Bulletin (SSB) 12/2021 which clarifies requirements for vessels under the Interim Order for the Protection of the Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) in the Waters of Southern British Columbia, 2021 which came into force on 1 June 2021. The Interim Order has been introduced to reduce the acoustic and physical disturbance of vessels on the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) and it applies to all vessels navigating in, on or through specific waters in Southern British Columbia. The measures adopted in the Interim Order are; A) an increase of the previous 200 meter minimum approach distance from SRKW, to a 400m minimum approach distance. This prohibition will be in place until 31 May, 2022; and B) the establishment of three interim sanctuary zones. Persons operating vessels, or vessels, are prohibited from navigating in these zones until 30 November, 2021.

For additional details, please see ECM Maritime Services’ Client Alert 12-2021.