To help limit the spread of COVID-19 in Canada, Minister of Transport Marc Garneau announced new measures for commercial passenger vessels and ferries.
"The safety and security of the traveling public and Canada's transportation network are my top priorities,” said Minister Garneau. “These new measures will help reduce the spread of COVID-19, while continuing to support the continued movement of goods through the supply chain, and ensuring Canadians can access their homes, jobs and essential services in a safe manner."
As of April 6, the new measures with mandatory requirements include:
- Prohibiting all commercial marine vessels with a capacity of more than 12 passengers from engaging in non-essential activities, such as tourism or recreation. These measures will remain in place until at least June 30.
- Preventing any Canadian cruise ship from mooring, navigating or transiting in Canadian Arctic waters (including Nunatsiavut, Nunavik and the Labrador Coast).
- Should any foreign passenger vessel seek to enter Arctic waters, they would need to give the minister of transport a 60-day notice and be subject to any conditions the minister determines necessary to ensure the protection of marine personnel and local communities. These measures will remain in place until Oct. 31, 2020.
The new measures also require ferries and essential passenger vessel operators to:
- Immediately reduce the maximum number of passengers that may be carried on board by 50 percent (conduct half-load voyages) to support the two-meter physical distancing rule; or
- Implement alternative practices to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 (consistent with Public Health Agency of Canada guidelines) among passengers on board their vessels, such as keeping people in their vehicles when feasible or enhanced cleaning and hygiene measures.
- In addition to these measures, Transport Canada is issuing guidelines to ferry operators respecting health screening for all passengers before boarding to better protect their employees and passengers. These guidelines are based on advice from the Public Health Agency of Canada.
The new measures preventing vessel activity do not apply to:
- Essential passenger vessels such as ferries, water taxis and medical-use vessels;
- Cargo vessels, barges, work boats, fishing vessels and other commercial vessels who operate to support resupply operations and the movement of goods through Canada's supply chain;
- Canadian commercial passenger vessels, without passengers, moving for repairs or repositioning;
- Canadian commercial passenger vessels that are not in service; and
- Pleasure craft (e.g. non-commercial vessels).
