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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)General
A small commercial vessel is regarded as any commercial vessel up to 150 gross tonnage, in operation, carrying a maximum of 100 passengers (100 unbearthed, 25 berthed). Excluding commercial fishing vessels, other commercial vessels include workboats, tugboats, boom boats and other non-passenger vessels, and special purpose vessels/non-conventional vessels such as white water rafting, air cushion vehicles, amphibious and sail training vessels. What does the term commercial mean? ^ Small vessels fall under two categories; pleasure craft for pleasure use and; non-pleasure craft used for commercial purposes. Commercial relates to vessels that are primarily operating for profit, normally with paying passengers. A commercial vessel is also considered a non-pleasure craft. Commercial vessels are business operated and include vessels managed by federal, provincial and municipal departments and agencies. How do I know what requirements apply to my vessel? ^ There are a few things that determine the safety requirements a vessel needs to meet. Size (length or gross tonnage) and purpose, such as passenger or fishing vessel, are the two key criteria that place you in one category or another. If, after reading the information on this Web site, you are still unsure of what applies to your operation contact your nearest Transport Canada Centre. A gross ton isn’t, as some would expect, a unit of weight. Rather it is a marine term equal to 100 cubic feet (approximately 10 cubic meters) used to describe the size of vessel. Gross tonnage indicates the internal volume of a vessel, including cargo holds and other areas, while net tonnage is the commercially useful internal capacity of the ship, that is, gross tonnage less the crew quarters, engine rooms, and so on. Gross tonnage or size of your vessel will determine in part which regulation and standards apply to your vessel. Tonnage is calculated by a measurement and calculation process or may be determined via a table.
What's the definition of a passenger? ^
How do I determine if I'm carrying passengers or guests? ^ The basic consideration when deciding which category a vessel should fit is whether the
person(s) carried on board are passengers or not. What is the Marine Liability Act? ^ The Marine Liability Act (MLA) came into force on August 8, 2001. It combines existing and new marine liability regulations into a single framework for claims related to personal injuries, fatalities, property damage and pollution. The intent is to provide a uniform method for establishing liability, which in turn, balances the interests of operators and passengers. Part 4 of the Act establishes a liability regime for all commercial or public purpose vessels used for the carriage of passengers within Canada. The maximum liability for operators is $350,000 per passenger. The Act also invalidates waivers of liability. The MLA also provides for the introduction of compulsory insurance requirements for operators of commercial or public purpose vessels. Safety requirements changes arrive through amendments to regulations/standards or adoption of policy. How long before changes come into effect? ^ Changes can be introduced by policy in a relatively short time. Changes to standards and regulations take longer, years in some cases, due to the need to obtain and consider input from stakeholders. |
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