Vessel Navigation Safety and Radiocommunications

Act: Canada Shipping Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. S-9
Regulation: Collision Regulations, C.R.C., Vol. XV, c. 1416, p. 11475, as amended; Charts and Nautical Publications Regulations, 1995, SOR/95-149, as amended; Navigation Safety Regulations, SOR/2005-134, as amended; St. Clair and Detroit River Navigation Safety Regulations, SOR/84-335, as amended; Burlington Canal Regulations, SOR/89-222, as amended; Ship Station (Radio) Regulations, 1999, SOR/2000-260, as amended; Ship Station (Radio) Technical Regulations, 1999 SOR/2000-265 as amended; VHF Radiotelephone Practices and Procedures Regulations, SOR/81-364, as amended; Steering Appliances and Equipment Regulations, SOR/83-810, as amended; Anchorage Regulations SOR/88-101, as amended.

To Whom Does This Apply?

Ships in Canadian waters and Canadian ships in all waters.

Summary

The Canada Shipping Act (CSA) is an Act respecting shipping and navigation, providing the foundation for Canada's marine regulatory program. The above-noted regulations concern safety of navigation, prevention of collisions and distress and safety radiocommunications.

The Burlington Canal Regulations were enacted to establish procedures for the safe passage of ships through the Burlington Canal.

The Charts and Nautical Publications Regulations, 1995, require vessels to carry updated charts and relevant nautical publications appropriate to their area of operations to promote safe navigation.

The Navigation Safety Regulations implement provisions and standards for navigation equipment and information to further navigational safety for the safety of life at sea and protection of the marine environment.

The St. Clair and Detroit River Navigation Safety Regulations set safe navigation procedures for vessels passing between Lake Erie and Lake Huron.

The VHF Radiotelephone Practices and Procedures Regulations establish VHF radio procedures to be followed by persons on board ships in respect of bridge-to-bridge VHF radiotelephones to ensure safe navigation.

The Collision Regulations promote uniform measures and ensure the safe conduct of vessels at sea by giving effect to the International Convention for Preventing Collisions at Sea, and to Canadian modifications of a collision avoidance nature.

The Steering Appliances and Equipment Regulations establish requirements with respect to ship steering appliances and equipment.

The Ship Station (Radio) Regulations, 1999, and Ship Station (Radio) Technical Regulations, 1999, prescribe radiocommunication equipment to be carried by ships used commercially for the purpose of distress, urgency, safety and general communication.

The Anchorage Regulations prohibit ships from anchoring in certain waters.

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this section is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. For particular questions, the users are invited to contact their lawyer. For additional information, see contact(s) listed below.

New Brunswick Contact(s):
See National Contact.

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National Contact(s):
Mr. Robert Turner
Manager
Operations and Environmental Programs
Marine Safety
Navigation Safety and Radiocommunications
Transport Canada
Tower C, 10th floor
Place de Ville
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0N8
Telephone: 613-991-3134
Fax: 613-954-4731 / 998-8620
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-888-675-6863
E-mail: turnerr@tc.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.tc.gc.ca/en/menu.htm