Tankers in Canadian Waters

Crude oil and petroleum products are the largest commodities handled by Canadian ports, representing over 20% of total tonnage.

Transport Canada estimates that there are approximately 20,000 oil tanker movements off the coasts of Canada each year. Of these, approximately 17,000 (85%) are on the Atlantic coast. Most of the oil tanker movements in Canada take place at 7 ports and facilities.

Canadian Ports and Facilities that Handle Most Oil Tankers

Vancouver, BC Quebec City, QC Montreal, QC Come by Chance, NF Newfoundland Offshore Port Hawkesbury, NS Saint John, NB Vancouver, BC Quebec City, QC Montreal, QC Come by Chance, NF Newfoundland Offshore Port Hawkesbury, NS Saint John, NB

The largest tankers transiting Canadian waters are Ultra-Large Crude Carriers (ULCC) (350,000 – 550,000 DWT), which transit the east coast of Canada. ULCCs are the largest tankers in the world and they can carry up to 4 million barrels of oil.

On the west coast the largest tankers that are used to ship oil out of the Port of Vancouver are Aframax tankers (80,000 – 120,000 DWT). They can carry approximately 550,000 barrels of oil.

Crude oil is not currently transported as shipping cargo in the Arctic. However, small amounts of refined oil cargo are carried in order to supply Canada’s Arctic communities with vital fuel. Between 2002 and 2011, ~0.18% of all refined oil transported as cargo in Canadian waters transited the Arctic. In the coming years, increases in the number of tankers transporting both crude and refined oil cargo through the Arctic are expected as sea-ice melts and opens shipping lanes in the region.

Oil Transported as Cargo in Canadian Waters by Region

Pacific Coast 6MT Canadian Traffic 37MT US Traffic Through Canadian Waters Atlantic Coast 24MT Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway 67MT Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence 192MT Atlantic Coast

Tankers currently represent about 2% of total ship traffic visiting the Port of Vancouver (out of 250 total vessels per month, about 5 are tankers). The Government of Canada’s recent approval of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project is expected to increase the number of tankers visiting the Port of Vancouver from around 5 to around 34 per month. In this scenario, tankers would represent about 14% of total ship traffic.