Canada’s national strategy for e-navigation

The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) is in charge of the delivery of marine navigational services in Canada. In 2008, the CCG completed the development of a national e-navigation implementation strategy.

Since then, the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS),  along with Transport Canada, Environment Canada and other federal partners, has worked with the CCG to develop a federal vision for e-navigation.

The CHS plays an important role in the development of e-navigation in Canada and around the world. It already has e-navigation projects in various stages of development.

Canada aims to develop new technologies for e-navigation in a structured way, while ensuring that they comply with marine navigational and communication technologies and services that are already available. As well, the new technologies will comply with the principles of e-navigation that are being developed by the International Maritime Organization and International Association of Lighthouse Authorities.

Survey of Canadian e-navigation users

In 2010–2011, as part of an international survey, CCG consulted navigational product users, including commercial and recreational mariners and relevant government agencies, to develop a profile of user requirements for e-navigation. The survey addressed three main areas: maritime communications, human–machine interface and technical/operational enhancements. CCG has published the results of that survey.