Domestic Marine Operators Accreditation Program

Executive summary

While Canada's domestic marine industry operates within a well-established regulatory framework, the sector is experiencing increasing operational and structural pressures, including from shortages of skilled labour, evolving market dynamics, variability in safety and operational practices, and increasing operational complexity requiring higher levels of coordination and reliability.

To support the definition of clear requirements across key areas, including safety management, environmental stewardship, workforce competency, and operational practices, and to enhance visibility into operators' compliance across domestic marine operations, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is considering the development of a mandatory Domestic Operators Accreditation Program. The proposed program would be intended to complement-not replace-existing regulatory oversight by introducing a structured, compliance-based framework that reinforces established operational standards.

This discussion paper outlines the rationale for the proposed accreditation program and provides an overview of its intended scope and key elements. It also identifies areas for stakeholder input from domestic operators to inform program development. Stakeholder input is critical in helping shape the scope, governance, and future rollout of the proposed Domestic Marine Operators Accreditation Program.

Context and background

In 2025, overall cargo volumes through the Port of Vancouver increased 8% to 170.4 MMT, compared to 2024, with domestic cargo volumes accounting for 23.4 MMT. Domestic marine operators play a critical role in supporting Canada's economy, facilitating the safe and efficient movement of cargo and delivery of essential services. This includes tug and barge operations, ship docking and escort, and marine construction that underpin supply chains and build supply chain capacity.

The port authority is federally mandated to maintain a high level of safety and efficiency within the Port of Vancouver, including through the management of marine traffic and the mitigation of risks related to marine safety, critical infrastructure, environmental protection, and overall operational efficiency.

The domestic marine sector is experiencing a range of evolving operational and structural pressures, including:

• Existing and projected shortages of skilled labour
• Changing market dynamics, including the entry of new operators and the transfer of ownership of domestic marine assets
• An evolving safety landscape, characterized by incident trends, a shifting risk profile, and variability in safety and operational practices across operators
• Increasing operational complexity, requiring higher levels of coordination, integration, and reliability

Together, these factors reinforce the opportunity to introduce a complementary, compliance-based accreditation program that supports consistency, transparency, and continuous improvement across the domestic marine operations sector.