Critical Gaps Found in Canada’s Maritime Emergency Preparedness

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is alarmed by the lack of emergency preparedness at sea in Canada, following their investigation into the container loss and fire on the container ship ZIM Kingston in 2021. The incident, which took place off Vancouver Island, exposed significant gaps in Canada’s ability to respond to maritime emergencies. The ship lost 109 containers due to severe rolling and then caught fire, burning for five days before it was extinguished.

The TSB investigation revealed that parametric rolling caused the container loss, and that while guidelines exist for identifying this risk, they were not available on board the ZIM Kingston. The lack of proper training and procedures for controlling parametric rolling was also highlighted. Additionally, the TSB expressed concerns about Canada’s overall preparedness for maritime emergencies, citing a lack of mandatory pre-established emergency plans and firefighting capabilities at sea.

TSB Chair Kathy Fox emphasized the need for urgent and effective measures to improve Canada’s response to maritime emergencies. While changes to the Canadian Navigation Act are being made to address emergency arrangements for vessels, these regulations are not expected to come into force until 2028. The TSB continues to stress the importance of closing gaps in Canada’s preparedness for maritime emergencies to protect ships, the environment, and public health and safety.

Source .