Commercial Marine Shipping Accidents Understanding Risks Canada

6 Commercial Marine Shipping Accidents: Understanding the Risks in Canada
et al., 2004). In a marine shipping context, this potential
for harm is determined by the probability of an incident or
accident occurring, together with the nature and severity
of the resulting impacts. 2
The complexity arises from the fact that both the probability
of an incident or accident occurring and the nature and
severity of impacts depend on a multitude of factors — some
controllable, such as voyage planning and onboard safety
protocols, and others less so, such as the characteristics of
a region (e.g., saltwater vs. freshwater) or severe weather
events (which could become more frequent and intense
in a changing climate). This is especially relevant in the
Canadian context given the varied geographies, populations,
ecosystem characteristics, and climates of the different
waterways where marine shipping takes place, including
the Arctic.
To identify and characterize risk for all the different stages
and types of commercial shipping, workshop participants
agreed to approach risk as it is commonly measured. In so
doing, risk is understood as being defined by the likelihood
that an accident will occur (which is mitigated by accident
prevention regulations and practices) and the significance
of the resulting impacts. The factors that influence these
aspects, such as safety culture, the condition of the vessel,
the type of cargo spilled, and spill response systems, are
also taken into account (Figure 1.3).
Note that in focusing on Canada, this study is limited by
not considering the likelihood of accidents on the U.S. side
of Canada’s shared waterways, which include the Strait of
Juan de Fuca, the Great Lakes, and the St. Lawrence River.
It is recognized that accidents on the U.S. side of these
waterways could result in impacts on the Canadian side
and therefore would need to be accounted for in a full
risk assessment, which is beyond the scope of this study.
1.4 REPORT STRUCTURE
The three basic elements of marine shipping risk identified
in Figure 1.3 provide the organizational framework for
this report: accident prevention, incidents/accidents,
and impacts. Chapter 2 describes the type and level of
shipping activity in Canada and the various ways in which
risk is mitigated through regulation, safety protocols, and
technology. Chapter 3 looks at the events themselves,
reviewing Canadian incident and accident data for each
of the six regions, along with the factors that influence the
likelihood of an event occurring. Chapter 4 characterizes
the potential impacts following a marine shipping event,
focusing on cargo types and the factors that can increase
or decrease the severity of impact. Chapter 5 concludes
the report with a summary framework that identifies the
important aspects of risk, a review of how risk factors and
the potential nature of impacts vary by region, and an
appraisal of research and data gaps.
1 2 3
ACCIDENT PREVENTION
COMMERCIAL MARINE
SHIPPING
INCIDENT
OR
ACCIDENT
IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL
ECONOMIC
SOCIAL
HEALTH
INFLUENCING FACTORS
Figure 1.3
Approach to Understanding Commercial Marine Shipping Risks
To identify and characterize the risks of commercial marine shipping, workshop participants focused on three components: 1) accident prevention,
including safety regulations, 2) the likelihood of an incident or accident, and 3) the impact(s) that may result from this incident or accident. Influencing
factors that increase or decrease the likelihood of an event or impact from occurring are also recognized.
2 This reflects a common approach to quantifying risk by way of a simple equation based on probability and potential impacts. Transport Canada’s
Tanker Safety Expert Panel defines an Environmental Risk Index as the product of the probability of an adverse event occurring along with the
type and magnitude of any resulting impacts (TSEP, 2013).