Marine Personnel Regulations (SOR/2007-115)

DIVISION 4Foreign Vessels

Minimum Complement

241 The authorized representative of a vessel shall ensure that its complement consists of at least the following persons:

• (a) the master;

• (b) the persons needed to form the

  • (i) life-saving team,

  • (ii) radio watch,

  • (iii) deck watch, and

  • (iv) engineering watch;

• (c) a person in charge of the vessel’s machinery unless the vessel is a cargo vessel, a tug or a fishing vessel with a propulsive power of not more than 750 kW; and

• (d) if applicable, the persons required by the Safe Manning Document or equivalent document required by subsection 242(2) or (3).

Safe Manning Document or Equivalent Document

• 242 (1) This section does not apply in respect of

  • (a) fishing vessels;

  • (b) wooden ships of primitive build referred to in paragraph A of regulation 3 of Chapter I of SOLAS;

  • (c) cargo vessels and tugs of less than 500 gross tonnage; and

  • (d) vessels that are engaged on a near coastal voyage, Class 2 or a sheltered waters voyage.

• (2) The authorized representative of a Safety Convention vessel shall ensure that the vessel carries on board a Safe Manning Document or an equivalent document issued by the Administration as evidence that the vessel has on board the minimum complement necessary to satisfy the requirements of IMO Resolution A.890(21), Principles of Safe Manning, or any other resolution that replaces it.

• (3) The authorized representative of a vessel that is not a Safety Convention vessel shall ensure that it carries on board a document issued by the Administration and containing, in English,

  • (a) the following identification information about the vessel:

    • (i) its name,

    • (ii) its port of registry,

    • (iii) its official number,

    • (iv) the type of vessel,

    • (v) its gross registered tonnage, and

    • (vi) its propulsive power and propulsion type;

  • (b) a table showing

    • (i) the minimum number of members of the complement,

    • (ii) the certificates to be held by the members of the complement, and

    • (iii) any conditions or restrictions referred to in the certificates referred to in subparagraph (ii);

  • (c) a statement by the Administration that the vessel named in the document is safely crewed when it carries at least the complement referred to in the document, whose members hold the certificates indicated in that document, subject to any conditions or restrictions referred to on those certificates;

  • (d) a statement of any conditions or restrictions on the validity of the document by reference to particulars of the vessel and the nature of the service in which the vessel is employed; and

  • (e) the date of issue and the expiry date, if any, of the document together with a signature on behalf of, and the seal of, the Administration.

• (4) The authorized representative of a vessel engaged in the coasting trade shall ensure that there is on board an endorsement issued by the Minister that

  • (a) contains a statement that the document, issued by the Administration, meets the requirements of Division 2; or

  • (b) sets out the requirements that the vessel shall meet to comply with the crewing standards referred to in Division 2.

Issuance and Validity of Certificates

• 243 (1) Every master, mate, engineer or any other person who forms part of an engineering watch or deck watch on board a vessel shall hold a certificate of competency that is

  • (a) issued by the Administration;

  • (b) endorsed by the Administration to attest to its recognition; or

  • (c) accompanied by an attestation from the Administration that an application for an endorsement has been made under section I/10 of the STCW Convention.

• (2) The certificate referred to in subsection (1) shall be

  • (a) appropriate to the duties performed by that person on the vessel;

  • (b) endorsed by the Administration as meeting the provisions of the STCW Convention; and

  • (c) valid under the STCW Convention for the vessel and the voyage on which the vessel is engaged.

Deck Watch

244 Subject to section 252, the master of a vessel shall ensure that a voyage is planned and a deck watch is maintained in accordance with Parts 2, 3 and 3-1 of section A-VIII/2 of the STCW Code.

245 Subject to subsection 247(2), no person shall act, and no master shall permit a person to act, as a member of the deck watch unless the person holds a certificate appropriate to the class of vessel and the voyages on which the vessel is engaged.

246 The master of a vessel shall be on duty as required by the ordinary practice of seamen.

• 247 (1) The master of a vessel shall ensure that the deck watch consists, at a minimum of,

  • (a) a person in charge of the deck watch who holds a certificate authorizing them to be the officer in charge of the deck watch;

  • (b) subject to subsection (2), an additional person who, in the case of a vessel that is at least 500 gross tonnage holds, at a minimum, a Bridge Watch Rating certificate or an equivalent to the Able Seafarer certificate;

  • (c) subject to subsections (2) and (3), a second additional person who, in the case of a vessel of more than 1 000 gross tonnage holds, at a minimum, a Bridge Watch Rating certificate or an equivalent to the Able Seafarer certificate; and

  • (d) a person in charge of the radio watch who has qualifications equivalent to those set out in section 266, unless the person in charge of the deck watch is so qualified and is also in charge of the radio watch.

• (2) The additional person and the second additional person assigned to the same deck watch are not both required to hold one of the certificates referred to in paragraph (1)(b) or (c) if either person, but not both, is a rating under training to obtain one of those certificates.

• (3) Subject to subsection (4), a second additional person is not required on board a stationary MOU, or on board any other vessel of more than 1 000 gross tonnage if that vessel is fitted with toilet facilities that are adjacent to the navigating bridge for the use of the deck watch, as well as fitted with the equipment listed in the schedule to this Part, which equipment shall be

  • (a) in good working order;

  • (b) suitably illuminated for night operation; and

  • (c) used in accordance with the ordinary practice of seamen.

• (4) A second additional person is required on board a vessel that meets the requirements of subsection (3) if the use of the automatic steering system is prohibited by local by-laws or its use could interfere with prompt helm action in the following circumstances:

  • (a) restricted visibility;

  • (b) traffic density; or

  • (c) hazardous navigational situations.

Engineering Watch

248 Subject to section 253, the chief engineer of a vessel shall ensure, in consultation with the master, that its voyage is planned and that an engineering watch is maintained in accordance with Parts 2, 3 and 3-2 of section A-VIII/2 of the STCW Code.

• 249 (1) The chief engineer of a vessel shall ensure, in consultation with the master, that the engineering watch of the vessel consists of

  • (a) in the case of a vessel that has a propulsive power of more than 750 kW, a person in charge of the engineering watch who holds, at a minimum, an Engineer certificate appropriate to the vessel’s propulsion type; and

  • (b) an engine-room rating who holds, at a minimum, the equivalent to an Engine-room Rating certificate.

• (2) Paragraph (1)(b) does not apply if

  • (a) the machinery essential to the safe operation of the vessel has automatic operational features that, while the machinery is in operation, provide fuel to the machinery and lubricate it from a supply of lubricant that is sufficient to enable the machinery to operate continuously at full load for a period of at least 24 hours; and

  • (b) the propulsion system of the vessel is remotely controlled from the bridge or the vessel is not manoeuvring.

• (3) Subject to section 250, a vessel that is equipped in accordance with the Administration’s requirements for periodically unattended machinery spaces may operate with periodically unattended machinery spaces if the remote control and monitoring systems for those spaces are inspected in accordance with the Administration’s rules and the inspection certificate contains a notation confirming the inspection.

250 At all times that the vessel is manoeuvring or proceeding in a narrow channel or fairway, the engineer on watch shall remain present in the engine room unless the engine room is not suitable for a person to physically stand a watch during normal operations by reason of the dimensions or configuration of the room.

Endorsements and Certificates — Tankers and Passenger-carrying Vessels

251 The requirements under chapter V of the STCW Convention with respect to certificates and endorsements required for passenger-carrying vessels and tankers apply to all employees on those vessels who are assigned to the duties referred to in that chapter.

DIVISION 5Vessels Securely Anchored in Port or Securely Moored to Shore

Deck Watch

252 The master of a vessel that is securely anchored in port or securely moored to shore shall ensure that a deck watch is maintained in accordance with Parts 4, 4-1, 4-3 and 4-5 of section A-VIII/2 of the STCW Code unless the master has made sufficient alternative arrangements to secure the safety of life and the protection of the environment, taking into account those Parts.

Engineering Watch

• 253 (1) The chief engineer of a vessel that is securely anchored in port or securely moored to shore shall ensure, in consultation with the master, that an engineering watch is maintained in accordance with Parts 4, 4-2, 4-4 and 4-5 of section A-VIII/2 of the STCW Code.

• (2) Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of a vessel that does not normally maintain an engineering watch in port if the chief engineer makes, in consultation with the master, sufficient and efficient alternative arrangements to secure the safety of life and the protection of the environment, taking into account Parts 4, 4-2, 4-4 and 4-5 of section A-VIII/2 of the STCW Code.

Radio Watch

254 The master of a vessel that is securely anchored, moored or made fast to the shore or secured to the bottom shall ensure, in accordance with section 252 of the Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020, that a continuous listening watch is maintained if, in the master’s opinion, the vessel is in a place where its presence may constitute a hazard to passing vessels.

DIVISION 6Canadian Special Design Crafts

Training

255 In addition to complying with the requirements of section 205, the master shall ensure that all crew members on board a high-speed craft possess a training testimonial indicating that they have received the type rating training specified in sections 18.3.3.6 to 18.3.3.12 of the HSC Code applicable to the type of vessel and the route that the vessel follows.

Masters and Mates

• 256 (1) An air cushion vessel that is at least 1 000 kg all up weight shall have on board, and its authorized representative shall employ, a master who, at a minimum, holds

  • (a) a Master, Limited certificate if the vessel is less than 10 000 kg all up weight;

  • (b) a Master 150 Gross Tonnage, Domestic certificate if the vessel is of 10 000 kg or more but less than 50 000 kg all up weight;

  • (c) a Master 500 Gross Tonnage, Domestic certificate if the vessel is of 50 000 kg or more but less than 100 000 kg all up weight;

  • (d) a Master 3 000 Gross Tonnage, Domestic certificate if the vessel is of 100 000 kg or more all up weight; or

  • (e) despite paragraphs (b) to (d), a Master, Limited certificate if the vessel is engaged on a sheltered waters voyage.

• (2) An air cushion vessel that is at least 40 000 kg all up weight or that carries more than 50 persons shall have on board, and its authorized representative shall employ, a chief mate who, at a minimum, holds

  • (a) a Chief Mate, Limited certificate if the vessel is engaged on a sheltered waters voyage; or

  • (b) a Chief Mate, 150 Gross Tonnage, Domestic certificate in all other cases.

• (3) The master and the chief mate employed on board an air cushion vessel of more than 1 000 kg all up weight shall also hold an Air Cushion Vehicle (ACV) Type Rating certificate applicable to the type of vessel and the route that the vessel follows.