Canada Announces New Procedures for Domestic Ferries for Detecting and Preventing Security Threats

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Dec. 23, 2009) - New regulations to enhance the security of domestic ferries and Canada's marine transportation system, were announced today by Canada's Transport Minister John Baird. The Domestic Ferries Security Regulations increase the level of protection of 18 domestic ferry routes and 29 ferry facilities across the country.

"Our government is committed to sustaining safe transportation systems, and these new regulations will bolster the protection of domestic ferry services and facilities," said Baird. "By adopting these effective security procedures, ferry operators and personnel can be as prepared as possible to detect and prevent threats."

The Domestic Ferries Security Regulations establish a framework for detecting security threats and taking preventive measures to protect ferries and ferry facilities. Specifically, the regulations:

- establish standards so that ferry operators can develop customized security plans that are appropriate to each ferry and ferry facility;

- set out the roles and responsibilities of operators and personnel to develop and implement security plans;

- provide a methodology for carrying out, documenting and reporting security assessments, and for establishing adequate security protocols; and

- provide Transport Canada with a means of overseeing and enforcing security for domestic ferry services.

Regulating domestic ferries is part of the government's overall strategy to strengthen Canadian transportation security while facilitating the free flow of people and goods.

The Domestic Ferries Security Regulations were pre-published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on September 19, 2009. After consideration of all comments received, the regulations came into effect and were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, on December 23, 2009.

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