Canada

Canada : new security measures

Certain initiatives have already been implemented since the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York on September 11th, 2001. These include the introduction of the 96-hour rule whereby vessels intending to enter Canadian waters must provide notification to the authorities. There has also been increased collaboration with authorities in the United States to enhance screening and hazard assessment procedures for ships entering the Saint Lawrence Seaway system. However, the Canadian government has now announced that it will adhere to and enforce the December 31, 2004 implementation date for on-board Automatic Identification System (AIS) for ships to which the December, 2002 security-related SOLAS amendments apply. Canada will be acquiring shorebased tracking facilities to use this system to identify and monitor ships in and approaching Canadian waters.