Starting July 1, large foreign and domestic ships entering Canada's Arctic waters will be required to register with the Canadian Coast Guard, reports Canwest News Service -- and a Canadian official admits the U.S. isn't enthusiastic about the new rule. Canada and the U.S. disagree on Canadian sovereignty over the Northwest Passage and on the international boundary in waters above Alaska and the Yukon.

"With mandatory reporting, the Canadian Coast Guard will be able to promote the safe navigation of vessels, keep watch on vessels carrying pollutants, fuel oil and dangerous goods, and respond quickly in the event of an accident," Fisheries Minister Gail Shea stated in a release Tuesday.

"Our government and Prime Minister Harper have always asserted that a strong and sovereign Canada depended on a healthy, prosperous and secure North," Shea said.

"The U.S. has sort of a mixed view of it," an unnamed transportation official told Canwest. "They recognize for the purposes of pollution prevention and safety of navigation, that such measures are a good idea. On the other hand, they do like to maintain the freedom to navigate. They're keen about that - they have a large navy."