Introduction

The future of Canadian marine transportation development in Arctic waters remains uncertain. Although proponents of the Arctic Pilot Project (APP) – a proposal to ship LNG through the Northwest Passage – have withdrawn their application from the National Energy Board, a smallerscale project involving production and transportation of oil from the Bent Horn field on Cameron Island by the marine mode is being promoted by Panarctic Oils Ltd. Beaufort Sea project proponents (Dome, Gulf and Esso) are still considering the feasibility of both tanker and overland pipelines and have not made final decisions on the preferred mode of hydrocarbon transport. The Beaufort Sea Environmental Assessment Panel, in policy recommendations to the federal government in July 1984, has cast further uncertainty over marine transportation of Arctic hydrocarbons by advising the government of Canada to withhold approval of the tanker option until the completion of two evaluation stages – general government research and preparation, and experimental testing of two Arctic Class 10 oil-carrying tankers.

If Canada chooses the marine option, will government and industry be prepared to meet the challenge? This paper examines the question of present Canadian shipping capacities and future shipping requirements from six perspectives: administration, icebreaking vessels, hydrographic knowledge, operational support services (including navigation and communications, vessel traffic management, search and rescue), crew training, and shipbuilding.