Message from the President

Shipping is responsible for transporting about 90% of global trade, and although statistically it is the most environmental friendly form of transportation (in terms of cargo quantities carried over long distances), at Fednav, we understand that our business has an impact on our natural surroundings. This is the reason why we have decided to add sustainability to our five strategic priorities for its development.

We stand firmly behind our brand promise to deliver a higher standard of quality and environmental excellence through a commitment of continuously reducing our environmental footprint. By creating and instituting rigorous controls and processes, implementing and carefully leveraging technology, and developing strategic partnerships with other industry leaders, Fednav is and will continue to be a leader in environmental stewardship.

Fednav is committed to:

  • Maintaining, developing, and implementing a corporate Environmental Policy
  • Ensuring that the vessels we operate comply with, and whenever possible, surpass all applicable international, national, and local requirements, laws, rules and regulations
  • Reviewing our standards to ensure we are operating in an environmentally responsible manner, with additional emphasis on minimizing adverse environmental impact
  • Continuing to adopt the industry’s best practices
  • Collaborating with communities and environmental NGOs to further protect fragile ecosystems
  • Identifying and evaluating environmental risks, along with implementing measures to eliminate or control these risks
  • Communicating and educating to promote awareness of accountability and environmental responsibility among our employees, customers, partners, and suppliers as well as government, the general public, and other stakeholders
  • Reducing waste and pollution through recycling, conservation, and efficient use of resources
  • Including environmental protection as a critical factor in business decisions
  • Providing industry leadership on environmental matters
  • Reducing fuel consumption through improved vessel design, better operational practices, and implementing new technologies
  • Recognizing that the safety and well-being of vessel and crew are predominant at all times
  • Using our power of influence to strengthen environmental regulations

Paul Pathy
President and CEO
Fednav Limited

Issues and Policies

As part of Fednav’s commitment to reduce the environmental footprint of the company, specific policies, objectives, and solutions have been developed for individual issues. Annual targets are established and progress is measured through our in-house performance indicators such as Green Marine and industry programs. These indicators are reviewed regularly as part of Fednav’s drive for continuous improvement.
It is important to highlight that in any conflicting situation, crew safety will always be Fednav’s top priority.


  • Air Emissions (GHG, NOx, SOx, and PM)
  • Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)
    • Ballast Water
    • Biofouling
  • Arctic Operations
  • Marine Mammals
    • Underwater noise
    • Collisions
  • Oil Pollution
    • Oily Residues
    • Accidental Oil Spills/Leakages
  • Ship Recycling
  • Waste Management

Accidental Oil Spills/Leakages


Ship-related discharges of oil at sea may result from accidental spills or operational discharges. Accidental spills may occur upon a collision, grounding, fire, or explosion. Although accidents cannot be completely avoided, Fednav has implemented a series of measures, including modifications to vessel design, to limit the risks of accidental spills that may occur when vessels collide or come in distress at sea.

Pertaining to all vessels:

  1. Oil at sea: Fednav has a zero-tolerance policy for intentional and illegal disposal of oil at sea.
  2. Weather routing information: All vessels have access to weather routing services with constant updated data and expert route recommendations to minimize the risks of accidents at sea.

Pertaining to owned vessels:

  1. Design and hull maintenance: Owned vessels have been equipped with double bottom oil fuel tanks located in the centre and draft position of the vessel (away from the outer shell) to reduce the risk of oil leakages in the event of groundings or collisions.
  2. Bunkering procedures: Bunkering operations are made under the constant watch of a responsible officer to prevent oil pollution from tank overflow during bunkering operations. Bunkering operations are conducted in accordance with respective vessel’s procedures.
  3. Biodegradable oil and oil-free lubricants: Fednav uses biodegradable oil or oil free lubricants in the stern tube and bow thrusters to limit or to rule out pollution in the event of an accidental outflow of lubricants.
  4. Minimization of risk of human error: Vessels are required to strictly follow the principles of the IMO Bridge Resource Management and to carry out proper passage planning as per ship managers’ guidelines. All officers undergo bridge and machinery simulator training as part of the training program. All Fednav-owned vessels are equipped with electronic chart display and information systems providing updated and real time navigational information.
  5. Declaration: At the time of joining a Fednav vessel, all officers and crew members are required to sign and confirm their agreement with a declaration that states that all officers and crew observe full compliance with all pollution prevention regulations as a matter of corporate policy.

Pertaining to time-chartered vessels:

  1. Pre-vetting System and Environmental, Quality, and Safety Inspection (EQSI): Ship vetting for time-chartered tonnage is the process under which relevant information is reviewed (including age of vessel, classification society, past experience with owners, etc.) in order to assess whether a ship should be acceptable for charter for Fednav. Quality, well-maintained vessels are more likely to be energy efficient.
  2. Audit: In addition to the pre-vetting system, vessels under Fednav charter are regularly inspected by an independent third party and detailed inspection reports are provided to Fednav under an EQSI system. Fednav’s EQSI extends to structural aspects (e.g., conditions of the hulls), communication procedures (e.g., emergency communication system), navigational issues (e.g., implementation of passage planning) as well as onboard systems, equipment, and procedures with regard to environmental protection, etc. Vessels of concern are inspected on a more regular basis and Fednav closely monitors the implementation of corrective measures by the owners. The aim of the pre-vetting process and the subsequent EQSI system is to ensure as much as possible the quality of the chartered tonnage and thus assist in minimizing environmental threats in general, including the risks of oil pollution in particular.

Air Emissions (GHG, NOx, SOx, and PM)


Although marine transport is by far the most energy-efficient mode of transport for goods, creating less greenhouse gases (GHG) per tonne-km of cargo carried than any other transportation mode, it is still a critical source of production of GHG, as well as other types of emissions contributing to air pollution. Fednav recognizes the importance of climate change and polluting ship operations; the burning of fossil fuels result in air emissions such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), particulate matters (PM) including black carbon, and all other gases classified as GHG that affect local and regional air quality contributing to climate change.

Fednav has adopted the following policy aimed at reducing the air emissions of the company’s fleet.

Pertaining to owned vessels:

  1. Energy efficiency: Fednav believes that energy efficiency is the primary area where both short and long-term improvements of GHG emissions can be achieved. Reduction of fuel consumption translates into proportional reduction of CO2 emissions as well as reductions of SOx, NOx, and PM emissions. To this effect, Fednav will continue to work closely with shipyards and with engine manufacturers to constantly put forward technical improvements, particularly in the vessel design and engine technology, to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
  2. Research: Fednav actively participates in research and development on reducing air emissions.
  3. Global Sulphur Cap 2020: Fednav is collaborating and pushing for strict enforcement mechanisms to be employed through the Trident Alliance in relation to the 0.5% SOx cap that will be enforced in 2020.
  4. Cleaner fuel: Fednav is committed to continually increasing the use of cleaner marine fuels (to reduce sulphur dioxide and particulate matters emissions).
  5. Operational awareness: Fednav is committed to ensuring that all relevant staff and ships’ crews are made aware of and trained on the importance of the company’s air emissions goals.
  6. Measurement tools and inventory system: A reliable air emissions inventory system is essential to measure improvements. Fednav is committed to keeping an inventory of the fleet’s air emissions so that improvement targets can be identified and progress measured.
  7. Avoiding aerosol: Fednav is committed to avoiding ordering aerosol products whenever alternatives are available.

Pertaining to time-chartered vessels:

  1. Fuel consumption: Although several energy efficiency measures result from technological improvements that are beyond the authority of Fednav as a time charterer, reduction of fuel consumption remains a primary objective for the operations of the time-chartered fleet as well, so as to diminish emissions as much as possible.
  2. Pre-vetting System and Environmental, Quality, and Safety Inspection (EQSI): See policy on Accidental Oil Spills/Leakages, p.7.

​​Pertaining to owned and time-chartered vessels: 

  1. Operational measures: Applying the same operational measures to time-chartered and owned vessels to reduce fuel consumption including access to weather routing, speed adjustments, and instructions to optimize the cargo lift.
  2. Propeller and hull cleaning: In order to prevent biofouling that can increase fuel consumption and emissions, Fednav regularly cleans ship’s propellers and hulls.
  3. Audit: Confirming all air emissions reductions as audited every two years by a third party.
  4. Weather routing: Access to weather routing allows Fednav to optimize efficiency of passages that in turn reduces fuel consumption and emissions.
  5. Tide arrival coordination: Planning the entry of ships in the St. Lawrence River according to the tide window allows Fednav’s fleet to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
  6. Speed adjustments: To reduce emissions, Fednav vessels make speed adjustments to the extent practicable by reducing the speed of the vessel to arrive at the optimal time at the next port.

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)


Aquatic Invasive Species is a pressing environmental issue in the shipping industry, carried and discharged due to ballast water operations and biofouling.

Given that decisive steps towards reducing the transfer of invasive aquatic species must be taken to minimize the risk of introduction of non-indigenous species in the marine environment, Fednav has adopted the following policy and objectives and distributed to all vessels within the fleet as operational guidelines for their implementation.

We have, on our own initiative, been testing ballast water treatment systems since 2001, prior to the regulatory requirements entered into force with the objective of minimizing the risk of transfer and introduction of non-indigenous aquatic species.

Ballast Water


Ballast water is pumped in to a vessel’s ballast tanks in order to maintain stable operating conditions throughout a voyage. While essential for safe shipping practice, it poses ecological problems due to the multitude of marine species carried in the water. When ballast water is taken on in one marine environment and discharged in another as required by cargo operations, it may be an unintentional source of non-indigenous invasive aquatic species that could potentially out-compete native species in the receiving environment.


Pertaining to owned vessels only:

  1. Ballast exchange: Fednav is committed to effecting ballast water exchange and salt water flushing of empty ballast tanks whenever operationally feasible and safe until all Fednav vessels are equipped with Ballast Water Treatment Systems (BWTS).
  2. Ballast Water Management Plan: The masters of all Fednav vessels are provided with appropriate operational guidelines for the management of ballast water and must confirm in writing that they have understood and will maintain these procedures.
  3. Ballast Tank Inspections: The technical managers are required to carry out and record inspections of ballast tanks annually and remove sediments during dry docking and as required.
  4. BWTS: Fednav has installed and makes use of ballast water treatment systems on several vessels. We were the first shipping company operating in the Great Lakes to install water treatment technologies on our newbuildings and to employ them during every ballasting operation.
  5. Research: Fednav supports scientific research on ballast water by providing access to ships for sampling.



Biofouling is the accumulation of various aquatic organisms on ships’ hulls. These are then transported by ships to new environments. Aquatic organisms carried through biofouling may also pose a threat to new environments’ native aquatic species.

Pertaining to owned vessels:

  1. Hull cleaning: Whenever hull fouling is discovered, hull cleaning is arranged at the earliest opportunity. The Master should inspect the hull once it has been cleaned.
  2. Biofouling Management Plan (BMP): Each vessel has to follow the BMP that has been developed in accordance with the IMO guidelines MEPC.207(62) for the control and management of ships biofouling to minimize the transfer of invasive aquatic species.
  3. Biofouling record book: Details of all inspections and bio-fouling management measures undertaken onboard should be recorded in the biofouling record book.
  4. Anti-fouling paints: Only environmentally safe anti-fouling paints are used to coat ships to prevent sea life such as algae and molluscs attaching themselves to the hull.

Arctic Operations


As a pioneering presence in Canada’s Arctic for almost 70 years and the first company to provide year-round shipping in that area, Fednav has always been sensitive to the Arctic’s fragile ecosystems and environment. Fednav has supported both domestic and international regulatory initiatives that have resulted in a pan-arctic zero discharge regimes. With Fednav’s support and input, the IMO Polar Code’s harmonized measures mitigate environmental risks, and foster accountability to ensure marine shipping’s environmental footprint is minimized to the extent possible.


Pertaining to owned vessels:

  1. Ice navigation technologies: Fednav’s icebreaking vessels are equipped with IceNav, a shipboard navigation system developed and distributed by Enfotec, which support captains in determining the most efficient routes through icy waters.
  2. Cleaner fuel: All new buildings dedicated to the Arctic region will be designed to operate with cleaner marine fuels to reduce sulphur dioxide and particulate matters emissions.

Pertaining to owned and time chartered vessels:

  1. Ice navigation: Fednav uses the services of Enfotec, which support ship’s Arctic operations with its expertise in ice dynamics and remote sensing. Such support informs both the project and voyage planning processes, thereby enhancing the safety and efficiency of operations at high latitudes as well as reducing fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
  2. Local communities: Fednav and our client partners are committed to opening and maintaining dialogue with adjacent communities to address local concerns and to find solutions that consider the particular needs of the local communities.

Marine Mammals

More than a hundred species of marine mammals share oceans and national waters. Many of them occupy specific areas and spend considerable time at the surface, which makes them vulnerable to being impacted by shipping operations. Although interactions with marine mammals are almost inevitable, Fednav is aware of the influence the shipping industry has on these species. We are committed to minimizing our contact with the marine mammal population, targeting the reduction of underwater noise and collisions.

Underwater Noise


Underwater noise is a major environmental concern as it poses a significant threat to marine mammals, and other ocean wildlife. Partly generated by human activities, this marine noise is, to a certain extent, caused by the shipping industry.

This policy is only appropriate for the period of time when vessels are transiting in salt water.

We are committed to better understand the underwater noise created by shipping in general and our fleet in particular with the goal to adjust the design and equipment of our vessels and their operations as far as feasible and viable, in accordance with the IMO Guidelines for the Reduction of Underwater Noise from Commercial Shipping to Address Adverse Impacts on Marine Life.

Pertaining to owned newbuildings:

  1. Vessel design: By constantly improving our ship (hull and propeller) and equipment designs, we aim to increase the efficiency and consequently, reducing cavitation, which is a source of underwater noise.
  2. Vessel technologies: For each new vessel, Fednav installs technologies that are known to contribute to noise reduction, such as new state-of-the-art propellers and wake conditioning devices.

Pertaining to all owned vessels:

  1. Hull painting: Fednav applies, at drydock every three to five years, environmentally safe antifouling paint coating, which helps decrease ship’s cavitation.
  2. Ship speed: Fednav is committed to comply with mandatory as well as voluntary vessel speed limit in sensitive zones for marine mammals, which should decrease noise.
  3. Rerouting: Fednav commits to reroute voyages of our vessels that originally transited in sensitive marine areas to decrease impact on marine life.

Pertaining to existing owned and long time-chartered vessels:

  1. Propeller cleaning: Propeller polishing for each ship is scheduled every six months allowing the removal of marine fouling and reducing surface roughness, which cause cavitation.
  2. Hull cleaning: See policy on Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS), p.11. Consequently, this operation will reduce underwater noise and decrease GHG emissions.


Collisions between vessels and marine mammals are a relevant issue around the world. Collisions often happen when the marine species has no time to react when facing ship transits. The underwater noise emitted by ships, among other things, obstructs mammals hearing and reduces their reaction speed against vessels.

Pertaining to owned vessels:

  1. Increased awareness: Fednav is dedicated to increasing awareness of the Master and crews of our operational impact on marine mammals in North American waters.
  2. Marine mammal observations: The crews of Fednav’s vessels should be trained to identify marine mammals and to report sightings to an NGO whose aims are to compile a database and build a marine mammal management plan to decrease interactions between these mammals and vessels. In addition, this training helps to raise awareness of sensitive zones to the seafarers.

Pertaining to owned and time-chartered vessels:

  1. Vessel speed limit: All Fednav-operated vessels will comply with the mandatory and voluntary vessel speed limit, and may even exceed the voluntary measures in North American waters, thereby reducing the risk of ship strikes of marine mammals.

Oily Residues


Ship-related discharges of oil at sea may result from accidental spills or operational discharges. Ship operational discharges can be defined as the management and disposal of oily waste from machinery spaces. Although vessel operations inevitably generate a certain amount of wastes, including oily wastes, one of the objectives of Fednav’s Environmental Policy is to minimize the generation of these wastes in the first place through effective maintenance of all equipment and machinery. Thereafter, any residual oily bilge water wastes and oily residue (sludge) must be properly handled.

Fednav has a zero-tolerance policy for intentional and illegal disposal of oil at sea. This commitment forms the basis of Fednav’s policy regarding operational discharges of oily wastes.

Pertaining to owned vessels:

1. Vessels are strictly required to adhere to:

a. All procedures outlined by the vessels’ managers within their environmental management system, and more specifically procedures relating to bilge water and waste oil management.

​b. The Shipping Federation of Canada’s Code of Best Practices for Managing Oily Water Waste in Ships’ Engine Rooms or equivalent and/or more stringent procedures.

2. Declaration: See policy on Accidental Oil Spills/Leakages, p.7.

3. Sludge oil: Sludge oil is to be collected and properly disposed of either through onboard incineration (in accordance with local and international regulations) or landed ashore.

4. Shore-based disposal: Necessary financial resources are dedicated to shore-based disposal of sludge or other oily waste. This will ensure that vessels do not hesitate to proceed with disposal ashore of these wastes whenever needed.

5. Training: All officers are to be provided with proper training in the operation of the oily water separator (OWS) and handling of oily wastes. Furthermore, environmental awareness training is to be provided for all crew members.

6. Integrated Bilge Treatment Systems: Fednav is involved in the implementation of Integrated Bilge Treatment Systems (IBTS) with the objective of reducing and separating fluids at-source and significantly reducing the volume of oily water to be treated.

7. Numbered seals: In order to prevent any intentional or unintentional illegal discharge, Fednav uses numbered seals on all overboard connections pertaining to the OWS system. The Master keeps a log documenting when the seals are fitted or replaced with their respective numbers along with a record of all the seals in his possession.

8. Inventory: Fednav is committed to annually complete an inventory of oily water discharges that is produced by ship and for the fleet as a whole. A comparison of the quantity of bilge water and oil residues is done each year allowing the creation of new performance targets. 

Pertaining to time-chartered vessels:

  1. Engine room: Vessels time charted to Fednav are asked to adhere to the Shipping Federation of Canada’s Code of Best Practices for Managing Oily Water Waste in Ships’ Engine Rooms or equivalent and/or more stringent procedures.
  2. Pre-Vetting System and Environmental, Quality, and Safety Inspection (EQSI): See Policy on Accidental Oil Spills/Leakages, p.7
  3. Audit: See Policy on Accidental Oil Spills/Leakages, p.7

Ship Recycling


Ship recycling is a challenging process, due to the structural complexity of the ships and the involvement of environmental, safety, and health issues. Although steel is recycled, any uncontained toxic substance released may contaminate the environment. The coastal ecosystems, biodiversity, workers, and local community as well as air quality are exposed to risks during this process.

Fednav is concerned about ensuring that ships, when being recycled after reaching the end of their operational lives do not pose any unnecessary risks to human health, safety, or to the environment. Although Canada has not yet ratified the Hong Kong Convention, we are committed to recycle our ships in accordance with the Convention.

Pertaining to owned vessels:

  1. Green recycling: We honour our commitment to green recycling, in accordance with the Ship Recycling Plan as part of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009. A first vessel was recycled in compliance with this convention in 2016, and thus well ahead of the entering into force date.
  2. Hazardous Material Certificates: Fednav has obtained class approved Inventory of Hazardous Material certificates for each ship identifying potentially hazardous materials built-in or used on board.
  3. Dismantlement: Fednav aims to dismantle owned vessels in accredited drydocks and in a meticulous manner where all hazardous materials are responsibly treated.
  4. Selection of the ship-breaking yard: Fednav chooses ship-breaking yards that conform to green recycling according to the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009.
  5. Surveyor: During the ship recycling process, a surveyor is on site representing the interests of and reporting to Fednav at all times.
  6. Child labour: Fednav will not tolerate any child labour on the ship-breaking yard at anytime.
  7. Health risk: All procedures must be safe for the health of all workers. A surveyor on site assures that each employee is provided with the appropriated equipment for the work in progress.

Waste Management


Increased research now exposes the great dangers that plastic and other wastes can cause to the marine environment. Although a large percentage of the garbage that is found on the shoreside and at sea comes from the shore, Fednav is conscious that shipping too is responsible for preventing pollution from garbage at sea and raising awareness. In addition, some cargo residues raise concerns for the marine environment.

Fednav is committed to continually minimizing generation of solid and liquid wastes onboard the vessels the company operates, reusing, recycling, and practicing proper waste disposal.

Pertaining to owned vessels:

  1. Sewage: All sewage onboard Fednav vessels is processed through an approved biological sewage treatment plan. The performance of the sewage treatment plant is tested at regular intervals in accordance with the Great Lakes Industry Voluntary Testing Program for Marine Sanitation Device or more stringent procedures.
  2. Garbage: Vessels are equipped with a Garbage Management Plan. Onboard training takes place to ensure that all crew members are aware of the requirements for proper garbage management. Instructions are given to minimize garbage generation, limit the use of plastic packing materials, dispose of any lining and packing materials from ship supply at the port reception facilities, and segregate garbage at source.
  3. Specialized areas: All new vessels constructed for the Arctic, the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes trade are fitted with extra storage capacity for sewage treated water and grey water considering the length of voyages at sea and the increased number of no-discharge zones.
  4. Incinerator and shore disposal: Onboard incinerators are used for waste items not recommended for recycling. Incinerators are not used in ports, harbours, or estuaries. Necessary financial resources are dedicated to shore-based disposal of solid and liquid wastes, ensuring that crew members do not hesitate to proceed with disposal ashore whenever needed.
  5. Minimizing residue: We seek to minimize if not eliminate the quantity of cargo residues discharged into the marine environment by vessels within our fleet.
  6. Reducing discharge of solid cargo: Fednav requires vessels to refrain from discharging solid cargo residues in the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
  7. Collaboration: Fednav is committed to working with shippers, receivers, and stevedores to reduce the amount of cargo residues left on board the vessel as a result of cargo-handling procedures.
  8. Hold cleaning: Fednav will seek to use only eco-friendly products in hold cleaning operations.
  9. New features or equipment and policy to prevent waste pollution: Fednav commits to install waste technologies on all vessels, such as dedicated hold cleaning wash water tanks, retrofitted grey water tanks, food waste grinders, garbage compactors, and food waste deep freezers.

Pertaining to time-chartered vessels:

  1. Environmental, Quality, and Safety Inspection (EQSI): See Policy on Accidental Oil Spills/Leakages, p.7.