Welcome to the CFOA Website

Dear Visitor,

Thank you for coming to the Canadian Ferry Operators Association website.  If you share our interest in developing ideas, technology and regulation to support safe, effective, efficient and environmentally friendly passenger & vehicle ferry services, or if you are looking for current information on ferry services in Canada, you have come to the right place.

Our Association was born of necessity in 1983 when fundamental changes were taking place within federal transportation regulations that had the potential to either elevate or decimate domestic ferry operations in Canada.  In response, a small group of geographically disparate ferry operators joined together to form a united voice with which to start a dialogue with Transport Canada.  The newly formed CFOA was committed to ensuring that the resulting regulations were operable, and would in fact serve their intended purpose of improving safety in the Canadian ferry industry.  Necessity soon developed into integrity. And since that time, CFOA has become an integral part of the consultation process and has worked with Transport Canada in the development and implementation of Damage Stability Standards for Passenger Vessels, and more recently, Marine Security Regulations for domestic ferries.

CFOA’s membership has also evolved and we are pleased and proud to count among our current membership organizations, marine equipment and machinery manufacturers, distributors, classification societies, naval architects, insurers and educators.

As well, CFOA’s interests have expanded beyond our original regulatory focus, to include discussions about the potential improvements to safety and efficiency through new technologies in ship construction, repair, maintenance and operations, human resource development, risk assessment and risk avoidance, effective communications, and effective use of information and knowledge banks.

We are looking forward to the 2011 Annual General Meeting, Trade Show and Conference, “Human Factors in Ferry Operations”, which is scheduled for Sept 12 – 14, and will be held in Owen Sound, Ontario.  We hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Susan Schrempf
President