Quark Expeditions - coasting trade licence

Application by Quark Expeditions, pursuant to the Coasting Trade Act, SC 1992, c 31 (Act), for a licence

Quark Expeditions applied to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (Minister), for a licence to use the M/V Ultramarine, a cruise ship registered in the Marshall Islands, to offer four cruises: one from Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, to Resolute, Nunavut, and three from Resolute to Resolute. The activity will start on August 2, 2024, and will end on September 9, 2024.

To support the licensing process, the Canadian Transportation Agency (Agency) must determine, under section 8 of the Act, whether a suitable Canadian ship is available to provide the service, or whether there is an identical or similar adequate marine service available from any person operating one or more Canadian ships.

Agency staff gave notice of the application to the Canadian marine industry, and no Canadian ships were offered. Therefore, the Agency determines that there is no suitable Canadian ship available to provide the service, and that there is no identical or similar adequate marine service available from any person operating one or more Canadian ships.

The Minister considers the Agency's Determination in deciding whether to issue the licence. This Determination is not an authority to operate.