US, Canada extend coordination against marine pollution

During the US-Canada Coast Guard Summit, held in Grand Haven, Michigan, the two countries signed a 2017 update of the Joint Marine Pollution Contingency Plan.

The Joint Marine Pollution Contingency Plan serves as a coordinated system for planning, preparedness, and responding to harmful substance incidents in the contiguous waters along the shared maritime borders of the US and Canada. This plan supplements each country’s national response systems and coordinates the interface of these systems for boundary areas.

In addition, during the Summit, senior representatives from each organization discussed issues specific to executing responsibilities to prepare for and respond to oil and hazardous substance events under the auspices of their bilateral Joint Marine Pollution Contingency Plan.

The group also provided updates on joint initiatives specific to the Arctic, enhancing shipping safety and security, and enhancing cooperation with the critical indigenous populations of the U.S. and Canada.

The Summit was an opportunity for the two countries to further boost their coordination, as the two Coast Guards already share a long history of cooperation in numerous missions across their shared maritime border.