In Québec, environmental protection is a core concern for the maritime industry. Strict measures are implemented to minimize the environmental impact of maritime activities, notably by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preserving marine biodiversity. Research and innovation initiatives aim to develop cleaner technologies and promote sustainable practices.
Committed to a proactive approach, SODES participates actively in the working group on maritime-industry decarbonization created at the Marine Industry Forum. SODES’ involvement entails supporting and assisting the Québec government in developing tools aimed at achieving the maritime sector’s decarbonization objectives.
In collaboration with other industry players, SODES helps take stock of current efforts, analyze actions required to comply with IMO standards, review relevant government programs and propose concrete measures to promote the transition to more sustainable energy sources.
SODES is actively involved in the Canadian Marine Advisory Council (CMAC), which represents parties interested in shipping, navigation and marine pollution. CMAC advises the government on maritime safety and security issues and opportunities, publishing reports based on its findings annually.
Six regional CMAC meetings are held: Pacific, Ontario, Québec, Atlantic–Maritimes, Atlantic–Newfoundland and Labrador, Prairie and Northern. National CMAC meetings are held in Ottawa and comprise national standing committees and working groups, in which SODES plays an active role.
The six regional CMAC meetings are : Atlantic—Maritimes, Atlantic—Newfoundland and Labrador, Québec, Ontario, Prairie and Northern, Pacific
Green Marine’s St. Lawrence Advisory Committee seeks to give feedback and strategic advice to improve the Green Marine environmental certification program and develop new environmental performance indicators. Composed of experts and stakeholders from the maritime industry, the Committee focuses on developing best practices and implementing innovative solutions to reduce maritime activities’ environmental impact on the St. Lawrence.
The Navigation Coordination Committee (NCC) was created under the St. Lawrence Action Plan, born of a Canada-Québec partnership. Composed of 25 members from the maritime industry, recreational boating sector, environmental groups and provincial/federal government departments, the NCC plays a crucial role in sustainable management of the St. Lawrence.
SODES participates actively in the NCC and its various working groups, including:
The NCC’s work culminated in publication of the Sustainable Navigation Strategy for the St. Lawrence in 2004, with a second edition in 2015. This strategy aims to adapt commercial shipping and recreational boating management practices to sustainability imperatives, focusing on three main areas: reducing environmental impacts, promoting the economic viability of maritime transport and social harmonizing of uses.
Reporting to the Navigation Coordination Committee (NCC), the North Atlantic right whale working group, composed of members representing maritime transport, governments, the research community and environmental organizations, has devised a crucial solution to reduce right whale mortality due to ship strikes. The group’s efforts led to the introduction of speed reduction measures for vessels over 20 meters long in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in summer 2017.
