In an era of rapidly growing maritime trade, national and international efforts to prevent marine environmental disasters have taken various dimensions, including vessel safety mandates, traffic control measures and increased state inspections and control of ships. The advent of large modern tankers has generated new marine environmental risks. The customary right of access to a place of refuge for vessels in distress is becoming a complex issue of increasingly conflicting values reflecting humanitarian response and environmental conservation. A national ‘Places of Refuge’ policy is an essential component of Canada’s oceans management strategy. A cohesive and robust structure for conflict resolution will help assure the continued progress and development of ocean-based industries and minimize threats to Canada’s oceans and marine environment. The input of ship and port management personnel in the development of a national strategy and risk assessment procedure is vital for credibility and acceptance. The Canadian and international experience of ships in need of assistance and the lessons learned dictate that developing a ‘Places of Refuge’ policy and risk assessment procedure is not only prudent but imperative if Canada is to continue to be a major player in the global marketplace. This dissertation outlines a risk assessment procedure to categorize Canadian ports as places of refuge. This categorization of ports based on defined risk levels allows for the optimum allocation of resources for upgrading the refuge suitability of ports. Twenty-one ports on the east coast are evaluated for their suitability as places of refuge, based on their risk category. The measures suggested in this thesis propose elements of a Canadian national policy and risk assessment procedure for places of refuge which are comprehensive, pragmatic and flexible within the country’s existing command and control infrastructure.

Principe de droit coutumier longtemps honoré, le droit de refuge n’est plus. Les catastrophes de l’« Erika » et du « Prestige », et entre les deux, le périple du « Castor », ont largement mis en lumière cette réalité. À l’origine de ce déclin, les progrès techniques. Certains ayant permis la sauvegarde des marins en perdition sans nécessiter le déroutement du navire vers un abri. D’autres ayant eu pour conséquence de rendre dangereux et polluants la navigation.Le phénomène dit de « lèpre maritime » fut la constante, la pratique adoptée par les États côtiers confrontés à des navires en difficulté susceptibles de porter atteinte à leurs intérêts. Décrit ainsi, le réflexe se perçoit comme légitime. Mais voilà, l’automatisme peut pousser à l’absurde alors que les progrès, encore eux mais a contrario cette fois-ci, permettent de mesurer et tempérer les risques et ainsi revenir vers la voie naturelle du refuge même en présence de navires potentiellement dangereux et/ou polluants / Principle of customary international law which was honored a long time, the right of refuge for ships in distress is in the present day eroded. The disasters of the « Erika » and the « Prestige », and between these two, the event of the « Castor », have largely emphasized this reality.At the origin of this decline, we found technical progresses. Some having permitted rescue of the sailors in distress without requiring the ship to be granted a safe haven. Others having had for consequence to make navigation dangerous and pollutant.The phenomenon known as of « maritime lepers » has been the constant, the practice adopted by the coastal States confronted with ships in distress likely to threaten their interests. Described in this manner, the reflex can be perceived like legitimate. But, the automatism can conduct to the absurdity whereas progresses, but a contrario this time, make possible to measure and moderate the risks and, in consequence, to return towards the natural way of the refuge even in the presence of potentially dangerous and/or polluting ships