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Are you thinking of booking a tour?
| Make sure you get all the information you need for a safe trip! Some of the most beautiful and exciting tours take place on Canadian waters. Although our marine industry has an enviable safety record, accidents can happen. Passenger vessel crews are trained to deal with emergencies, however if you’re responsible for planning a boat tour, there are steps you can take
to increase the likelihood of a safe, fun outing.
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Before you book or sign a contract
- Ask to see the Inspection Certificate or Notice of Inspection. All Canadian passenger vessels must be inspected by Transport Canada. These documents verify the vessel met its safety requirements at the time of the inspection. They show how many passengers the vessel can carry, as well as any restrictions that have been placed on its operations, such as voyage limits and hours of operation.
- Ask for clarification of any restrictions that you don’t understand. If the operator cannot provide a satisfactory explanation, contact your nearest
Transport Canada Centre for more information.
- Advise the operator of any special requirements you may have. Let the operator know how many will be in your group, the number and ages of children (for properly sized lifejackets), and if access for wheelchairs or other special needs will be required. Ask the operator to confirm that your requirements can be met.
- If possible, visit the vessel ahead of time. Take a look around, meet the crew and ask to have the safety features explained.
Before you go
- Talk to your group members and explain the details of the voyage.
- For large groups, share the load. Assign responsible people to look after specific tasks in the event of an emergency such as helping other passengers to put on lifejackets and clearing the lower deck.
- Listen to the weather forecast. If bad weather is anticipated, make a note to speak to the captain before you set sail.
When you board
- If you haven't seen the vessel's Inspection Certificate or Notice of Inspection, look for the
passenger vessel decal (43.5 KB)
 . Only passenger vessels that have passed a Transport Canada inspection are issued with annual endorsement stickers. The decal and stickers are part of the
Small Vessel Monitoring & Inspection Program and helps passengers identify those vessels that have received and passed a Transport Canada inspection.
- Check that there are enough lifejackets of the appropriate sizes for all people on board. Keep them readily accessible (just remember a lifejacket won’t work if you don’t wear it) and do not sit on them as compression causes damage over time.
- Listen to the pre-departure safety briefing given by your vessel operator. A safety briefing should include information on where lifejackets and liferafts are located, how to put on your lifejacket and what to do if you need to abandon ship. If the forecast includes the possibility of bad weather, ask the captain what steps will be taken if the waters get rough.
- Review the assigned tasks with your helpers. Identify the location of exits and life rafts.
- Lastly, ask for clarification if anything is unclear. Crew members are trained to take care of you in case of an emergency so follow their instructions.
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