Denis Hains, Director General & Hydrographer General of Canada

CANADIAN HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICE & OCEANOGRAPHIC SERVICES

Presentation to Warming of the North Conference

Ottawa, March 2nd, 2015

TIP OF THE ICEBERG HYDROGRAPHY & OCEANOGRAPHY

IN CANADA’S NORTH

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CANADIAN HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICE & OCEANOGRAPHIC SERVICES

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The Canadian Hydrographic Service and Oceanographic Services is part of the Ecosystems and Oceans Science Sector of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Our organization is responsible for charting Canada's 131,650 nautical miles of coastline (the longest of any country in the world), the 739,266 square nautical miles of continental shelf and territorial sea, plus inland lakes and waterways.

CANADIAN HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICE: OUR MISSION

“ To provide clients with up-to-date, timely, and accurate hydrographic publications services and data necessary for safe and efficient navigation for navigable waters of Canada in the most cost effective and efficient manner and to represent Canadian hydrographic interests nationally and internationally. ”

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MANDATE

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•  Charting Canada’s navigable waterways in support of:

•  Several legislations and conventions mandate CHS

including Canada Shipping Act 2001 and SOLAS

Convention

•  Safety of navigation/Protecting life at sea

•  Maritime delimitation

•  Contributing to security and sovereignty

•  Protecting the environment (tide surge etc.)

•  Contributing to economic development

•  Contributing to marine science

CHANGING DEMAND - INCREASING RISK

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CHANGING HYDROGRAPHIC TECHNOLOGY & PRODUCTS

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2,000 soundings per survey

750,000 soundings per survey

100000,000 soundings per survey

Leadline Single Beam Multi Beam

Pre - 1940 1940 - 1998 1998 - Present

ARCTIC CHARTING - THE CHALLENGE…

Arctic Marine Infrastructure: There is a general lack of marine infrastructure in the Arctic, except for areas along the Norwegian coast and northwest Russia, compared with other marine regions of the world with high concentrations of ship traffic. Gaps in hydrographic data exist for significant portions of primary shipping routes important to support safe navigation. In addition, for safe operations in the Arctic there is a need for the same suite of meteorological and oceanographic data, products and services as in other oceans, plus comprehensive information on sea ice and icebergs. Source Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment Report 2009

Motivators: •  Increased ice-free seasons •  Economic growth of Northern

peoples •  Increased economic activity

(mining etc.) •  Increased demand for

science •  Increased eco-tourism

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ARCTIC CHARTING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CHALLENGE

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Martin Frobisher 1576 William Parry 1819

Henry Hudson 1610

Robert Bylot 1616

Roald Amundsen

1903

CHS EARLY ARCTIC SURVEYS SOURCE: Northern Mariner, O.M. Meehan

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Chrisse C. Thomey 1910 survey ship

CHS APPLYING INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY

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Late 1950’s & early 1960’s Polar Continental Shelf supported hydrographic data collection: • Lead line Lucas Sounding Machine • Early PCSP Ice-Camp • Short range electronic positioning

CHS APPLYING INNOVATION &TECHNOLOGY

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Late 1960’s & 1980’s an era of innovation: • Track Vehicle w Ram Transducer • Autonomous Remote Controlled System (ARCS) • Heli Towed Open Water System • Hovercraft • Through Ice Bathymetry (TIBS)

CHS APPLYING INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY

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GROWING & CHANGING CLIENT NEEDS

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GROWING & CHANGING CLIENT NEEDS

CESD (OAG – Audit Arctic – some text here

Transport Canada – Tanker Safety Expert Panel – Arctic review not yet released

FedNav (PetroNav?) full transit 2014 – see blog and route through Prince Wales St

Nordic Orion (Danish Flag)

There is significant potential

for mining and oil & gas in the

North

Environment Changes

Very likely continued decrease in mean sea-ice thickness (0.25-1.75m). Further decline in multi-year ice area, possibly enabling an ice-free Arctic in late summer. Decrease in summer ice extent (10-80%), Longer open water season: earlier ice breakup and later freeze up. Little change in winter ice conditions.

Ecosystem changes Ice-free zones during summer and winter periods Change in access to the marine environment (i.e., ice covered areas vs. open water areas) and an increase in the length of the ‘shoulder seasons’ Increased length of open water season will potentially increase the extent and frequency of foggy conditions A more severe wave climate is projected in open-water areas Increased incidence of vessel icing and sea spray.

Implications Need to manage increase intensity, seasonal duration, and geographical extent of boat traffic Ice routing advice and ice information and escorting service to ships in ice-covered waters may be more challenging in the nearer term Assistance to beset vessels in ice may be more frequent as mariners push navigation into shoulder seasons

MARINE NAVIGATION 50 years “Arctic Basin”

Changing Climate in the Arctic

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CHANGING CLIMATE IN THE ARCTIC

COOPERATION AT THE INTERNATIONAL SCALE

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Arctic Regional Hydrographic Commission (ARHC): •  Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russian Federation,

United States of America •  ARHC Cooperation with the Arctic Council-Protection

Arctic Marine Environment (PAME) watching ARHC pan-Arctic hydrographic risk assessment methodology for the North.

BOTTOM LINE …

•  Risks and Arctic Charting •  Knowledge of Arctic Ocean Conditions •  Possible Opportunities

•  Technology •  Collaboration – Federal and Territorial Governments •  Collaboration – Internationally •  Ships of Opportunity •  Risk Awareness

CLASSIC CASE OF SUCCESSFUL COLLABORATION

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Photo Credit: Parks Canada

THANK YOU 20

ARCTIC HYDROGRAPHY & OCEANOGRAPHY