BC Ferries will begin allowing immobile electric vehicles with little or no damage to travel on its vessels starting May 19, following consultations with Transport Canada and industry stakeholders. The updated policy permits non-drivable EVs with only cosmetic damage, provided there is no structural or battery-related issue. The change addresses a major challenge for residents in coastal and island communities who previously faced limited options for transporting EVs to the mainland for repairs. Vehicles with suspected battery damage will remain restricted unless the battery has been removed in accordance with federal regulations.

A fishing vessel grounded and partially sank near Pacific Rim National Park Reserve after striking a rock in Barkley Sound off western British Columbia. Two mariners from the Northern Challenge were safely rescued, with no injuries reported. The vessel, carrying about 530 litres of fuel, remains under monitoring by the Canadian Coast Guard and spill response teams after a small fuel sheen was observed near the site. Authorities are assessing environmental risks and planning stabilization and removal operations for the grounded vessel.

The Prince Rupert Port Authority has announced updates to its executive leadership structure aimed at supporting trade growth, operational reliability, and long-term sustainability at the Port of Prince Rupert. CEO Kurt Slocombe said the revised structure is intended to strengthen leadership across key operational and strategic areas. The updated executive team includes Agnes Piotrowski as Chief Financial Officer, Will Pederson as Chief Operating Officer, Shelby O’Brien overseeing Indigenous Relations, Human Resources and Regulatory Affairs, Heather Ash leading Communications, Community Relations and Legal Affairs, and Travis Bernhardt heading Infrastructure and Sustainability.

Cenovus CEO Jon McKenzie warned that Canada risks losing investment and economic competitiveness unless it adopts more supportive energy policies for the oil sands sector. Speaking during the company’s earnings call, McKenzie criticized Canada’s regulatory framework and industrial carbon pricing, arguing they discourage new energy investment compared with the U.S. and Middle East. His comments came as Cenovus reported strong first-quarter results, including nearly doubled profits and record production following its acquisition of MEG Energy. McKenzie also emphasized that hydrocarbons will remain essential to global energy supply for decades and said Canada should position itself to benefit from that demand.

The Potash and Agri Development Corporation of Manitoba plans to begin commercial production next month at Manitoba’s first potash mine near Harrowby after nearly two decades of development. The $30-million project uses solution mining technology and is expected to produce up to 35,000 tonnes in its first year, with long-term plans to scale production significantly. Most exports are expected to move through the Port of Churchill via the Hudson Bay Railway, supporting broader efforts to expand northern trade infrastructure. Provincial officials say the project could eventually generate significant economic and royalty benefits for Manitoba.

A judicial review underway in British Columbia is testing whether U.S.-based Indigenous groups with traditional territories in Canada can influence resource development decisions under B.C.’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). The Sinixt Nation is seeking to maintain an injunction against a proposed magnesium mine near Rossland, arguing the project affects its traditional territory. The case follows recent legal developments tied to the Gitxaala decision and raises broader questions about the scope of Indigenous consultation rights, cross-border claims, and the role of DRIPA in provincial decision-making. Legal experts say the outcome could have significant implications for future resource and infrastructure projects across the province.

The Canadian Coast Guard says Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has hired Resolve Marine to remove the grounded MSC Baltic III from the coast near Lark Harbour. The 207-metre cargo vessel ran aground in February 2025 after losing power in heavy seas and has since suffered structural damage from Atlantic weather conditions. Salvage crews plan to remove the remaining containers and haul the vessel ashore in sections using chains, with operations targeted for completion by the summer. Authorities continue monitoring the site for potential pollution risks.

The Government of Canada is reportedly shutting down the long-delayed Nanisivik Naval Facility on northern Baffin Island due to high operating costs, infrastructure issues, and limited operational value. Originally announced in 2007 under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper as a key Arctic sovereignty project, the facility was later scaled back to a seasonal refuelling site for naval vessels. Persistent problems, including severe corrosion of the deepwater jetty and logistical challenges tied to Arctic fuel storage, prevented the base from becoming operational despite more than $100 million already spent. The closure comes as the government under Prime Minister Mark Carney shifts focus toward other Arctic defence and infrastructure priorities, including expanded military presence and new northern support hubs.

A local chapter of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union in Tacoma is opposing the installation of optical character recognition (OCR) and container-tracking technology at Husky Terminal, arguing the system could reduce marine clerk jobs. The technology, which automates container identification and tracking, has been widely used at West Coast ports since being authorized under the 2002 coastwide labour agreement. The Pacific Maritime Association says the systems improve operational efficiency and help ports remain competitive against Canadian and East Coast gateways, while also noting that the number of registered marine clerks in Tacoma has increased since 2002.

China is reporting a sharp increase in GMO detections in canola oil shipments from Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, leading to a growing number of rejected cargoes. Chinese customs rejected 88 shipments in the first quarter of 2026, compared to 38 for all of 2025, with most involving canola oil from Kazakhstan and Russia. The crackdown is creating uncertainty for Black Sea exporters and could influence competition in China’s vegetable oil market, where Black Sea canola oil competes with Canadian exports. Industry observers suggest the issue may relate more to labelling and regulatory compliance than actual GMO detection in refined oils.

A container vessel operated by CMA CGM was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, injuring eight crew members and damaging the ship amid ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran. The Malta-flagged San Antonio was reportedly struck by an Iranian projectile near Oman during a night transit, according to maritime security sources. The incident marks the 32nd reported attack on shipping since the conflict began and highlights the continued risks facing commercial vessels in the region. Meanwhile, another CMA CGM vessel, the Saigon, successfully exited the Gulf as limited ship movements continue under highly uncertain security conditions and evolving U.S.-Iran negotiations.

Energy analysts warn that if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for another month, extended bunker fuel lead times currently affecting Asia could spread globally, while low-sulfur fuel prices establish a permanently higher floor. According to S&P Global, Asian bunkering hubs such as Singapore and Fujairah are facing severe supply tightness, pushing carriers to seek fuel at alternative ports and increasingly adopt “extreme tankering” strategies by heavily refuelling in Europe or the U.S. before sailing east. The disruption is also shifting shipping patterns and intensifying concerns over marine safety, with ongoing attacks, mines, and uncertainty in the Gulf continuing to keep most carriers away from the region.

Commodity trader Mercuria is suing the Baltic Exchange over alleged losses tied to tanker pricing data during the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Mercuria claims the Baltic Exchange continued publishing its TD3C crude tanker benchmark route from the Gulf to China despite severe disruptions caused by the Iran conflict, resulting in distorted freight and derivatives pricing. The company alleges the benchmark no longer reflected actual market conditions and says its losses could amount to hundreds of millions of dollars. The Baltic Exchange declined to comment, though market participants noted it had issued guidance and introduced alternative benchmark options during the crisis.

The Japanese tall ship Kaiwo Maru attracted large crowds to Garry Point Park during a weekend cultural celebration in Richmond. The 110-metre sailing vessel, visiting the city for the first time since 2017, served as the centrepiece for a two-day event featuring Japanese arts and crafts, cultural workshops, live performances, kite demonstrations, and food vendors. Visitors also had the opportunity to board and tour the historic training ship, while free activities onshore highlighted Japanese traditions, including origami and gyotaku fish-print art.