Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020 (SOR/2020-216)

Marginal note:ECDIS

117 The following Canadian vessels, except cable ferries and pleasure crafts, that are constructed on or after the day on which this section comes into force must be fitted with an ECDIS:

• (a) passenger vessels of 500 gross tonnage or more; and

• (b) all other vessels of 3 000 gross tonnage or more.

Marginal note:AIS Class A

• 118 (1) The following vessels must be fitted with an AIS Class A:

  • (a) vessels that are 20 m or more in length, other than pleasure crafts;

  • (b) vessels that carry more than 50 passengers;

  • (c) vessels transporting substances, materials or articles to which the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, published by the IMO, applies;

  • (d) vessels carrying pollutants, as defined in section 165 of the Act, in bulk;

  • (e) dredges or floating plants that are located in any place where they constitute a collision hazard to other vessels; and

  • (f) towboats that are 8 m or more in length.

• Marginal note:AIS Class A or B

  (2) Every vessel, other than a vessel referred to in subsection (1), that is engaged on a voyage other than a sheltered waters voyage must be fitted with an AIS Class A or an AIS Class B if

  • (a) it is a passenger vessel; or

  • (b) the vessel is 8 m or more in length and carries a passenger.

• Marginal note:Graphic display

  (3) Every vessel referred to in subsection (1) must be fitted with a means of displaying graphically the relative ranges and bearings received by the AIS.

• Marginal note:Transmitting heading device or gyro-compass

  (4) If an AIS Class A is fitted on a vessel and if the vessel is also fitted with a transmitting heading device or with a gyro-compass, they must be connected for transmitting heading information to the AIS.

• Marginal note:Period of operation

  (5) Every vessel referred to in subsections (1) and (2) must keep the AIS in operation for at least 30 minutes immediately before departure and for the entire duration of the voyage.

• Marginal note:Exceptions — period of operation

  (6) Subsection (5) does not apply

  • (a) where international agreements, rules or standards provide for the protection of navigational information; or

  • (b) in respect of vessels, other than vessels operated for a commercial purpose, owned or operated by Her Majesty in right of Canada or by a foreign government that is a party to SOLAS.

Marginal note:Pilot transfer

119 Every vessel that is engaged on a voyage that will likely require the services of a licensed pilot must meet the requirements respecting pilot transfer equipment and arrangements set out in Section B, entitled Pilotage Services in Canadian Waters, of the annual edition of Notices to Mariners.

Marginal note:Internal communication system

• 120 (1) Every Canadian vessel of 300 gross tonnage or more must be fitted with a two-way voice communication system.

• Marginal note:System usage requirements

  (2) The system must be capable of being used between any two of the following locations, in a normal ambient noise condition for each location:

  • (a) at the principal conning position;

  • (b) at working stations, including the mooring positions;

  • (c) at a position close to the main engine controls in the engine room;

  • (d) at the emergency steering position; and

  • (e) in the master’s accommodation and the chief engineer’s accommodation.

• Marginal note:Independent energy source

  (3) The system must be capable of operating independently of the vessel’s main source of electrical energy for at least 12 hours.

Marginal note:Searchlights

• 121 (1) The following vessels must be fitted with two searchlights:

  • (a) vessels that are designed and constructed to engage in towing operations, of more than 5 gross tonnage, except vessels that engage in towing operations only to salvage logs;

  • (b) fishing vessels of more than 150 gross tonnage that are more than 24 m in length and constructed on or after September 1, 1984; and

  • (c) Canadian vessels of more than 150 gross tonnage that are navigating in ice that might cause substantial damage to the vessel.

• Marginal note:Fishing vessels constructed before September 1, 1984

  (2) Fishing vessels of more than 150 gross tonnage that are more than 24 m in length and constructed before September 1, 1984 must be fitted with at least one searchlight.

• Marginal note:Scope of lighting

  (3) The searchlights required under subsection (1) must be mounted securely and in a manner that will allow their beams, when combined, to sweep an arc of 360° around the vessel.

• Marginal note:Exclusive electrical circuit

  (4) Each searchlight required under subsection (1) or (2) must be provided with an exclusive electrical circuit connected to the main or emergency switchboard.

• Marginal note:Spare parts

  (5) A vessel must carry on board, for each searchlight required under subsection (1) or (2), two spare bulbs and any spare electrical equipment that might be required under normal service conditions except if

  • (a) the searchlight is a light emitting diode (LED) searchlight; or

  • (b) the vessel has two identical searchlights and carries on board two spare bulbs and any spare electrical equipment for one of those searchlights instead of for each searchlight.

Marginal note:Signal flags

122 Every Canadian vessel of more than 150 gross tonnage that is engaged on a near coastal voyage, Class 1 or an unlimited voyage must carry on board the set of signal flags illustrated in Appendix 2 of the International Code of Signals, published by the IMO, of a size suitable for signalling.

Marginal note:Hand lead lines

• 123 (1) Every vessel that is 20 m or more in length and engaged on a voyage other than a sheltered waters voyage must be equipped with one hand lead line.

• Marginal note:Requirements

  (2) The hand lead line must

  • (a) be 46 m or more in length;

  • (b) be clearly and accurately marked to indicate the depth of water; and

  • (c) have a lead that weighs at least 3.2 kg and is capable of being armed.

Marginal note:Manoeuvring information — IMO resolution A.601(15)

• 124 (1) A vessel must establish and display manoeuvring information in accordance with sections 1.2 and 3 of the Annex and the appendices to the Annex to IMO resolution A.601(15), Provision and Display of Manoeuvring Information on Board Ships before the vessel enters into service and must keep that information on board, if

  • (a) it is of 1 600 gross tonnage or more and was constructed on or after March 1, 2001;

  • (b) it is a chemical carrier or gas carrier that was constructed on or after March 1, 2001; or

  • (c) it is a Safety Convention vessel.

• Marginal note:Definitions

  (2) The following definitions apply in paragraph (1)(b).

  chemical carrier

  chemical carrier means a vessel that is constructed or adapted for the carriage of dangerous chemicals and that is is engaged in the carriage of those chemicals. (transporteur de produits chimiques)

  gas carrier

  gas carrier means a cargo vessel that was constructed or adapted for the carriage in bulk of any liquefied gas or other products listed in Chapter 19 of the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk, published by the IMO, and that is engaged in the carriage of those products. (transporteur de gaz)

• Marginal note:Modification or conversion of vessel

  (3) If a vessel is modified or converted such that its dimensions or other characteristics are altered in a way affecting the manoeuvring capability of the vessel, the manoeuvring information referred to in subsection (1) must be updated.

• Marginal note:Exception

  (4) If it is not practicable to establish the manoeuvring information required by subsection (1) in its final form before the vessel enters into service, the information must be

  • (a) established in a preliminary form before the vessel enters into service;

  • (b) established in its final form as soon as circumstances permit after the vessel enters into service; and

  • (c) verified in its final form within 18 months after the vessel enters into service.

• Marginal note:Manoeuvring information — IMO resolution A.209(VII)

  (5) Every vessel of 1 600 gross tonnage or more that was constructed before March 1, 2001, other than a Safety Convention vessel, must establish and display manoeuvring information as set out in the Annex to IMO resolution A.209(VII), Recommendation on Information to Be Included in the Manoeuvring Booklets and must keep the manoeuvring information on board.

Marginal note:Canadian towboats — radar

• 125 (1) A Canadian vessel that is a towboat must be fitted with

  • (a) if it is of 5 gross tonnage or more and is engaged on an inland voyage or a near coastal voyage, Class 2, a radar to determine and display the range and bearing of radar transponders and of other surface craft, obstructions, buoys, shorelines and navigational marks;

  • (b) if it is engaged on a near coastal voyage, Class 1,

    • (i) echo-sounding equipment to measure and display the available depth of water, and

    • (ii) two radars that meet the requirements set out in paragraph (a) and that are functionally independent of each other; and

  • (c) if it is engaged on an unlimited voyage, the equipment set out in paragraph (b) and a gyro-compass to determine and display its heading by shipborne non-magnetic means.

• Marginal note:Exception

  (2) A Canadian vessel that is a towboat does not have to meet the equipment requirements set out in subsection (1) if it is engaged in a towing operation in an emergency situation on an exceptional basis.

DIVISION 5Additional Requirements — Vessels Not Subject to Chapter V of SOLAS

Marginal note:Non-application

126 This Division does not apply in respect of vessels subject to the requirements of Division 2 of this Part.

Marginal note:Guidelines and standards – bridge

127 On every vessel of 150 gross tonnage or more that is engaged on an international voyage and on every vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more that is engaged on a voyage other than a sheltered waters voyage, all decisions that affect bridge design, bridge procedures and the design and arrangement of navigational systems and equipment on the bridge must take into consideration the following documents:

• (a) the Annex to IMO circular MSC/Circ.982, Guidelines on Ergonomic Criteria for Bridge Equipment and Layout;

• (b) if the vessel is fitted with an integrated bridge system, the Annex to IMO circular SN.1/Circ.288, Guidelines for Bridge Equipment and Systems, Their Arrangement and Integration (BES); and

• (c) if the vessel is fitted with an integrated navigation system, Annex 3 to IMO resolution MSC.86(70), Adoption of New and Amended Performance Standards for Navigational Equipment.

Marginal note:Electromagnetic compatibility

128 The electrical and electronic equipment installed on a vessel of 150 gross tonnage or more that is engaged on an international voyage, or on a vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more, must meet the following requirements, if the equipment has not been type approved by a competent authority as meeting testing standard IEC 60945, Maritime Navigation and Radiocommunication Equipment and Systems – General Requirements – Methods of Testing and Required Test Results:

• (a) the equipment must be installed so that electromagnetic interference does not affect the proper functioning of navigational systems and equipment;

• (b) if the equipment is portable, it must not be operated on the bridge if it might affect the proper functioning of navigational systems and equipment; and

• (c) if the equipment is on the bridge or in the vicinity of the bridge on a vessel constructed on or after July 1, 2002, it must be tested for electromagnetic compatibility when the equipment is installed, taking into account testing standard IEC 60533, Electrical and Electronic Installations in Ships — Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) – Ships with a Metallic Hull.

Marginal note:Modes of operation — equipment

129 The mode of operation being used must be indicated if equipment that is referred to in this Part and fitted on a vessel on or after July 1, 2002 offers alternative modes of operation.

Marginal note:Integrated bridge systems

130 Integrated bridge systems that are fitted on a vessel on or after July 1, 2002 must be so arranged that failure of any subsystem is brought to the immediate attention of the person in charge of the deck watch by audible and visual alarms and does not cause the failure of any other subsystem.

Marginal note:Failure of integrated navigation system

131 In the case of a failure in one part of an integrated navigation system, it must be possible to operate every other individual piece of equipment or part of the system separately.

Marginal note:Compass inspection

• 132 (1) During an inspection of the compasses on a vessel that is not a pleasure craft, the master of the vessel must

  • (a) show the inspector the most recent deviation card for each compass, signed and dated by the master and a deck officer; or

  • (b) provide the inspector with a statement, signed by the master and a deck officer, confirming that the compasses have been found to be satisfactory to provide heading direction.

• Marginal note:Inspector

  (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), an inspector is a marine safety inspector referred to in section 11 of the Act or a person, classification society or other organization authorized to carry out inspections under section 12 of the Act.

Marginal note:Heading or track control system

• 133 (1) When the heading or track control system of a vessel is used in an area of high traffic density, under conditions of restricted visibility or in any other hazardous navigational situation, means must be provided to enable the immediate changeover to manual steering.

• Marginal note:Qualified helmsman

  (2) In any situation described in subsection (1), the person in charge of the deck watch must ensure that the services of a qualified helmsman are available at all times to take over steering control.

• Marginal note:Qualified person

  (3) Every changeover from the heading or track control system to manual steering of a vessel and vice versa must be made by, or under the supervision of, the person in charge of the deck watch.

• Marginal note:Manual steering — testing

  (4) The manual steering of a vessel must be tested, while the heading or track control system is not in use, before the vessel enters any area where navigation demands special caution, and at least once a day, to ensure the manual steering is in effective operating condition.