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Book 1, Tab A3 – Canadian Coast Guard Overview and Programs
“Safety first, service always.”

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What We Do

Coast Guard’s mandate is derived from the Oceans Act, the Canada Shipping Act, 2001, and the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act giving Coast Guard the authorityto provide essential services.

From Coast to Coast to Coast

On an average day, the Coast Guard:

Coast Guard Regions

Text version: Coast Guard Regions

Western: 1,370 FTEs

  • 7 Operational Bases
  • 13 SAR Stations
  • 4 Seasonal IRB stations
  • 5 Staffed ER Depots
  • 2 MCTS Centres
  • 1 JRCC
  • 1 ROC
  • 3,856 Aids to Navigation
  • 27 Staffed Lightstations

Arctic: 102 FTEs

  • 1 Operational Base
  • 1 Seasonal IRB Station
  • 1 Staffed ER Depot
  • 1 Seasonal MCTS Centre
  • 1,930 Aids to Navigation

Atlantic: 2,125 FTEs

  • 3 Operational Bases
  • 14 SAR Stations
  • 9 seasonal IRB Stations
  • 1 JRCC
  • 1 MRSC
  • 1ROC

Central: 1,610 FTEs

  • 11 Operational Bases
  • 15 SAR Stations
  • 13 Seasonal IRB stations
  • 4 Staffed ER Depots
  • 4 MCTS Centres
  • 1 JRCC
  • 1 MRSC
  • 1 ROC
  • 6,801 Aids to Navigation

NCR/College: 1,151 FTEs

National Headquarters (Ottawa, Ontario) and Coast Guard College (Sydney, Nova Scotia)

  • 5 Staffed ER Depots
  • 5 MCTS Centres
  • 6,675 Aids to Navigation
  • 24 Staffed Lighthouses

Fleet (as of 10/18/2022)*

  • 120 Vessels
  • 22 Helicopters
  • 26 x Large Vessels
  • 43 x Small Vessels
  • 47 x SAR Lifeboats
  • 4 x Air Cushion Vehicles
  • 22 x Helicopters

* In addition, the fleet is supplemented by two leased Emergency Towing Vessels on the West Coast, and three icebreakers in Atlantic and Central regions, to backfill while existing large ships undergo refits.

Aids to Navigation and Waterways

Coast Guard facilitates safe navigation through Canadian waters

Icebreaking and Ice-Management

During winter, 14 icebreakers and two air cushioned vehicles operate in southern Canada. During the summer, an average of seven vessels operate in the Arctic.

Marine Communications and Traffic Services

183 remote communication sites which include 11 in the Arctic to support Coast Guard services.

12 Marine Communications and Traffic Service centres:

Marine Search and Rescue (SAR)

Coast Guard is the federal lead for marine search and rescue in Canada.

Marine Pollution Response

Environmental Response (ER)

Hazardous Vessels

Vessels of Concern (VOC)

Maritime Security

Coast Guard is often the only federal presence in Canada’s waters, most notably in the Arctic. This presence contributes to security and promotes Canadian sovereignty.

Coast Guard plays a critical role in supporting Canada’s maritime and national security by:

Coast Guard Asset Management

Shore-Based Asset Readiness

Fleet Maintenance

Canadian Coast Guard College

A Centre of Excellence Where Learning Becomes Life Changing

Key Initiatives

Fleet Renewal: ongoing fleet sustainability requires building new ships, air cushion vehicles, helicopters, and securing interim measures, as required, to maintain operational capacity until new assets can be delivered.

The National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) includes the renewal of Coast Guard’s fleet of large and small vessels

Large Vessels

Five large vessels were approved and funded when the NSS was announced in 2010:

In 2019, DFO secured funding for an additional 24 CCG large vessels:

Small Vessels

Renewal of the small fleet is also underway:

International Collaboration

Coast Guard maintains strong partnerships with a number of countries, most notably the United States, and participates in various multilateral fora

Coast Guard is engaged in a variety of capacity building activities

The Coast Guard also participates in numerous international committees to consider the use of standards, strategies, and technologies in Canada

Partnerships

Coast Guard provides operational platforms and expertise to several federal partners, including:

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Transport Canada

Annex: Coast Guard Partnerships

Partners

Clients

Think Tanks / Academia

International

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