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The BoaterYour guide to safe boating ^
This guide is an overview of the rules and regulations for recreational boating, but should not be your only resource for boating safety. For most pleasure craft operators, having a Pleasure Craft Operator Card is the law. Of course, to get your card you will need to pass a test offered by a course provider. Taking a boating safety course is a smart choice and the best method of obtaining your operator card. If you, your family or friends are new to boating thoroughly familiarize yourselves with the following pages. Treat this guide as a piece of safety equipment and keep it on board your boat, refer to it and apply what you have learned. If you are an experienced boater, use it as a refresher for safe boating. Boating laws change from time to time and it is your responsibility to make sure you have the most current information. This guide is revised periodically so visit www.boatingsafety.gc.ca or contact a Transport Canada Centre for the most up-to-date regulations. Make every trip a safe one. In the event of discrepancies between the Safe Boating Guide and the regulations, the regulatory text takes precedence. Common sense and maximizing your personal safety ^
Tragically, almost all boating deaths and injuries are preventable. Most boating accidents are the result of a series of smaller things going wrong. A simple consideration such as wearing your lifejacket at all times could save your life. Use common sense when you are out on the water. Things can change in a split second. Common sense is managing your own safety. Going on an extended canoe trip? Coastal sailing away from major traffic routes? Be prepared.
If you are involved in a serious boating incident you are 5½ times less likely to drown if you are wearing a flotation device.
Besides the possible legal consequences, mixing alcohol and boating is far more dangerous than you may realize. Fatigue, sun, wind and the motion of the boat dull your senses. Alcohol intensifies these effects, leaving you with poorer fine motor skills (for example, hand-eye coordination) and impaired judgement. Drinking and driving (whether on land or water) is illegal and punishable under the Criminal Code. Convictions for a first offence can result in heavy punishment: penalties are no less than $600, prohibition from operating a vessel could be up to three years and imprisonment could be for life! Provinces and territories have their own rules to determine when alcohol can be consumed or how it can be transported aboard a vessel. Contact your local authorities for more information.
Boaters are responsible for operating their vessels safely. This means learning the rules for recreational boating and following them. Those who do not comply with the law could be subject to penalties or fines. Transport Canada sets minimum requirements for pleasure craft and non-pleasure craft. One of its programs in particular, the Office of Boating Safety (OBS), helps educate boaters about these requirements with the help of tools like this guide. Safety organizations like the Canadian Safe Boating Council, Canadian Red Cross and others mandated with water safety deliver prevention-based programs to reduce risks and environmental impacts of boating. The RCMP, provincial police forces, conservation officers and other authorized agencies enforce the rules of the waterways. Through inspection, they verify all necessary safety equipment is on board the boat, operators have their Pleasure Craft Operator Card as required and small vessels are not operated in an unsafe manner. A Search and Rescue infrastructure is in place in case a vessel is in a distress situation, overdue or missing. Experienced and well-trained personnel from the Canadian Coast Guard, Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary and other organizations are ready to respond.
Members receive extensive training in search and rescue and boating safety, and their vessels display a special pennant. Visit www.ccga-gcac.org for more information on the Auxiliary. Canadian Coast Guard Marine Communications and Traffic Services (MCTS) centres provide Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) and a Maritime Mobile Safety Service. VTS provides traffic and waterway information to vessels via radio communication. When vessels are close to a VTS area, operators can learn the intended movements of larger vessels by passively monitoring the appropriate VTS sector frequency. MCTS centres also provide a safety service by monitoring international distress and calling frequencies to detect distress situations and communications needs.
The Canadian Coast Guard’s Maritime Services-Aids to Navigation keep waterways safe and accessible by providing aids to navigation and advice to those wishing to set up private aids to navigation. This benefits recreational boaters, fishers and commercial vessel operators alike, while ensuring the public’s right to navigate. Take a boating safety course ^ Knowing and following the rules of the road is basic boating safety. Knowing how to spot danger and how to react are just as important. Taking a course can give you the tools to help yourself, as well as others, if faced with a dangerous situation on the water. You will learn basic boating safety such as laws and regulations that apply to pleasure craft, preparing for a trip, how to share waterways and what to do in an emergency. You could be detained, fined or worse — you or someone you love could end up in serious danger if you are not prepared for an emergency. Passing a test and getting your Pleasure Craft Operator Card may be mandatory but it is not enough; take a safe boating course. For a list of course providers visit www.boatingsafety.gc.ca. Relevant laws that apply to pleasure craft ^ In the meantime, all recreational boaters should be very familiar with the provisions set out in the following acts, regulations and code. The Small Vessel Regulations outline the minimum mandatory safety equipment that must be aboard your boat, safety precautions to follow before and while boating and construction standards for building pleasure craft. To be capable of saving your life, and to satisfy the regulations, your pleasure craft’s required safety equipment must be in good working order. As the owner or person entrusted by the owner, you are violating the Small Vessel Regulations if you operate a pleasure craft that does not have all the required equipment on board, or if it is not in good working order. The same applies if you loan it. They also prohibit careless operation of a vessel. This means no one is allowed to operate a small vessel without due care and attention or reasonable consideration for other people. If you are operating a pleasure craft that is licensed, registered or titled in a country outside Canada, you must comply with the safety equipment requirements of the country in which the vessel is registered or licensed. Foreign visitors operating a Canadian licensed or registered vessel must comply with Canadian regulations.
The Canada Shipping Act is a framework of rules and regulations. It incorporates the requirements of some international conventions that dictate all vessel conduct. One such provision is the requirement to render assistance to those in danger, insofar as the operator can do so without serious danger to their pleasure craft or guests. Boating Restriction Regulations ^ The Boating Restriction Regulations include items like speed limits both posted and unposted (such as shoreline speed zones), designated waters where boats are prohibited and waters where certain activities are restricted, among others. The regulations also outline age-horsepower restrictions. These restrictions prohibit those less than 16 years of age from operating craft above specified horsepower limits. If an operator is accompanied and directly supervised in the pleasure craft by someone 16 years of age or older, the age-horsepower restrictions do not apply. These restrictions also prohibit those less than 16 years of age from operating personal watercraft regardless of whether they are accompanied or not.
Navigation Safety Regulations ^ The Navigation Safety Regulations require certain pleasure craft to carry a magnetic compass and, if more than 20 nautical miles (37 km) from shore, a compass-bearing device. The compass must be fitted and adjusted in accordance with manufacturer recommendations. Pleasure craft less than 8 m (26’3”) in length that are operating within sight of navigational marks*, as well as all vessels using oars, are exempt from this requirement. * A navigation mark refers to any reference used to successfully determine relative position in relation to route or destination. Behaviours that are offences under the Criminal Code of Canada include:
Competency of Operators Pleasure Craft Regulations ^
The operator card is good for life. Operators of pleasure craft get their card when they receive a mark of at least 75 per cent on the test. You can take the test without first completing a course, but it is not recommended. Further, this guide is not a study guide for the test, it is an overview of the basics. A list of course providers that offer boating safety courses and tests is available at www.boatingsafety.gc.ca. * These requirements apply in areas outside the Northwest Territories and Nunavut at this time. Certificates for boating safety courses completed before April 1, 1999 are recognized. If you have taken a course prior to these regulations, that course certificate or card will be accepted as proof of competency and must be carried on board your boat. Various other regulations prohibit the dumping of pollutants into Canadian waters. Oil, oil-wastes, garbage and hazardous chemicals are prohibited in all Canadian waters. In certain areas, discharging sewage is an offence. For specific “no-dump” sites visit www.boatingsafety.gc.ca or contact a Transport Canada Centre. Operator competency requirements *
Under the Contraventions Regulations (now in the provinces of Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia) authorities can ticket offenders on the spot for offences such as disobeying speed limits or careless operation of a vessel, instead of requiring them to appear in court. Remember, everyone on board your pleasure craft must have, and should be wearing, a Canadian approved, appropriately sized flotation device (either a lifejacket or personal flotation device) that is in good condition. This contravention could cost you over $200 for each violation!
A surprising number of pleasure craft are stranded each year due to running out of fuel. More than 50 per cent of calls for assistance are from boaters in trouble as a result of the mechanical failure of their vessels. Pleasure Craft Courtesy Checks ^
Other equipment will be inspected and any deficiencies identified. There are no penalties for missing equipment and no limit to the number of checks you can request. Arranging for a check every spring is a good idea. Visit www.boatingsafety.gc.ca for more information.
Inspect your pleasure craft:
Make sure your pleasure craft has what it needs for a safe trip:
Take a minute to consider your safety preparedness:
Owners and operators of pleasure craft, including personal watercraft, should brief all guests and future operators about safe operation before heading out. Guests should be told where the safety equipment is kept and how to use it. These are just a few things to consider before setting out. To be properly prepared, take a boating safety course. Doing so can better sensitize you to possible risks and danger on the water. Planning on renting out your vessel this season? You may be required to have a rental boat safety checklist on board. Visit www.boatingsafety.gc.ca or contact a Transport Canada Centre for more information. Making and filing sail plans ^ A sail plan is a voyage itinerary that includes a travel route and a basic description of your boat. Sail plans are also referred to as trip or float plans. No matter what you call them, all boaters are encouraged to file one before heading out even if it is just for an hour or two. File your sail plan with a responsible person and instruct them to contact a Rescue Coordination Centre if you are overdue. If you are taking a long trip you should file a daily position report (especially if your planned route has changed). To avoid launching an unwarranted search for you, be sure to deactivate the sail plan you filed by reporting that you have returned or completed your trip. Forgetting to do this can result in lost time and resources for Search and Rescue personnel. See this page for a sail plan you can photocopy and use. Being prepared goes beyond having your boat and equipment in tip-top shape. Follow these tips:
Talk to knowledgeable local residents if you are in an area that is not covered by marine charts. They may be able to point out low-head dams, rapids, white water, local wind conditions, currents and areas of rapid build up of high wave conditions.
A receiver for continuous marine weather forecasts is available and distributed through marine equipment supply outlets. When heading out, make sure the conditions you see match those predicted. Once under way, remember to keep your eye on the sky. If the sky looks dark and cloudy and conditions are changing rapidly, head for shore (check your charts in advance to know where to seek shelter). Summer thunderstorms can strike quickly and unexpectedly. Other indicators bad weather is approaching are falling barometric pressure, increasing winds and changes in wind direction that can affect wave action. See this page for ways to obtain marine weather forecasts. Environment Canada uses special wind terms in marine weather forecasts:
* One knot is one nautical mile an hour (1.852 km/h) An open body of water may seem spacious and accommodating, but remember there are no defined pathways for travelling on water. In fact, it is the absence of defined pathways, as well as signage to clearly tell us where we are, that makes navigation difficult. Operators should know:
Small boats should avoid potential danger and steer clear of rapids, currents and commercial shipping channels. The Canadian Coast Guard publishes monthly Notices to Mariners that have important information and amendments to marine charts and publications. These notices are free and can be obtained at www.notmar.com. Obtain as much information as possible about the area you will be navigating before you go. The Canadian Hydrographic Service is the top source for information on nautical charts, tide and current tables, Sailing Directions, the Canadian Aids to Navigation System, Radio Aids to Marine Navigation, the List of Lights and Buoys and Fog Signals. Visit www.charts.gc.ca for more information. Emergency! What are you going to do? ^
Regulated marine distress and safety communication equipment such as:
Pleasure craft do not have to carry GMDSS-compatible equipment, but it is recommended. If your pleasure craft has this equipment, connect it to a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to ensure your exact location is automatically transmitted in a digital distress alert in an emergency.
If you are buying a new VHF radio, make sure it has the new digital selective calling (DSC) feature on channel 70. This feature provides automatic digital distress alerts. The Canadian Coast Guard has upgraded its facilities to provide DSC channel 70 service in many areas. Remember, VHF radio channel 16 is used for emergency and calling purposes only. Once you call another vessel on channel 16, take your conversation to a working frequency to continue. VHF channel 70 should be used only for DSC (digital) communication and not for voice communications. Anyone who uses a VHF radio must follow the procedures described in the VHF Radiotelephone Practices and Procedures Regulations. Obtain a nine-digit Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number for your radio to get maximum benefits from this automated system. Your owner’s manual will explain this feature and how to make a DSC call to another vessel or to a shore station that has DSC capability. These numbers are assigned, free-of-charge, by Industry Canada. Call 1-800-667-3780 or visit www.ic.gc.ca for more information. On a VHF radiotelephone, in case of grave and imminent danger (for example, your boat is taking on water and you are in danger of sinking or capsizing), use channel 16 and say “Mayday” three times. Then give the name of your boat, its position, the nature of your problem and the type of assistance needed. If you need assistance but are not in immediate danger (for example, your boat’s motor has quit and you are unable to reach shore) use channel 16 and say “Pan-Pan” three times. Then give the name of your boat, its position, the nature of your problem and the type of assistance needed. An important feature of a VHF/DSC radio is its ability to send a distress alert that tells the Coast Guard and nearby vessels you require immediate assistance. To find out where VHF/DSC services are available visit www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca or contact a Canadian Coast Guard Marine Communications and Traffic Services centre. Currently, all VHF marine radio operators are required to have a restricted operator’s certificate (ROC) with maritime qualifications. Contact your local Industry Canada office or the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons at 1-888-CPS-BOAT for more information on procedures and radiotelephone license requirements.
If your boat is equipped with a GPS receiver, connecting it to your DSC radio may be a good idea. This ensures that when a distress alert is transmitted rescuers will immediately know your precise location and will arrive sooner. Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) ^
Although pleasure craft are not required to carry them, an EPIRB is highly recommended. EPIRBs must be registered with the Canadian Beacon Registry at 1-800-727-9414 or at beacons@nss.gc.ca.
However, a cellphone is not a reliable substitute for a marine radio and not the best means of issuing a distress call. Cellphones can lose reception or get wet and damaged. Calling from your cell does not alert other vessels close to you that you are in distress — the occupants of those other vessels could be the ones to help you if they could hear you. Unlike VHF transmissions, some wireless phone signals cannot be followed back to your location by rescuers. Not all cellular providers offer the *16 service. Contact your wireless provider to find out if the *16 service is available from your phone.
Learning the common distress signals will help you recognize those in trouble and place a call for help that much faster. See this page for common distress signals. Never send a distress signal unless you are in a real emergency. Sending false distress signals is an offence and takes time from Search and Rescue personnel, making them potentially unavailable or farther away from real emergencies. Overboard recovery techniques ^
If someone falls overboard, sound the alarm immediately and then:
Use a buoyant heaving line, or a lifebuoy secured to the vessel with a line, and recover the person from the windward side. A heavy rope, chain or cable secured at both ends and draped over the side (almost touching the water) can provide a makeshift step if necessary. If the freeboard of your boat is more than 0.5 metres (1’8”) you must have a reboarding device. Sailors and power boaters should be familiar with different overboard recovery techniques and consider how effectively these manoeuvres can be performed, with such things as sea-state and condition of the person overboard in mind. Could you retrieve a person from water if they could not assist in their own recovery? If you fell overboard, could your guests lift you to safety? When someone’s size or when the freeboard of the vessel makes it difficult to carry out a rescue by hand, equipment such as lifting slings and rigging may be a good idea (if not already mandatory for your size of vessel).
Your muscles are instantly paralyzed and there is no one around to help you. You are experiencing cold shock. There is no time to figure things out. Cold water shock likely causes more deaths than hypothermia. Canada’s typically cold waters are especially dangerous if you are unexpectedly immersed in them. For three to five minutes after sudden immersion you will gasp for breath. You could also experience muscle spasms or a rise in your heart rate and blood pressure. Worse yet, you could choke on water or suffer a heart attack or a stroke. Even strong swimmers can succumb to the effects of cold water shock. Cold water can paralyze your muscles instantly. Trying to get a hold of a device while in the water, let alone putting one on, will be nearly impossible because of the physiological changes your body will be experiencing.
If you have survived the shock of cold water, hypothermia is the next danger. Hypothermia is a drop in core body temperature below the normal level that occurs from a prolonged exposure to cold weather, particularly in watersoaked clothing or from direct immersion. At this lower temperature a person’s muscle and mental functions are affected. Someone who is exposed to cold water, and becoming hypothermic, can exhibit progressive signs and symptoms such as:
Extend your survival time by:
Protect yourself by wearing a lifejacket or PFD, multiple light layers of dry clothing and a water or wind-proof outer layer. Other equipment that comes in a variety of styles and names, and provides additional protection from hypothermia include:
Knowing how your safety equipment works, especially in water, is a good idea. Test it in a warm swimming pool or in calm water before you may have to use it in an emergency. If there is warning your boat may be sinking, put on as much clothing as possible beneath your lifejacket or PFD. Fuel safety and carbon monoxide awareness ^
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, silent and deadly danger. It is a colourless, odourless gas produced during the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. It cuts off the oxygen supply to the body, causing death in minutes. Symptoms of CO poisoning such as headaches, nausea, and fatigue can be mistaken for seasickness or the flu because the deadly gas is undetectable. Avoid CO poisoning:
Swimmers take note: CO is not just a risk to boaters. You can be overcome by the gas in minutes and drown. Areas of risk are underneath swim grids and between the pontoons of houseboats.
Propane and butane, often used on boats for fuel-burning appliances, can be dangerous and must be treated with care. These substances may present more risk than gasoline to use. Gas fumes and leaking propane or butane are heavier than air and will quickly flow into the lower parts of your boat. These substances are extremely difficult to remove and are highly explosive. Be sure to provide adequate ventilation for gas-burning appliances, even with just a pilot light on. Ensure portable cooking or heating appliances are secured to guard against leakage due to unexpected movement of the boat. Secure gas cylinders and tanks in an area with good ventilation. Always attend to an open f lame heating, cooking or refrigeration system that uses gaseous fuel. Be sure the fuel-burning equipment installation is in accordance with manufacturer’s recommended practices.
Every pleasure craft must have ignition-protected electrical devices. Ignition-protected components are designed and constructed so they will not ignite a flammable hydrocarbon mixture like gasoline or propane under normal operating conditions. This protection uses seals and flame arrestors to prevent sparks from escaping when the equipment is operating. Most Canadian ignition-protected components are labelled.
Raw fuel is extremely harmful to the marine environment and its vapours create a fi re hazard. Follow these procedures, step-by-step, when refuelling. It not only makes good sense, it is the law.
Heads up! New environmental laws are affecting diesel properties. The type of diesel available at the pump will be constantly changing. Follow the safety instructions provided by fuel suppliers, and operate according to your vessel’s engine and system requirements. |
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