Design, Equipment & Boating Safety staff support safety in the design, construction and outfitting of recreational and small commercial vessels through the development or amendment of regulations and standards including requirements for:

• Hull Structure (Naval Architecture) 
• Machinery (Marine Engineering) 
• Electrical 
• Life Saving Equipment

Plans for new vessels or modifications for existing vessels are approved by Marine Safety at Transport Canada Centres.

The regulations and standards require the use of approved products. These are listed in the Approved Products Catalogue Index. For more information on how to have a product approved, contact shipshape@tc.gc.ca. 

When considering changes to safety requirements, Design, Equipment & Boating Safety is the focal point for consultations with interested parties on items dealt with by the CMAC Standing Committees on:

• Construction and Equipment; 
• Fishing Vessel Safety and Small Vessels; and,
• Issues that fall under the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Sub-Committees on Design and Equipment (DE), and Stability, Load Line & Fishing Vessels (SLF).