GOVERNMENT OF CANADA PROPOSES REGULATIONS TO HELP INVESTIGATE AND PREVENT
MARINE ACCIDENTS

OTTAWA, Nov. 8 /CNW/ - The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced new measures that would help investigators better determine the causes of marine accidents.

The proposed regulations would require certain vessels to have a voyage data recorder on board, recording information that investigators could later retrieve should an accident occur. This information could be used to prevent similar accidents in the future.

"Our government is committed to enhancing the safety of vessels at sea," said Minister Strahl. "The voyage data recorder serves as the ship's "black box," if you would compare it to an airplane. It provides critical information we can learn from and can help prevent future accidents."

The proposed Voyage Data Regulations respond to a previous Transportation Safety Board recommendation, as well as one of its nine Watchlist recommendations. Under the proposed regulations, voyage data recorders would be required on passenger vessels over 500 gross tonnes and on new cargo vessels of 3,000 gross tonnes or more that operate outside Canada's inland waters.

Transport Canada would monitor and enforce compliance with the regulations through regular inspections, including the installation, maintenance and testing of voyage date recorders.

The proposed regulations were pre-published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on November 6, 2010. A 30-day comment period follows where interested parties may provide their views to Transport Canada. After considering the comments received, Transport Canada will proceed to obtain final approval and publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II.

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For further information:

John Babcock Press Secretary Office of the Honourable Chuck Strahl Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa 613-991-0700

Media Relations Transport Canada, Ottawa 613-993-0055