News 06 Jul, 2023 Canada - Stricter Environmental Protection Measures Now Mandatory for Cruise Ships Emma Forbes-Gearey Loss Prevention Officer Transport Canada recently announced that the voluntary environmental measures introduced in April 2022 for cruise ships have become mandatory. The objective is to ensure that cruise ships adopt more sustainable practices within Canadian waters.  Download PDF The regulation aims to safeguard Canada's oceans and marine environment, aligning with Canada's commitment to protect 25% of its oceans by 2025 and 30% by 2030, as announced during the 5 th International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC5) in February 2023. Effective from 23 June 2023, cruise ships [ see Definitions 1 (1 ) ] operating in Canadian waters are required to adhere to specific regulations concerning the management of greywater (e.g., drainage from showers, dishwashers, and sinks) and sewage (i.e., wastewater from toilets, urinals, and medical facilities onboard).  The regulations for the cruise ship industry include the following: · Prohibiting the discharge of greywater and treated sewage within three nautical miles from shore, an ice shelf or fast ice where geographically possible across Canada; · Strengthening the treatment of greywater together with sewage before it is discharged between three and twelve nautical miles from shore south of 60°N using an approved treatment device in non-Arctic waters. This will complement existing regulations for Arctic waters under the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act (AWPPA) ; and · Reporting compliance with these measures in Canadian waters upon request. Transport Canada's requirements not only align with but also surpass international standards set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). By strengthening its environmental measures, Canada is providing a level of protection similar to existing restrictions in place in Alaska, California, and Washington State in the United States. Failure to