Ottawa is moving ahead with plans to require large vessels to report to authorities as they sail through Canada's northern waters.
Transport Minister John Baird said in news release Friday night that the measures will help ensure efficient navigation, improve vessel safety and protect the Arctic marine environment.
The regulations would require vessels to report information such as identity and intended route before entering the Northwest Passage.
The regulations, which the government intends to bring into force on July 1, would apply to Canadian and foreign vessels.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper promised in August 2008 that all large vessels in the passage would be required to report to Transport Canada's NORDREG registry system.
Currently, it's only voluntary that vessels report to NORDREG, the Canadian Coast Guard agency that tracks vessels on such journeys.
Mr. Harper has made asserting Canada's sovereignty over its northern waters a key component of his administration.
"Mandatory vessel reporting will help keep maritime traffic moving safely and efficiently," Mr. Baird said in the release. "Knowing the positions and movements of vessels, for example, will make it easier to respond quickly to an oil spill."
"This information will become more important as vessel traffic rises due to development in the Arctic," he said.