New Radar Equipment to Monitor British Columbia Waters
Six new radar installations will provide a more reliable and accurate view of traffic in the waters off southern British Columbia.
The Canadian Coast Guard is strengthening its network for monitoring marine traffic on the country's western coast with six new radar installations that will provide a more reliable and accurate view of traffic in the waters off southern British Columbia. The installations will ensure safer movement of vessels in those waters, helping to prevent potential marine incidents and protect Canada's marine environment and coastal communities.
The Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Jonathan Wilkinson, visited the Coast Guard's Sea Island station in Richmond, B.C. to announce the locations for the new radars and the expanded coverage they will provide as part of the Coast Guard's Marine Communication and Traffic Services network.
The radars will be installed in six areas: South Grenville and South Douglas Channels, Lama Pass/Seaforth Channel, Queen Charlotte Sound, Queen Charlotte Strait, Seymour Narrows, and the North Strait of Georgia. These areas were chosen based on existing gaps in radar coverage and prioritized based on traffic volume and risks to navigation. "These new radars will enhance our Marine Communication and Traffic Services network, providing reliable, accurate information on vessel movement in the coastal waters of British Columbia. This information will increase marine safety and reduce the risk of marine emergencies. This is another example of our partnership with Indigenous and coastal communities in B.C. to make our waters and coasts safer, cleaner, and healthier," Wilkinson said.
The $1.5 billion Oceans Protection Plan is a national strategy designed to improve marine safety and protect Canada's marine environment and coastal communities. Launched in November 2016, the plan is the largest investment ever made to protect Canada's coasts and waterways.