Language selection

Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada

Search

Canadian Coast Guard emergency numbers

Search and rescue

Report a search and rescue incident

Report an incident by calling your regional 24 hours emergency line. In some instances, you can press pound (#) on any phone and dial a 3 digit code to reach us.

Alberta

  • Toll-free: 1-800-267-7270
  • Telephone: 613-965-3870

British Columbia

  • Toll-free: 1-800-567-5111
  • Telephone: 250-413-8933
  • Telephone: #727

Manitoba

  • Toll-free: 1-800-267-7270
  • Telephone: 613-965-3870

New Brunswick

  • Toll-free: 1-800-565-1582
  • Telephone: 902-427-8200

Newfoundland and Labrador

  • Toll-free: 1-800-563-2444
  • Telephone: 709-772-5151

Northwest Territories

  • Toll-free: 1-800-267-7270
  • Telephone: 613-965-3870

Nova Scotia

  • Toll-free: 1-800-565-1582
  • Telephone: 902-427-8200

Nunavut

  • Toll-free: 1-800-267-7270
  • Telephone: 613-965-3870

Ontario

  • Toll-free: 1-800-267-7270
  • Telephone: 613-965-3870

Prince Edward Island

  • Toll-free: 1-800-565-1582
  • Telephone: 902-427-8200

Quebec

  • Toll-free: 1-800-565-1582
  • Telephone: 902-427-8200

Saskatchewan

  • Toll-free: 1-800-267-7270
  • Telephone: 613-965-3870

Yukon

  • Toll-free: 1-800-567-5111
  • Telephone: 250-413-8933
  • Telephone: #727
Marine safety hazards

Contact the Canadian Coast Guard: Marine Communications and Traffic Services

To report emergencies or navigational hazards, contact your nearest Marine Communications and Traffic Services (MCTS) centre on:

  • VHF channel 16 (156.8 MHZ)
  • MF/HF frequency 2182 kHz/4125 kHz (where available)
  • ∗16 on a cellphone (where available)

Your call will be recorded in accordance with this Privacy Notice Statement.

Privacy Notice Statement

As per Personal Information Bank DFO PPU 150 Marine Communications and Traffic Services (MCTS), personal information is collected under the authority of the Oceans Act, and the Canada Shipping Act, 2001, for the purpose of safe and efficient movement of vessels in Canadian waters. It may be used for safety communications and responses, and to facilitate marine distress, and may be disclosed to Transport Canada, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, or the Department of National Defence. You have the right to the correction of, access to, and protection of your personal information under the Privacy Act and to file a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada over DFO's handling of your information.

In this section

Halifax, NS

  • Call sign: VCS
  • Marine Mobile Service Identity number: 003160016

Operations

Officer-in-Charge

  • Telephone: 902-426-9738

Canadian Coast Guard
Officer-in-Charge: MCTS Operations
Halifax MCTS Centre
10 Hudson Way
Dartmouth NS  B2Y 3Z8

Areas under the Eastern Canada Vessel Traffic Services Zone Regulations (ECAREG)

Iqaluit, NU (Operating May to December)

  • Call sign: VFF
  • Telex: 063-15529 NORDREG CDA
  • Marine Mobile Service Identity number: 003160023

Officer-in-Charge (Administration)

  • Telephone: 867-979-5260

Canadian Coast Guard
Officer-in-Charge: MCTS Operations
Iqaluit MCTS Centre / NORDREG
PO Box 189
1063 Niuraivik Lane
Iqaluit NU  X0A 0H0

Navigational warnings (NAVWARNs)

NORDREG

Labrador (Goose Bay), NL

  • Call sign: VOK
  • Marine Mobile Service Identity number: 003160022

Operations

Officer-in-Charge

  • Telephone: 709-896-5817

Canadian Coast Guard
Officer-in-Charge: MCTS Operations
Labrador MCTS Centre
PO Box 720, Station C
Goose Bay NL  A0P 1C0

Les Escoumins, QC

  • Call sign: VCF
  • Marine Mobile Service Identity number: 003160026

Operations

Officer-in-Charge

  • Telephone: 418-233-2854
  • Fax: 418-233-2017

Canadian Coast Guard
Officer-in-Charge: MCTS Operations
Les Escoumins MCTS Centre
35 Otis St
Les Escoumins QC  G0T 1K0

Areas under the Eastern Canada Vessel Traffic Services Zone Regulations (ECAREG)

Placentia, NL

  • Call sign: VCP
  • Marine Mobile Service Identity number: 003160019

Operations

Officer-in-Charge

  • Telephone: 709-227-5731

Canadian Coast Guard
Officer-in-Charge: MCTS Operations
Placentia MCTS Centre
PO Box 389
Placentia NL  A0B 2Y0

Port aux Basques, NL

  • Call sign: VOJ
  • Marine Mobile Service Identity number: 003160018

Operations

Navigational warnings (NAVWARNs)

Officer-in-Charge

  • Telephone: 709-695-2133

Canadian Coast Guard
Officer-in-Charge: MCTS Operations
Port aux Basque MCTS Centre
PO Box 99
Port aux Basques NL  A0M 1C0

Prescott, ON

  • Call sign: VBR
  • Marine Mobile Service Identity number: 003160029

Operations

Navigational warnings (NAVWARNs)

Officer-in-Charge

  • Telephone: 613-925-0618

Canadian Coast Guard
Officer-in-Charge: MCTS Operations
Prescott MCTS Centre
PO Box 1000
401 King St W
Prescott ON  K0E 1T0

NAVAREA XVII and XVIII

Prince Rupert, BC

  • Call sign: VAJ
  • Marine Mobile Service Identity number: 003160013

Operations

Navigational warnings (NAVWARNs)

Continuous marine broadcast

  • Telephone: 250-726-3415 (south)
  • Telephone: 250-624-9009 (north)

Officer-in-Charge

  • Telephone: 250-627-3077

Canadian Coast Guard
Officer-in-Charge: MCTS Operations
Prince Rupert MCTS Centre
Bag 4444
Prince Rupert BC  V8J 4K2

Vessel traffic services offshore

  • Telephone: 250-627-3071
  • Fax: 250-624-9075

Québec, QC

  • Call sign: VCC
  • Marine Mobile Service Identity number: 003160027

Operations

Alerting and warning network

  • Telephone: 418-648-4366
  • Toll-free: 1-800-363-4735

Officer-in-Charge

  • Telephone: 418-648-7459

Canadian Coast Guard
MCTS Operations
1550 avenue d'Estimauville
Québec QC  G1J 5E9

Sarnia, ON

  • Call sign: VBE
  • Marine Mobile Service Identity number: 003160030

Operations

Officer-in-Charge

  • Telephone: 519-337-6572

Canadian Coast Guard
Officer-in-Charge: MCTS Operations
Sarnia MCTS Centre
PO Box 2778
Sarnia ON  N7T 7W1

Sydney, NS

  • Call sign: VCO
  • Marine Mobile Service Identity number: 003160017

Operations

Navigational warnings (NAVWARNs)

Officer-in-Charge

  • Telephone: 902-564-7752

Canadian Coast Guard
Officer-in-Charge: MCTS Operations
Sydney MCTS Centre
1190 Westmount Rd
Sydney NS  B1R 2J6

Victoria, BC

  • Call sign: VAK
  • Marine Mobile Service Identity number: 003160011

Operations

Continuous marine broadcast

  • Telephone: 250-363-6880 (Mount Helmcken)
  • Telephone: 250-363-6492 (Bowen Island/Mount Parke)
  • Telephone: 604-666-3655 (Bowen Island/Mount Parke)
  • Telephone: 250-339-0748 (Mid-Island Area)
  • Telephone: 250-974-5305 (North Island Area)

Officer-in-Charge

  • Telephone: 250-363-6818
    250-363-6836 (Administration)

Canadian Coast Guard
Officer-in-Charge: MCTS Operations
Victoria MCTS Centre
Institute of Ocean Sciences
9860 West Saanich Rd
PO Box 6000
Sidney BC  V8L 4B2

Marine pollution incident

Report marine pollution

Vessels and oil handling facility operators must report all pollution or threats of pollution. Reports must follow Transport Canada's Guidelines for Reporting Incidents Involving Dangerous Goods, Harmful Substances and / or Marine Pollutants.

When calling in a spill report, you'll need to provide:

  • your name
  • your telephone number
  • location of the spill
  • quantity of the spill
  • type of product spilled
  • on-scene weather

Report an incident by calling your nearest office. You may also report marine pollution incidents by contacting a MCTS centre on VHF channel 16. All numbers are open 24 hours a day.

Alberta

  • Toll-free: 1-800-889-8852

British Columbia

  • Toll-free: 1-800-889-8852

Manitoba

  • Toll-free: 1-800-889-8852 (inland waters)
  • Toll-free: 1-800-265-0237 (coastal/offshore waters)

New Brunswick

  • Toll-free: 1-800-565-1633

Newfoundland and Labrador

  • Toll-free: 1-800-563-9089

Northwest Territories

Nova Scotia

  • Toll-free: 1-800-565-1633

Nunavik

Nunavut

Ontario

  • Toll-free: 1-800-265-0237

Prince Edward Island

  • Toll-free: 1-800-565-1633

Quebec

  • Toll-free: 1-800-363-4735

Saskatchewan

  • Toll-free: 1-800-889-8852

Yukon

  • Toll-free: 1-800-889-8852 (inland waters)
  • Toll-free: 1-800-265-0237 (coastal/offshore waters)
Date modified: