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.