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Canada Shipping Act, 2001 (S.C. 2001, c. 26)

Act current to 2024-11-11 and last amended on 2023-06-22. Previous Versions

PART 3Personnel (continued)

Offences and Punishment (continued)

Marginal note:Contravention of Act

  •  (1) Every person commits an offence who contravenes

    • (a) section 87 (hold certificate or document and comply with its terms and conditions);

    • (b) subsection 90(1) (inform Minister of medical opinion);

    • (c) subsection 90(2) (inform that holder of a certificate);

    • (d) subsection 94(1) (pay expenses);

    • (e) subsection 97(1), (2), (3) or (4) (take measures following a death); or

    • (f) paragraph 98(e) (failure to pay expenses).

  • Marginal note:Punishment

    (2) Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than one year, or to both.

Marginal note:Contravention of Act or regulations

  •  (1) Every person commits an offence who contravenes

    • (a) subsection 82(1) (ensure employees present Canadian maritime documents);

    • (b) paragraph 91(1)(a) (enter into articles);

    • (c) paragraph 91(1)(b) (display articles);

    • (d) section 92 (provide certificate of discharge);

    • (e) subsection 93(1) (maintain record of sea service);

    • (f) subsection 93(2) (provide copy of record of sea service);

    • (g) paragraph 98(a) (enter into articles);

    • (h) paragraph 98(b) (provide certificate of discharge);

    • (i) paragraph 98(c) (maintain record of sea service);

    • (j) paragraph 98(d) (provide copy of record of sea service); or

    • (k) a provision of the regulations made under paragraph 100(j).

  • Marginal note:Punishment

    (2) Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than $25,000.

PART 4Safety

Interpretation

Definition of Minister

 In this Part, Minister means the Minister of Transport.

Application

Marginal note:Canadian vessels and foreign vessels

 This Part applies in respect of Canadian vessels, other than pleasure craft, everywhere and in respect of foreign vessels in Canadian waters.

Authorized Representatives

Marginal note:General duties

  •  (1) The authorized representative of a Canadian vessel shall

    • (a) ensure that the vessel and its machinery and equipment meet the requirements of the regulations made under this Part;

    • (b) develop procedures for the safe operation of the vessel and for dealing with emergencies; and

    • (c) ensure that the crew and passengers receive safety training.

  • Marginal note:Duties re Canadian maritime documents

    (2) The authorized representative of a Canadian vessel shall ensure that

    • (a) the vessel and its machinery and equipment are inspected for the purpose of obtaining all of the Canadian maritime documents that are required under this Part; and

    • (b) every term or condition attached to a Canadian maritime document issued in respect of the vessel or its machinery or equipment is met.

Masters

Marginal note:Obtaining Canadian maritime documents

 The master of a Canadian vessel shall, before the vessel embarks on a voyage from a port in Canada, ensure that all of the Canadian maritime documents required under this Part have been obtained.

Marginal note:Exemptions

  •  (1) If the master of a Canadian vessel has had the vessel or its machinery or equipment inspected by an authority of a foreign state and that authority has issued a certificate that certifies that the vessel, machinery or equipment meets certain requirements of that state and the Minister is satisfied that those requirements meet or exceed the requirements for a Canadian maritime document required under this Part, the Minister may grant an exemption, for the period specified by the Minister, from the obligation to comply with subsection 106(2) and section 107 with respect to that certificate.

  • Marginal note:Issuance of certificates by foreign states

    (2) The Minister may request the government of a state that is a party to a convention, protocol or resolution listed in Schedule 1 respecting the safety of vessels or of persons who are on board or are loading or unloading vessels to issue in respect of a Canadian vessel any certificate provided for by the convention, protocol or resolution. A certificate issued as a result of such a request and containing a statement that it has been so issued has effect for the purposes of this Act as if it had been issued under this Part and may be suspended or cancelled as though it were a Canadian maritime document.

Marginal note:Safety of persons

  •  (1) The master of a vessel shall take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of the vessel and of persons who are on board or are loading or unloading it while using equipment on it.

  • Marginal note:Protection from hazards

    (2) If the master of a vessel is informed of a safety hazard, the master shall, unless the master determines that the hazard does not exist, take reasonable measures to protect the vessel and persons on board from the hazard, including eliminating it if feasible. If it is not feasible to eliminate it, the master of a Canadian vessel shall notify the authorized representative.

Marginal note:Carrying excess number of persons

  •  (1) The master of a vessel must ensure that the number of persons carried on board is not more than the number of persons authorized to be on board under any certificate issued under this Part or under an international convention, protocol or resolution listed in Schedule 1.

  • Marginal note:Submerging load lines

    (2) The master of a vessel shall ensure that the applicable load lines on the vessel are not submerged.

  • Marginal note:Exception to subsection (1)

    (3) Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of a person carried on board a vessel in pursuance of the obligation on the master to carry shipwrecked or distressed persons.

Marginal note:Direction to cease — master

  •  (1) The Minister may direct a master to cease any operation that, in the Minister’s opinion, poses an undue risk because of unsafe conditions.

  • Marginal note:Direction to take measures — master

    (2) The Minister may direct a master to take measures that, in the Minister’s opinion, are necessary to avoid an undue risk because of unsafe conditions, including a direction to

    • (a) provide the Minister with any information that the Minister considers appropriate to assess or deal with risks to marine safety;

    • (b) proceed by the route and in the manner that the Minister specifies; and

    • (c) proceed to a place that the Minister selects, by the route and in the manner that the Minister specifies, and

      • (i) unload the vessel’s cargo, or

      • (ii) moor, anchor or remain there for any reasonable period that the Minister specifies.

  • Marginal note:Direction to authorize vessel

    (3) The Minister may direct a port authority or a person in charge of a port authority or place to authorize a vessel in respect of which a direction has been made under paragraph (2)(c) to proceed to the place selected by the Minister and to

    • (a) unload the cargo; or

    • (b) moor, anchor or remain there for any reasonable period that the Minister may specify.

Marginal note:Information to be sent respecting dangers to navigation

 If the master of a Canadian vessel encounters dangerous ice, a dangerous derelict or other direct danger to navigation, a tropical storm, winds of a force of 10 or more on the Beaufort scale for which no storm warning has been received or subfreezing air temperatures associated with gale force winds and causing severe ice accretion on the superstructure of the vessel, the master shall give notice to all vessels in the vicinity and the prescribed authorities on shore of the danger.

Crew

Marginal note:Carrying out duties and reporting

 Every crew member on board a vessel shall

  • (a) carry out their duties and functions in a manner that does not jeopardize the safety of the vessel or of any person on board;

  • (b) report to the master any safety hazards of which they become aware;

  • (c) report to the master any change in their circumstances that could affect their ability to carry out their duties and functions safely; and

  • (d) comply with lawful directions given by the master.

Marginal note:Direction to cease — crew

  •  (1) The Minister may direct a crew member on board a vessel to cease any operation that, in the Minister’s opinion, poses an undue risk because of unsafe conditions.

  • Marginal note:Direction to take measures — crew

    (2) The Minister may direct a crew member on board a vessel to take measures that, in the Minister’s opinion, are necessary to avoid an undue risk because of unsafe conditions, including a direction to provide the Minister with any information that the Minister considers appropriate to support assessing or addressing risks to marine safety.

Passengers

Marginal note:Compliance with directions

  •  (1) Every passenger on board a vessel shall comply with any direction that is given to them by the master or a crew member to carry out the provisions of this Act or the regulations.

  • Marginal note:Compliance with direction to leave a vessel

    (2) Every passenger on board a vessel shall comply with a direction to leave the vessel that is given to them by the master before the vessel embarks on a voyage.

Authorized Representatives, Masters, Crew Members and Other Persons

Marginal note:When boarding a vessel prohibited

 Subject to sections 135 (stopping and boarding a vessel), 175.1 (powers of pollution response officers — general), 196 and 198 (pleasure craft inspections), 200 (stopping and boarding a vessel) and 211 (inspections) and to any other Act of Parliament, no person shall go or attempt to go on board a vessel or to leave or attempt to leave one

  • (a) without the permission or against the orders of the master or the person in charge of embarkation or disembarkation; or

  • (b) if there is no safe means of embarkation or disembarkation or every such means has been blocked.

  • 2001, c. 26, s. 116
  • 2005, c. 29, s. 17

Marginal note:Tampering and vandalism

 No person shall tamper with or vandalize a vessel or its machinery, equipment or notices or plans relating to emergency procedures, safety or navigation.

Marginal note:Jeopardizing safety

 No person shall take any action that might jeopardize the safety of a vessel or of persons on board.

Construction of Vessels

Marginal note:In accordance with plans

 Subject to the regulations, no person shall construct, manufacture or alter a vessel of a prescribed class otherwise than in accordance with plans approved by the Minister as having met the requirements of the regulations respecting the design and construction of vessels of that class.

 

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