Regulating Small Vessels

Act: Canada Shipping Act, (CSA 2001)
Regulation: Small Vessel Regulations, as amended 

To Whom Does This Apply?

Owners and operators of:

• pleasure craft of any size;
• passenger carrying vessels not more than 15 gross tonnage that carry 12 passengers or less;
• power-driven vessels not more than 15 gross tonnage that are neither pleasure craft nor fishing vessels, and
• human-powered vessels of any size.

Summary

The Canada Shipping Act, 2001 (CSA 2001) places numerous requirements on the shipping industry, including: 

• registration of vessels;
• certification of officers; and
• working conditions for seamen. 

In addition, the Act gives the Minister the authority to pass regulations in many areas.

The Small Vessel Regulations were enacted to ensure the safety of small vessels and pleasure craft not regulated elsewhere. The Regulations provide the rules for the carriage of safety equipment, precautions against fire and certain operational practices on all small vessels, in addition to licensing of pleasure craft, and construction requirements for power-driven vessels (except for tugs and pleasure craft more than 24 metres in length). Offences and penalties for non-compliance with the Regulations are set out in the CSA 2001, and may also be enforced through the issuing of tickets by police under the Contraventions Act.

Under the CSA 2001, small commercial vessels are no longer licensed, but must be registered instead. Part 2 of the CSA 2001 and the Vessel Registration and Tonnage Regulations now govern the Small Vessel Registry.

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this section is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. For particular questions, the users are invited to contact their lawyer. For additional information, see contact(s) listed below.

Manitoba Contact(s):
See National Contact. 

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National Contact(s):
Ms. Jeannine Godin
Chief Registrar, Ship Registration
Transport Canada
9th Floor, Tower C
Place de Ville
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0N8
Telephone: (613) 991-3155
E-mail: godinj@tc.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.tc.gc.ca/en/menu.htm
 

 

John Murray
Manager, Office of Boating Safety
Marine Safety
Transport Canada
11th Floor
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0N5
Telephone: 613-990-5887
E-mail: murrajo@tc.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.tc.gc.ca/en/menu.htm
 

 

Nico Pau
Manager, Small Vessels
Marine Safety
Transport Canada
11th Floor, Tower C
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0N8
Telephone: 613-998-4198
E-mail: paunico@tc.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.tc.gc.ca/en/menu.htm