Tugboats are critical to the maritime industry and can be found in ports and coastal areas worldwide. A key role for tugs is guiding larger vessels safely to or from a berth by pulling on strong ropes attached to the ship or pushing against the ship’s hull. Larger tugs escort tankers from the open ocean into the port to provide an extra layer of safety in case the ship loses power, or its rudder fails. These tasks require tugs to be powerful and maneuverable.1 Tugboats in operation. Credit: Seaspan Despite the relatively small size of tugboats, their powerful propulsion systems allow them to ..read more

“Out of sight, out of mind” is an adage that does not apply to commercial shipping, with technology in place to enable safe navigation, but it can to vessels not required to carry automated information system (AIS) transponders that signal vessel location and activity to satellite or shore-based receivers. Data “pings” from AIS transponders occur every few seconds on average, informing other ships and shore-based observers of the position and status of the vessel carrying the AIS transponder. Although AIS transponders come in two kinds (A and B class) and as of 2019 are required for all vessel ..read more

The officer of the watch on the bridge of a modern cargo ship or cruise liner is responsible for the safe navigation of these giants of the sea. They rely on an array of navigational technology to safely find their way and avoid collisions with other ships or natural obstacles. But how has navigational technology advanced in the past 50 years? “Steady as She Goes” – Navigating a Ship 50 Years Ago Even in the 1960s and 1970s, ships already had some impressive modern technology available. The increasing accuracy and reliability of gyrocompasses had made error-prone magnetic compasses obsolete e ..read more

The Role of Weather, Water, Ice and Climate Data for Arctic Navigation Dr. Jean Holloway is a research associate in the Environment, Society and Policy Group (ESPG) at the University of Ottawa, conducting research on climate change in the Arctic. She completed her PhD in terrestrial science at the University of Ottawa in 2020 focusing on permafrost thaw and forest fires. When the opportunity came up to work with Dr. Jackie Dawson, Jean pivoted to undertake new research on maritime and climate issues in the Arctic. Tell us about a project you are currently working on As the focus for my postdoc ..read more

About this webinar: This webinar series investigates different ways technology is being applied to understand the marine environment, with a particular focus on the activity and impacts of vessels that are not using Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders. As a result of this knowledge sharing, community of practice members can apply this range of technologies in new ways to address information needs for a safer marine environment. The Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System (CIOOS) is Canada’s home for ocean observing data, funded by the Marine Environmental Observing, Predictio ..read more

Indigenous people are leaders in marine stewardship living on Canada’s coastlines – and want meaningful participation in the maritime industry. Industry employers are facing an employee shortage across the sector. How can employers create an inclusive workplace to attract and retain Indigenous people? The marine industry is a vital part of Canada’s ocean economy, but it has thousands of unfilled jobs. In this article we explore how and why Indigenous candidates are starting to fill these roles. Indigenous people are providing a much-needed injection of dynamic leadership and strong environment ..read more

Climb aboard the CCGS Sir John Franklin for a 24-hour research mission in the Pacific Ocean. During summer 2023, two Clear Seas’ staff members were given the opportunity to go aboard the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Sir John Franklin on a research mission with the MELO Project. Chanessa Perry, an intern with Clear Seas’ Indigenous Internship Program, and Tessa Coulthard, one of Clear Seas’ research associates, learned what it is like to work on a Canadian Coast Guard research vessel, and witnessed scientific research in action while sailing through Boundary Pass in the Pacific Ocean. This ..read more

When you think of marine shipping, you might picture a giant cargo ship in the ocean or at port after a long voyage from far away. However, marine shipping also plays a key role over shorter distances for domestic transport of goods through what is referred to as ‘short-sea shipping.’ Although exact definitions vary by country, short-sea shipping is usually understood as the movement of cargo by sea, lake, or river without crossing an ocean.1 Shipping vessel on the Mississippi river. Port Technology International. Short-sea shipping exists as an important part of intermodal networks world ..read more

As an Indigenous Program Lead at Clear Seas, I had the privilege of bringing participants from our Indigenous Career Pivot Program and Indigenous Internship Program to World Ocean’s Week in New York. Supported by funding from Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, we came to New York to join the Blue Generation, a group of 35 early career ocean stewards from over a dozen countries with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. Collaborating with experts in ocean research and conservation during this event deepened my understanding of the challenges our oceans face due to climate change. It also mad ..read more

A growing proportion of global GHG emissions — at 3% and climbing — come from the global shipping industry. The majority of those pollutants come from large ocean-going container ships, tankers and bulk carriers that move finished goods, raw materials, minerals, and food all over the globe. Measures to curb this rise in emissions are already being enacted but the details of how they come into effect are vitally important. In this article we investigate these details and why they matter. Methanol and methane are currently winning the alternative fuels race – what are the consequences? The lion ..read more