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Fishing Vessel Safety Regulations (C.R.C., c. 1486)

Regulations are current to 2024-03-06 and last amended on 2023-12-20. Previous Versions

PART 0.1Interpretation (continued)

Division 2Safety Equipment (continued)

Life-saving Appliances (continued)

Marginal note:Launching appliance

 A life raft, emergency boat, recovery boat or rescue boat shall be equipped with a launching appliance, unless it is capable of being launched safely and rapidly by manual means.

  • SOR/2016-163, s. 2

Vessel Safety Equipment

Marginal note:Bailers and bilge pumps

  •  (1) A fishing vessel that has a hull length of not more than 9 m shall carry on board a bailer or a manual bilge pump.

  • Marginal note:Manual bilge pump

    (2) A fishing vessel that has a hull length of more than 9 m shall carry on board a manual bilge pump.

  • Marginal note:Dimensions — bailer

    (3) The bailer referred to in subsection (1) shall be made of plastic or metal, have an opening of at least 65 cm2 and have a capacity of at least 750 mL.

  • Marginal note:Manual bilge pump — piping and operation

    (4) The manual bilge pump referred to in subsections (1) and (2) shall be

    • (a) fitted with or accompanied by a sufficient length of piping or hose to enable water to be pumped from the bilge space of the fishing vessel over the side of the vessel; and

    • (b) capable of being operated from a position above the deck of the fishing vessel.

  • SOR/2016-163, s. 2

Marginal note:Manual propelling device

 A fishing vessel that has no deck or deck structure and that has a hull length of not more than 6 m shall carry on board a set of oars, a paddle or another device that uses human power to propel the vessel.

  • SOR/2016-163, s. 2

Marginal note:Anchoring and mooring equipment

  •  (1) A fishing vessel shall carry on board

    • (a) anchoring equipment that conforms to recommended practices and standards and that is arranged in such a way that the anchor can be deployed and retrieved effectively;

    • (b) means to fix the anchor rope to the vessel and to protect the rope against chafing; and

    • (c) equipment and fittings that are arranged in such a way that the vessel can be effectively secured alongside or moored.

  • Marginal note:Anchor dragging

    (2) The anchoring equipment shall be resistant to dragging under normal operating conditions, taking into account the fishing vessel’s displacement and windage area.

  • SOR/2016-163, s. 2

Navigation Equipment

Marginal note:Illumination of compasses

  •  (1) A compass that is required to be fitted on a fishing vessel under the Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020, shall be capable of being illuminated.

  • Marginal note:Choice of compass

    (2) A fishing vessel that has a hull length of not more than 8 m and navigates within sight of seamarks shall either carry on board a handheld compass or be fitted with a compass that meets the requirements of the Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020 and can be illuminated.

Marginal note:Other navigation equipment

 A fishing vessel

  • (a) shall be equipped with means for determining the depth of water under the vessel, unless the vessel is equipped with lead lines in accordance with the Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020; and

  • (b) shall carry on board a sound-signalling device, unless the vessel is carrying on board a sound-signalling appliance required by the Collision Regulations.

Firefighting Equipment

Marginal note:Requirement to carry on board

  •  (1) A fishing vessel that has a hull length set out in column 1 of the table to this subsection shall carry on board the firefighting equipment set out in column 2 as indicated in that column.

    TABLE

    Column 1Column 2
    ItemHull LengthFirefighting Equipment
    1Not more than 6 m
    • (a) a 1A:5B:C portable fire extinguisher; and

    • (b) a 1A:5B:C portable fire extinguisher, if the vessel is equipped with a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance

    2More than 6 m but not more than 9 m
    • (a) a 2A:10B:C portable fire extinguisher;

    • (b) a 2A:10B:C portable fire extinguisher, if the vessel is equipped with a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance; and

    • (c) a 10B:C portable fire extinguisher at the entrance to the engine space

    3More than 9 m but not more than 15 m
    • (a) a 2A:10B:C portable fire extinguisher;

    • (b) a 2A:10B:C portable fire extinguisher at each access to a space fitted with a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance;

    • (c) a 10B:C portable fire extinguisher at the entrance to the engine space;

    • (d) a fire axe; and

    • (e) a bucket

    4More than 15 m
    • (a) a 2A:20B:C portable fire extinguisher;

    • (b) a 2A:20B:C portable fire extinguisher at the following locations:

      • (i) at each access to a space fitted with a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance, and

      • (ii) at the entrance to each accommodation space;

    • (c) a 20B:C portable fire extinguisher at the entrance to the engine space;

    • (d) a fire axe; and

    • (e) two buckets

  • Marginal note:Exception

    (2) A fishing vessel that is not power-driven and is not equipped with an electrical system is not required to carry on board a portable fire extinguisher set out in paragraphs 1(a), 2(a), 3(a) and 4(a) of the table to subsection (1).

  • Marginal note:Reduced number of portable fire extinguishers

    (3) The total number of portable fire extinguishers that must be carried on board a fishing vessel may be reduced by one if the remaining fire extinguishers are arranged so as to be readily accessible near the equipment or locations referred to in paragraphs 1(b), 2(b) and (c), 3(b) and (c) and 4(b) and (c) of the table to subsection (1).

  • Marginal note:Bucket

    (4) A bucket set out in paragraphs 3(e) and 4(e) of the table to subsection (1) shall have a capacity of 10 L or more and be fitted with a lanyard of sufficient length to reach the water from the location in which it is stored.

  • SOR/2016-163, s. 2

Marginal note:Portable fire extinguishers

  •  (1) A portable fire extinguisher required by these Regulations to be carried on board a fishing vessel shall

    • (a) bear a mark indicating that it is certified for marine use by a product certification body; or

    • (b) be of a type that is approved by the United States Coast Guard.

  • Marginal note:Imported vessel

    (2) A portable fire extinguisher that is carried on board a fishing vessel imported into Canada and that does not meet the requirements of subsection (1) shall be certified for marine use by a product certification body or a classification society.

  • SOR/2016-163, s. 2

Marginal note:Classes of fires

 In any reference in these Regulations to the classification of a portable fire extinguisher, the letters in the classification refer to the following classes of fires:

  • (a) Class A fires, namely, fires that involve combustible materials such as wood, cloth, paper, rubber and plastic;

  • (b) Class B fires, namely, fires that involve inflammable liquids, gases and greases;

  • (c) Class C fires, namely, fires in energized electrical equipment, where the electrical non-conductivity of the extinguishing media is of importance; and

  • (d) Class K fires, namely, fires in cooking appliances that involve combustible cooking media such as vegetable or animal oils or fats.

  • SOR/2016-163, s. 2

Marginal note:Exception

 A fishing vessel may carry on board a portable fire extinguisher that is not marked with a classification set out in column 1 of the table to this section if the fire extinguisher contains an extinguishing agent that is set out in column 2, 3 or 4 and that is of a net weight that corresponds to the classification set out in column 1, and if the fire extinguisher meets the requirements of these Regulations in all other respects.

TABLE

Column 1Column 2Column 3Column 4
Multi-purpose Dry Chemical (ammonium phosphate)Regular Dry Chemical (sodium bicarbonate) (Class B and C fires only)Carbon Dioxide (Class B and C fires only)
Net WeightNet WeightNet Weight
ItemClassificationkglbs.kglbs.kglbs.
11A:5B:C1.53
22A:10B:C2.255
32A:20B:C4.510
45B:C1.531.532.255
510B:C2.2552.2554.510
620B:C4.5104.510920
  • SOR/2016-163, s. 2

Marginal note:Exceeds classification

 A fishing vessel may carry on board a portable fire extinguisher that exceeds the classification set out for that fire extinguisher in this Division.

  • SOR/2016-163, s. 2

Marginal note:Extinguishing agent

  •  (1) A portable fire extinguisher required by these Regulations to be carried on board a fishing vessel shall contain an extinguishing agent capable of extinguishing any potential fire in the compartment for which the fire extinguisher is intended, and shall not weigh more than 23 kg.

  • Marginal note:Alternative rating

    (2) A portable fire extinguisher rated for Class B fires and required by these Regulations to be carried on board a fishing vessel may be replaced with a portable fire extinguisher rated for Class K fires if it is intended for use in an area with cooking appliances that use combustible cooking media.

  • Marginal note:Carbon dioxide fire extinguisher

    (3) A portable carbon dioxide fire extinguisher shall be fitted with an electrically non-conductive horn.

  • SOR/2016-163, s. 2

Marginal note:Mounting

  •  (1) A portable fire extinguisher set out in column 2 of the table to subsection 3.37(1) shall be mounted with a clamp or bracket that provides a quick and positive release.

  • Marginal note:Gas extinguishing agent

    (2) A portable fire extinguisher intended for use in an accommodation space, or stored in an accommodation space, shall not contain a gas extinguishing agent.

  • SOR/2016-163, s. 2

Division 3Stability

Application

Marginal note:Application

  •  (1) This Division applies in respect of a fishing vessel that is propelled or designed to be propelled by an engine.

  • Marginal note:Wooden vessels

    (2) This Division does not apply in respect of a wooden fishing vessel that was designed to be human-powered but has been modified for propulsion by an outboard motor and

    • (a) has no deck or deck structure;

    • (b) is not mass produced; and

    • (c) has been constructed following traditional methods that have been proven to be effective and reliable over time.

  • SOR/2016-163, s. 2

Stability Standards and Demonstration

Marginal note:Existing vessels — adequate stability

 The stability and, if applicable, the buoyancy and flotation of an existing fishing vessel that is not required to undergo a stability assessment shall be adequate to safely carry out the vessel’s intended operations.

  • SOR/2016-163, s. 2
 

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