There is a looming shortage of Canadian tankers. Both Petro-Nav and Irving Oil have applied to the Canadian Transportation Agency for coasting licenses for as yet unnamed foreign flag ships.
Mia Desgagnés at Imperial Oil, Halifax, April 25, 2023.
In the case of Petro-Nav (the Transport Desgagnés tanker operation), they cite the need to supply the communities and mines in the far north as the cause for fewer tankers available to meet the demand in southern Canada. They have applied for two tankers, one to operate from June 15 to October 15 and one to operate from July 1 to October 1. They are to load in Quebec, Lévis, Nanticoke, Sarnia and Montreal and to deliver to Great Lakes ports but primarily to eastern ports such as Rimouski, Port Cartier, Gaspé, Cap-aux-Meules, Corner Brook, Sydney, and Come-by-Chance.
Irving Oil's application notes that their tanker Acadian will be going into drydock for routine maintenance and they cannot find a Canadian tanker to take its place.
Acadian arriving in Halifax, May 17, 2023.
The application is for a ship to operate from July 12 to August 26, 2023 allowing time for the Acadian to travel to the drydock, the time in drydock, and the trip back to Saint John. (The drydock is apparently in Europe,) The as yet unnamed replacement tanker will be expected to dock in Saint John, Halifax (Woodside or Imperial Oil), Charlottetown and St.John's.
These coasting applications are usually approved, but the names of the ships are not given. They only become known when the ships arrive and start running between Canadian ports.
.