Fishing Vessel Safety Regulations (C.R.C., c. 1486)
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Regulations are current to 2024-06-20 and last amended on 2023-12-20. Previous Versions
PART 0.1Interpretation (continued)
Division 2Safety Equipment (continued)
Life-saving Appliances
Personal Life-saving Appliances
Marginal note:Lifejacket
3.25 (1) A fishing vessel shall carry on board a lifejacket of an appropriate size for each person on board, but the lifejacket shall not be a Class 2 lifejacket or a small vessel lifejacket if the vessel is engaged on a voyage beyond the limits of a near coastal voyage, Class 2.
Marginal note:Replacement of a lifejacket — near coastal voyage, Class 2
(2) Instead of the lifejacket referred to in subsection (1), a fishing vessel that has a hull length of not more than 12 m and that is engaged on a near coastal voyage, Class 2, may carry on board a personal flotation device that meets the requirements of section 3.2 if
(a) the personal flotation device
(i) provides at least 100 N of buoyancy and has a turning capability, or
(ii) is designed to provide thermal protection; and
(b) in the case of a fishing vessel that has no deck or deck structure and that is underway, the personal flotation device is worn by everyone on board or, in the case of a fishing vessel that has a deck or deck structure and that is underway, it is worn by the persons on deck or in the cockpit.
Marginal note:Replacement of a lifejacket — near coastal voyage, Class 2, etc.
(3) Instead of the lifejacket referred to in subsection (1), a fishing vessel that has a hull length of not more than 12 m and that is engaged on a near coastal voyage, Class 2, restricted to 2 nautical miles, or a sheltered waters voyage, may carry on board a personal flotation device that meets the requirements of section 3.2 if
(a) in the case of a fishing vessel that has no deck or deck structure and that is underway, the personal flotation device is worn by everyone on board; or
(b) in the case of a fishing vessel that has a deck or deck structure and that is underway, it is worn by the persons on deck or in the cockpit.
- SOR/2016-163, s. 2
Marginal note:Additional personal life-saving appliances
3.26 (1) A fishing vessel shall carry on board the following additional personal life-saving appliances:
(a) a reboarding device;
(b) an apparatus that can be used to retrieve a person who has fallen overboard without the assistance of the person overboard, unless the vessel carries a recovery boat or the operator of the vessel is the only person on board; and
(c) in the case of a fishing vessel that has a hull length set out in column 1 of the table to this paragraph, the additional personal life-saving appliances set out in column 2.
Column 1 Column 2 Item Hull Length Additional Personal Life-saving Appliances 1 Not more than 6 m a buoyant heaving line of not less than 15 m in length
2 More than 6 m but not more than 9 m (a) a buoyant heaving line of not less than 15 m in length; or
(b) a lifebuoy attached to a buoyant line of not less than 15 m in length
3 More than 9 m but not more than 12 m (a) a buoyant heaving line of not less than 15 m in length; and
(b) a lifebuoy attached to a buoyant line of not less than 15 m in length
4 More than 12 m but not more than 15 m (a) a buoyant heaving line of not less than 30 m in length; and
(b) a SOLAS lifebuoy that is equipped with a self-igniting light or that is attached to a buoyant line of not less than 30 m in length
5 More than 15 m (a) a buoyant heaving line of not less than 30 m in length;
(b) a SOLAS lifebuoy attached to a buoyant line of not less than 30 m in length; and
(c) a SOLAS lifebuoy that is equipped with a self-igniting light
Marginal note:Buoyant heaving line
(2) A buoyant heaving line set out in the table to paragraph (1)(c) shall be fitted at one end with a buoyant mass that will assist in carrying out the end of the line when the line is thrown.
- SOR/2016-163, s. 2
Visual Signals
Marginal note:Requirement to carry on board
3.27 (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 visual signals set out in column 2.
Column 1 Column 2 Item Hull length Visual Signals 1 Not more than 6 m (a) a watertight flashlight; and
(b) three pyrotechnic distress signals other than smoke signals
2 More than 6 m but not more than 9 m (a) a watertight flashlight; and
(b) the following visual signals:
(i) for a voyage that is not beyond the limits of a near coastal voyage, Class 2, six pyrotechnic distress signals other than smoke signals, or
(ii) for a voyage that is beyond the limits of a near coastal voyage, class 2, six pyrotechnic distress signals — other than smoke signals — of which at least two are rocket parachute flares
3 More than 9 m but not more than 12 m (a) a watertight flashlight;
(b) the following visual signals:
(i) for a voyage that is not beyond the limits of a near coastal voyage, Class 2, six pyrotechnic distress signals of which not more than three are smoke signals, or
(ii) for a voyage that is beyond the limits of a near coastal voyage, class 2, six pyrotechnic distress signals of which at least two are rocket parachute flares and not more than three are smoke signals, which shall be buoyant smoke signals; and
(c) a signalling mirror
4 More than 12 m but not more than 15 m (a) a watertight flashlight;
(b) the following visual signals:
(i) for a voyage that is not beyond the limits of a near coastal voyage, Class 2, twelve pyrotechnic distress signals of which not more than six are smoke signals, or
(ii) for a voyage that is beyond the limits of a near coastal voyage, class 2, twelve pyrotechnic distress signals of which at least four are rocket parachute flares and not more than six are smoke signals, which shall be buoyant smoke signals; and
(c) a signalling mirror
5 More than 15 m (a) a watertight flashlight;
(b) the following visual signals:
(i) for a voyage that is not beyond the limits of a near coastal voyage, Class 2, twelve pyrotechnic distress signals of which not more than six are smoke signals, or
(ii) for a voyage that is beyond the limits of a near coastal voyage, class 2, twelve pyrotechnic distress signals of which at least six are rocket parachute flares and not more than six are smoke signals, which shall be buoyant smoke signals; and
(c) a signalling mirror
Marginal note:Exception
(2) A fishing vessel is not required to carry on board pyrotechnic distress signals if the vessel is equipped with a two-way radio communication system that makes it possible to maintain communication and the vessel is operated
(a) on a river, canal or lake where it cannot at any time be more than one nautical mile from the closest shore;
(b) exclusively within the confines of a manned aquaculture facility; or
(c) within 500 m from shore.
Marginal note:Expiry
(3) A pyrotechnic distress signal expires four years after its date of manufacture.
- SOR/2016-163, s. 2
Life Rafts and Other Life-saving Appliances
Marginal note:Requirement to carry on board
3.28 (1) A fishing vessel that is engaged on a voyage set out in column 1 of the table to this subsection, and that has a hull length set out in column 2, shall carry on board the life-saving appliances set out in column 3.
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Item Voyage Hull Length Other Life-saving Appliances 1 Unlimited Any length (a) two or more SOLAS life rafts or reduced capacity life rafts with a total capacity that is sufficient to carry, on each side of the vessel, the number of persons on board;
(b) one recovery boat; and
(c) an immersion suit of an appropriate size for each person on board
2 Near coastal voyage, class 1 Any length (a) one or more SOLAS life rafts or reduced capacity life rafts with total a capacity that is sufficient to carry the number of persons on board; and
(b) an immersion suit of an appropriate size for each person on board
3 Near coastal voyage, class 2 More than 12 m (a) one or more life rafts, or a combination of life rafts and recovery boats, with a total capacity that is sufficient to carry the number of persons on board;
(b) an EPIRB, unless the vessel is carrying on board an EPIRB required under the Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020; and
(c) if the water temperature is less than 15°C, an immersion suit or an anti-exposure work suit of an appropriate size for each person on board
4 Near coastal voyage, class 2 Not more than 12 m (a) one or more life rafts, or a combination of life rafts and recovery boats, with a total capacity that is sufficient to carry the number of persons on board; or
(b) the following equipment:
(i) an EPIRB or a means of two-way radio communication, unless the vessel is carrying on board an EPIRB required under the Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020, and
(ii) if the water temperature is less than 15°C, an immersion suit or an anti-exposure work suit of an appropriate size for each person on board
5 Sheltered waters voyage or near coastal voyage, class 2, restricted to 2 nautical miles Any length (a) one or more life rafts or recovery boats with a total capacity that is sufficient to carry the number of the persons on board; or
(b) the following equipment:
(i) an EPIRB or a means of two-way radio communication, unless the vessel is carrying on board an EPIRB required under the Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020, and
(ii) if the water temperature is less than 15°C, an immersion suit or an anti-exposure work suit of an appropriate size for each person on board
Marginal note:Appliances or written procedures
(2) Instead of carrying on board the appliances referred to in subparagraph 5(b)(ii) of the table to subsection (1), a fishing vessel engaged on a sheltered waters voyage may carry on board appliances or written procedures, or a combination of both, for protecting all persons on board from the effects of hypothermia or cold shock resulting from swamping, capsizing or falling overboard.
Marginal note:Substitute for recovery boat
(3) A fishing vessel referred in subsection (1) is not required to carry on board a recovery boat if the vessel carries on board an emergency boat, a rescue boat, or a seine skiff that is ordinarily used in the fishing vessel’s fishing operations.
- SOR/2016-163, s. 2
- SOR/2020-216, s. 407
Marginal note:Requirements for life rafts
3.29 A life raft that is carried on board a fishing vessel shall
(a) be marked with the date and place of last service;
(b) be serviced, at the intervals set out in section 119 of the Life Saving Equipment Regulations, at a service station that is accredited by the manufacturer of the life raft; and
(c) except in the case of a coastal life raft that is packed in a valise-type container, be stored in a manner that allows it to automatically float free if the vessel sinks.
- SOR/2016-163, s. 2
- SOR/2023-257, s. 512
Marginal note:Requirements for recovery boats
3.3 A recovery boat that is carried on board a fishing vessel shall carry on board the following equipment:
(a) a buoyant safety knife secured near the painter;
(b) a bailer secured within the boat;
(c) a set of oars or paddles, with locks, secured within the boat;
(d) a boat hook;
(e) a painter secured forward, or a quick release slip that can be operated under strain;
(f) if there are plugholes, a plug for each plughole, secured near the plughole;
(g) a buoyant heaving line of not less than 15 m in length;
(h) a flash light with spare bulb and batteries;
(i) a rustproof whistle;
(j) two red hand flares; and
(k) in the case of an inflatable boat, an air pump with fittings suitable for replenishing the inflated chambers.
- SOR/2016-163, s. 2
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