Transport Canada cited a Fednav-chartered ship for violating speed limits designed to minimise potential whale strikes.
The 57,981-dwt Federal Cardinal (built 2015) was hit with a CAD 6,000 ($4,800) fine for alleged non-compliance with the temporary mandatory vessel slowdown.
The agency imposed the slowdown last August, requiring vessels of 20 metres (65 feet) or greater LOA to a maximum of 10 knots in the western Gulf of St Lawrence.
The speed reduction was put in place due to the increased presence of whales between the Quebec north shore and just north of Prince Edward Island.
The Federal Cardinal was the 13th ship, including a Canadian Coast Guard ship, fined for violating the slowdown in 2017. Ships owned or operated by Cosco, Wagenborg Shipping, Carisbrooke Shipping, Hyundai Glovis, and Goulandris have also received fines.
"Our government is determined to promote the safe coexistence of ship traffic and the marine environment in the Gulf of St Lawrence," said Marc Garneau, head of Transport Canada. "We are committed to ensuring that all vessels meet the temporary speed limit and we will continue to take all appropriate action to ensure the safety of the whales."
The vessel owner has 30 days to pay the penalty or to ask the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada to review the facts of the violation or the amount of the penalty.
The temporary mandatory slowdown will remain in effect until the whales have migrated away from the area.
