Shipping Sector

The Canadian Coast Guard retained Wave Point Consulting to identify gaps and potential mitigation solutions related to emergency towing in all regions of Canada, except the Pacific Region. The goal of the assessments was to understand better what emergency towing capability and capacity looks like in Atlantic and Central and Arctic Canada. The screening criteria for the literature review included consideration of the regulatory framework, the jurisdiction and geographic scope of operations, the concept of operations, criteria used to determine the need for emergency tug assistance, human resource competency, incident command system, and financing of emergency tug assistance. Also, existing data on vessel traffic and potential future ship traffic was considered along with insights drawn from an engagement process that included industry stakeholders and Indigenous communities.

The federal government has the primary responsibility for developing and maintaining international governance arrangements for maritime transportation and commerce. Traditionally a multilateral approach through international organizations such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the avenue for pursuing policy choices. Some countries have sought bilateral agreements where they further the country’s objectives. The potential benefits of bilateral relationships in the maritime transport sector are the subject of the research led by Darryl Anderson. The ocean shipping study explored whether and how other bilateral agreements might be pursued with other countries to enhance maritime trade between nations. The flow of international goods is essential. Thus, there is a direct linkage between maritime transport, exporting, job creation, and increased productivity.

In 2016, the federal government announced the Ocean Protection Plan to improve marine safety and responsible ocean shipping, protect the environment, strengthen partnership with Indigenous communities, and to make investments in science for evidence-based decision-making. As part of this national strategy, the Government committed to reviewing the Pilotage Act to support the delivery of safe, efficient and environmentally sensitive pilotage services into the future. The Aim Group engaged Wave Point Consulting to research and analyze the economic and competitiveness considerations concerning the costs that are borne by users in the provision of pilotage in Canada. The scope of the project included reviewing:

• The economic impact of pilotage to illustrate the magnitude of these costs with respect to Canadian waterborne trade;
• The magnitude of pilotage costs in relation to the overall supply chain costs for the movement of goods; and
• The competitiveness of Canadian pilotage in an international context by comparing various indicators including cost, safety and service delivery.

Clear Seas | Centre for Responsible Marine Shipping and other confidential clients, have engaged the Wave Point Consulting team members to conduct evidenced-based research, information, and analysis critical to the mission of their organization. Independent third-party marine transportation research, fact-checking and policy insights provide an essential quality control mechanism that enhances the research credibility of the private and public sector organizations and assists in the communication of often technical information. The analysis and information performed by our ocean shipping consultants are used by a variety of organizations to help create and develop high-quality branded content that drives traffic and engagement.

A confidential client engaged the Wave Point Consulting team to conduct a cross-jurisdictional analysis of the effectiveness of international ocean shipping and domestic marine transportation regimes dealing with ship-sourced pollution. The scope of work included a literature and document review of the processes, market instruments, standards, information-based regulation, and corporate responsibility commitments of a major project involving a marine terminal expansion that will result in increased vessel traffic. The project also included benchmarking various national regimes against predefined criteria. The analysis and information produced by our shipping consultants were used by the client to successfully negotiate the substance and outcome of a maritime policy initiative directed towards enhancing the environmental response on Canada’s Pacific coast.

How does tanker safety in Canada compare to other regions? What is the historical track record of moving crude oil by tanker? What safety measures can be taken to prevent and respond to spills? How does Canada compare to other jurisdictions? IHS CERA initiated a research project to assess the performance of the maritime transportation mode for Canadian oil sands products by marine tanker. The Wave Point marine transportation team was retained to develop the research program, analyze data and compare the oil spill prevention and ocean shipping response measures on Canada’s west coast to other jurisdictions in this segment of the energy sector. By identifying and highlighting international best practices a more robust policy discussion on how to enhance Canada’s existing regulatory framework to reduce risk and capture new market opportunities can take place.

Senators were studying the subject of the safe maritime transportation of hydrocarbons in ocean shipping. Mr. Anderson appeared as an expert witness on the international and domestic maritime regulatory framework for the transportation of energy products. The presentation provided a framework for enhancing the safety performance and reducing the risk from the marine transport of oil and thereby helping to create a policy climate where the export of oil products could more readily be brought to international markets and reducing reliance on Canada’s oil exports to the United States.

Mr. Anderson made an independent submission to the expert panel reviewing the capabilities and performance of Canada’s existing system of ship-source oil spill preparedness for maritime transportation. The material provided a framework for reducing the risk from the maritime transport of oil and thereby help to create a climate where the export of oil products could more readily be brought to market. The submission was based on independent research findings our ocean shipping consultant published in the annual proceedings of the Canadian Transportation Research Forum and the Australian Journal of Maritime and Ocean Affairs.

A confidential client engaged the Wave Point Consulting shipping consulting team to lead a ocean shipping project as it related to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The scope of the project required a contextual review of the existing ocean freight and shipping governance framework in Canada. The project team analyzed the typical impacts of the mode of maritime transport and performed a risk gap analysis as it related to LNG traffic. The project also involved analysis of the business development opportunities, risk mitigation and strategic options for the client. By identifying and highlighting international and LNG industry best practices a more robust discussion on whether it is necessary to enhance Canada’s existing regulatory framework to reduce risk and capture new LNG market opportunities.

Mr. Darryl Anderson, Managing Director Wave Point Consulting, was the lead author who wrote the terms of reference, developed study methodology and co-authored this independent maritime transportation analysis and report with Mr. K. Joseph Spears. The paper provided a review of the performance of the ocean freight mode of moving crude oil energy products to explore the economic, social and environmental perspectives that are influencing the public debate. It identified the type of measures that are legally permitted to deal with concerns and shed insight into the risks and outcomes of the present regulatory framework. The ocean shipping consultants “stress tested” this framework to determine if is adequate to address the magnitude of the current opportunities. Conclusions regarding areas of shipping safety that may need to be enhanced, or adapted to improve transportation sustainability outcomes were provided.

As an independent shipping consultant, Mr. Darryl Anderson co-wrote the terms of reference, developed study methodology and co-authored the report with Mr. K. Joseph Spears, Principal Horseshoe Bay Marine Group. The ocean shipping paper explored the specific policy commitments that govern deep-sea tanker shipping in Canada and the underlying legal rationale both in international and domestic law. Some of the outcomes of the present safety and environmental framework that govern bulk oil energy shipments were provided concerning the kind of measures legally permitted to deal with those concerned about tanker traffic. The ocean shippigng research concluded by considering how Canada’s existing commitments affect our ability to ban oil tanker traffic and the consequences of our policy choices on our international maritime transportation obligations.

The objective of the maritime transportation research was to identify and estimate the potential cost impacts of Canada-US regulatory alignment in the ports and shipping sector quantitatively, for regulations, and for congruent industries. The objective of this maritime transportation project was achieved by identifying the direct benefits to regulated firms in both countries through in-depth interviews and consultations. The research contributed to improved efficiency by determining the overall economic gains from Canada-US regulatory cooperation and the identification of critical elements that regulatory agencies and departments may use to assess, consistently and objectively, the potential benefits of pursuing Canada-US alignment in their particular regulatory programs. The Wave Point Consulting team collaborated with the Center for Trade Policy and Law on this project for the Regulatory Cooperation Council.