Transport Canada has issued a CAD 6,000 penalty to a vessel for alleged non-compliance with a temporary mandatory ship slowdown aiming at preventing whale deaths.
Transport Canada has fined the RoRo/passenger ship C.T.M.A. Vacancier operated by CTMA.
The vessel owner has 30 days to pay the penalty or to ask the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada to review the facts of the violation or the amount of the penalty, Transport Canada said in a statement.
In August 2017, Canada implemented a temporary mandatory slowdown of vessels 20 meters or more to a maximum of 10 knots due to the increased presence of whales in the western Gulf of St. Lawrence, between the Quebec north shore and just north of Prince Edward Island.
As explained, the temporary mandatory slowdown will remain in effect until the whales have migrated away from the area of concern.
Last month, CAD 6,000 fines were also issued to three vessels including Azoresborg, Jacqueline C and New Shanghai.