Modernizing Fees for Marine Cargo Services

Transport Canada is proposing to simplify and adjust fees for marine cargo services, and we want your feedback.

Canada’s marine transportation sector relies on, and benefits from, services that Transport Canada provides. Our marine safety inspectors ensure higher-risk marine cargo is safely loaded and stowed. They:

• Conduct mandatory inspections for regulated cargo (grain, concentrates and timber on deck)
• Inspect solid bulk dangerous goods and packaged dangerous goods, under international standards and upon request
• Check marine shippers’ procedures, for cargoes which may liquefy, to ensure they comply with international standards

Vessel operators directly benefit from these inspections that we offer 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Changes to marine cargo service fees

Under the existing system, vessel operators are subject to a complex fee structure for marine cargo services. There are 40 different fees that are authorized by three separate regulations. This is confusing and makes it hard for industry to know what they will have to pay. Under the new Marine Cargo Fee Modernization Proposal, we propose to:

• Consolidate and simplify the fee structure
• Amend and add new fees to better reflect the cost of delivering services
• Ensure those who benefit most from the services pay a greater share of the cost
• Create service standards consistent with requirements from the Service Fees Act

We want to hear from you:

1. Read the Marine Cargo Fee Modernization Proposal in the right hand menu to learn more about our proposed changes.
2. Select “Register” at the top of the page, and join our discussion forum via the “Have Your Say” tab.
3. Upload (a) Word or PDF document(s) with your feedback in the “Submissions” tab.

Now that you’ve read the Marine Cargo Fee Modernization Proposal, we want to hear from you.