Marine Transportation North of the 55th Parallel Report

Marine Transportation North of the 55th Parallel Report

Introduction

In recent years, there has been in increased awareness of the important economic potential of Canada’s vast northern landscape. Resource development, increased navigation due to receding summer ice, and growing communities are all aligning to increase the importance of that region.

For the purpose of this study alone, the North will be defined as a region North of the 55th parallel but extending south to include the entire Labrador Coast on the Labrador Sea and James Bay. The vast region touches 4 provinces, namely Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba and all three Territories.

As the Government of Canada and its provincial, territorial and private sector partners are increasingly faced with new pressures regarding northern marine transportation, it has become important to better understand the basic facts of northern transportation, namely: Who: Understanding who the major stakeholders are in Northern marine transportation and related industries, such as recreational boating and fishing. What: Understanding the types of commodities and associated volumes that are transported by the marine sector in the Canadian North, where are they coming from, where are they going, which infrastructure are used and which companies are involved in the transportation; When: Understanding the seasonality aspect of marine transportation in the North Why: Clearly understand the vastly different transportation needs in the North as well as understand why shipping companies choose to operate the way they do; Where: Understanding the navigational channels that are used, by who and for what purposes.

Contract period

The Services of the Contractor will be required from date of contract award to project completion, expected no later than December 31, 2013.

Option period

None. This is a one-time project

Objectives of the Requirement

The objective of this project is to acquire more extensive knowledge on northern marine transportation, its current situation and its outlook , identifying along the way the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats it may face. The report is expected to build upon and expand upon previous work done for Transport Canada on the question of Arctic/Northern marine transportation, be it the Northern Transportation Systems Assessment, the Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment or the Arctic Marine Emission Inventory (2007 and 2012) - all available on demand- rather than simply replicating that work. While the deliverable should not be seen as simply an update of the existing body of work, it will help update emission models derived from the Arctic Marine Emission Study of 2012.