4.1 GENERAL

Masters of ocean-going vessels arriving at, staying in, or departing from the Port of Prince Rupert are obliged to make previous notification on a variety of subjects as outlined in this section.

4.2 HEALTH

Advanced radio notification to a quarantine station applies only if a condition of health irregularity occurs onboard. Masters should acquaint themselves with Section 12 of the Quarantine Regulations.³⁰ Prince Rupert has a full service hospital, as well as medical service to larger metropolitan areas.

Vessels with individuals suffering from a communicable disease or have been in close contact with someone with a communicable disease are obligated to inform the Vessel Agent prior to arrival in Canada, who in turn is obligated to inform a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer or a quarantine officer; the officer will then determine if there is a requirement for further assessment.

During the COVID-19 global pandemic:

For any onboard infectious disease concerns, after a vessel has submitted the required 96-hour Pre-Arrival Information Report (PAIR) to Transport Canada, Masters or vessel agents are encouraged to notify Transport Canada staff in the Government of Canada’s Marine Security and Operations Centre (West) by phone: +1 (250) 363-4850 or email:marsecw@tc.gc.ca. This notice will, in consultation with the Master, result in a Government health assessment, broad notification of regional agencies (pilots, Port Authorities, terminals, local health) and the coordination of any response deemed necessary.

4.3 IMMIGRATION

Starting in December 2013, citizens from certain countries/territories³¹ will need to give biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) when they apply for a visa. Depending on citizenship, individuals that plan to travel through Canada without stopping or those who are visiting for 48 hours or less may require a transit visa. A transit visa may not be required if travel is from the United States. See Transit Without Visa Program³² or the China Transit Program³³ for details.

CREW MEMBERS WHO WISH TO GO ASHORE

All crew members that have cleared Customs through CBSA are permitted to proceed ashore subject to the following:

SHORE LEAVE AT MARSEC I

• Shore leave by water taxi (inner or outer anchorages) is permitted between the hours of 0800 and midnight.
• The water taxi must only transport to/from the Cow Bay Marina.

SHORE LEAVE AT MARSEC II

• Shore leave while at MARSEC II will be via PRPA approval only.

SHORE LEAVE AT MARSEC III

• There will be no shore leave authorized while at MARSEC III.

PASSENGERS

Any passengers onboard will be required to clear Customs through CBSA³³ at the same time as the rest of the crew.

Passengers may proceed ashore subject to the same restrictions as crew.

4.4 CUSTOMS

Prince Rupert is a port of entry and as such has customs facilities operated by CBSA.³⁵ The Advance Commercial Information (ACI)³⁶ program requires marine carriers to electronically transmit vessel and cargo information in advance of arrival at the first port in Canada. Reporting timeframes, which vary depending on the type of cargo and origins, are outlined on this link.

PRE-ARRIVAL INFORMATION REPORT (PAIR)
Note: Pursuant to Marine Transportation Security Regulations, the following pre-arrival information requirement does not apply to fishing vessels, pleasure craft and government vessels.

The Master of the vessels listed below, engaged on a voyage from a port in one country to a port in another country, shall ensure their vessel does not enter Canadian waters unless the Master submits their Pre-Arrival Information Report (PAIR) to Transport Canada MARSEC West³⁷ before entering Canadian waters.

Vessels required to submit a PAIR to Transport Canada:
• SOLAS (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea) vessel of 500 tonnes gross tonnage or more or is carrying more than 12 passengers;
• NON-SOLAS vessel that is more than 100 tonnes gross tonnage, other than a towing vessel;
• NON-SOLAS vessel that carries more than 12 passengers; or
• NON-SOLAS vessel that is a towing vessel engaged in towing a barge astern or alongside or pushing ahead, if the barge is carrying certain dangerous cargoes.

CANADA’S MARITIME ZONES
Canadian Territorial Sea³⁸ consists of a belt of sea 12 nautical miles from the low-water line (baseline) along Canada’s coast.

The contiguous zone of Canada³⁹ consists of an area of sea from 12 nautical miles to an outer limit of 24 nautical miles from the low-water line (baseline). Federal law enforcement officials may prevent the entry of person(s) in the contiguous zone of Canada from entry into Canada if there are reasonable grounds to believe an offence may be committed.

The exclusive economic zone of Canada⁴⁰ consists of an area of the sea beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea of Canada extending to 200 nautical miles from low-water line along Canada’s coast.

4.5 ETA

Master of vessels listed in 4.4

4.6 ETD

Agents and/or Master must give the PRPA as much notice as possible with the intended sailing time and any revisions to the estimated time of departure.

LPG carriers and liquid bulk tankers must give a minimum of 24 hours’ notice of the intended time of departure.

4.7 SECURITY

All vessels over 350 gross tonnes that are not a pleasure craft and every pleasure craft over 500 gross tonnes (subject to compulsory pilotage) that are proceeding to any Prince Rupert terminal or anchorage must provide a copy of each of the following documents:
• International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC)
• Crew list
• Passenger list
• Attendance list

4.8 DANGEROUS GOODS

All Dangerous Goods that move through the Port of Prince Rupert must be pre-approved by the PRPA. This is done by accurately completing this online permit application₄₅ and receiving a confirmation email by the approving Authority. Vessels with explosives on board shall not enter, leave, or remain in the harbour, except with the prior permission of PRPA.

Any additional information regarding goods entering or leaving from Port Edward Harbour Authority facilities may be obtained from their website₄₆.

4.9 WASTE

All waste removal must be coordinated through the Vessel Agent including garbage, oily water/bilge fluids, grey water, black water, and hazardous material. Arrangements must be communicated in writing to the PSOC₄₇ by the Agents and/or Masters prior to removal.

4.10 IOPP

All vessels requiring an IOPP Certificate must ensure that a valid, in date copy is sent to the PSOC₄₈ 24 hours prior to arrival to Prince Rupert.

4.11 EXPLANATION OF REPORTING CODES

Not applicable.

Footnotes

³⁰http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/C.R.C.,_c._1368/page-1.html
³¹http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/biometrics.asp
³²http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/twov/index.asp
³³http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/ctp/eligibility.asp
³⁴http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/do-rb/offices-bureaux/437-eng.html
³⁵http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/do-rb/offices-bureaux/437-eng.html
³⁶http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/aci-ipec/marmode_menu-eng.html
³⁷marsecw@tc.gc.ca
³⁸http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/O-2.4/page-2.html
³⁹http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/O-2.4/page-2.html
⁴⁰http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/O-2.4/page-4.html
⁴¹marsecw@tc.gc.ca
⁴²psoc@rupertport.com
⁴³https://pems.rupertport.com
⁴⁴http://www.rupertport.com/operations/permits
⁴⁵http://www.rupertport.com/operations/permits
⁴⁶http://www.peharbour.ca/
⁴⁷psoc@rupertport.com
⁴⁸psoc@rupertport.com