Marine transportation safety letters and concerns

Safety concerns
Safety concerns provide a marker to the industry and the regulator that the Board has identified a safety deficiency for which it does not yet have sufficient information to make a recommendation. As more data and analysis becomes available, and if the safety deficiency is found to be systemic and not redressed, the safety concern may lead to a recommendation. Safety concerns are usually communicated in final investigation reports.

Safety information letters
The TSB sends safety information letters to regulatory and/or industry stakeholders to advise them of potentially unsafe acts or conditions identified during an investigation that pose low risks and do not require immediate remedial action. The letters aim to promote safety or clarify issues that a stakeholder is already examining, and are sent before the investigation has been completed. Those that do not contain privileged or proprietary information are posted here.

Safety advisory letters
Safety advisory letters are concerned with safety deficiencies that pose low to medium risks, and are used to inform regulatory or industry stakeholders of unsafe conditions. A safety advisory letter suggests remedial action to reduce risks to safety.

Product Date issued Subject No. To Related occurrence
Safety Concern Knowledge of the operation of carbon dioxide fixed fire suppression systems n/a n/a M21A0041
Safety Concern Marine firefighting capabilities of shore-side resources n/a n/a M19C0403
Safety Concern Development and oversight of vessel-specific evacuation procedures n/a n/a M17C0179
Safety Concern Availability of sufficient lifejackets for all children and infants on board n/a n/a M17C0179
Safety Concern Training in passenger safety management for crew members on passenger vessels carrying more than 12 passengers n/a n/a M17C0179
Safety Concern Compliance with regulations and standards n/a n/a M09L0068
Safety Concern Hot work n/a n/a M06L0004
Safety Concern Planning and coordination of emergency plans n/a n/a M06L0004
Safety Concern Performance requirements for LED navigation lamps on unmanned barges n/a n/a M03W0265
Safety Concern Adequacy of British Columbia Ferry Corporation's Safety Management System n/a n/a M03W0073
Safety Concern Adequacy of regulatory inspection n/a n/a M03W0073
Safety Concern Standard mass determination n/a n/a M03M0077
Safety Concern Firefighting tactics on fishing vessels n/a n/a M03M0077
Safety Concern Accessibility of fire control plans n/a n/a M01C0054
Safety Concern Installation of sprinkler systems n/a n/a M01C0054
Safety advisory letter Safe loading of lobster fishing vessels 02/23

Director General, Marine Safety and Security, Transport Canada

Director of National Licencing Operations, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Vice-President Prevention, WorkSafeNB

M23A0107
Safety advisory letter Failure of personal flotation device to inflate 01/23

Operations Manager, Canship Ugland Ltd.

Chief Operating Officer, Atlantic Pilotage Authority

M22A0332
Safety advisory letter Regulatory Compliance of Fishing Vessels above 15GT 03/22

Director General, Marine Safety and Security, Transport Canada

M20P0229
Safety advisory letter Safety issues on passenger vessels owned by the City of Toronto 02/22 City Manager - Toronto M22C0231
Safety advisory letter Safety during docking and undocking operations 03/22

Director of Marine Operations, CTMA

Regional Director, Programs – Atlantic, Transport Canada

M22C0005
Safety advisory letter Statement about need for registration of commercial fishing vessels with Transport Canada 02/21 President, Canadian Council of Professional Fish Harvesters M20A0160
Safety advisory letter Rudder effectiveness angle on the Florence Spirit (IMO 9314600) 01/21 Director – Transportation, McKeil Marine Limited M20C0188
Safety advisory letter Consultation regarding the implementation of the corridor in LFA 24 03/19

Director General, Strategic Policy, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

M18A0303
Safety advisory letter Failure of lifeboat release hook 04/18 Jiangsu Jiaoyan Marine Equipment Co., Ltd. M17A0391
Safety information letter Installed location of CO2 pilot cartridges and access to manual release levers 03/23

Director General, Marine Safety and Security, Transport Canada

M22A0258
Safety information letter Examination of aft rudder flap assembly on the ferry Confederation 02/23

Regional Director, Programs-Atlantic, Transport Canada

M22A0312
Safety information letter Fatigue Management aboard Beaumont Hamel 01/23

Director, Marine Services, Department of Transportation and Infrastructure

M22A0360
Safety information letter Continuous exchange of information between Pilots and Masters 02/22

Director General, Marine Safety and Security, Transport Canada

M22C0015
Safety information letter Safe speed for vessels in Tofino Harbour, British Columbia 01/22

Director General, Marine Safety and Security, Transport Canada

M21P0290
Safety information letter Early Notification of Search and Rescue Authorities of Developing Situations 01/20 Transportation and Works M20A0048
Safety information letter Safety Issues on Passenger Vessels Navigating in the Thousand Islands Area 02/18 Transport Canada, 1000 Islands and Seaway Cruises, Gananoque Boat Line, Kingston 1000 Islands Cruises, and Rockport Cruises M17C0179
Safety information letter Safety issues associated with mooring operations in the maritime industry 01/18 Transport Canada M17C0060
Safety information letter Overheating of hydrodynamic fluid coupling and subsequent fire 04/17 Transport Canada M17C0220
Safety information letter Collapse of the platform and gangway 11/16 Municipality of Sainte-Rose-du-Nord M16C0146