Transport Canada has strengthened the country’s discharge requirements for cruise ships operating in its waters during the 2022 cruise season.

The measures were developed in co-operation with the industry and were introduced to help restore marine habitats, further protect Canadian waters and set the foundation for a regulatory posture next year.

They apply to ships certified to carry more than 100 persons and equipped with overnight accommodations that are Canadian vessels or foreign vessels operating in waters under Canadian jurisdiction during the season.

Cruise ships will be subject to new non-mandatory environmental measures. These are:

• Prohibiting the discharge of greywater and sewage within three nautical miles from shore where geographically possible.
• Treating greywater together with sewage before it is discharged between three and 12 nautical miles from shore to the greatest extent possible.
• Strengthening the treatment of sewage between three and 12 nautical miles from shore using an approved treatment device.

An authorised cruise ship representative operating in waters under Canadian jurisdiction must also provide periodic reports outlining compliance to Transport Canada.

Reports are due on the following dates:

• 5^th June, 5^th August, 5^th October and 5^th December, 2022.

Transport Canada also said that it will continue to inspect cruise ships this season. It will check the implementation level of the new environmental measures and compliance with existing regulatory requirements.

This information will support future regulations to control discharges from cruise ships in waters under Canadian jurisdiction.

When a cruise ship is unable to implement the new environmental measures, the authorised representative must make sure to meet current regulatory requirements. Cruise ships must also make all relevant discharge information available to Transport Canada.