Canada Shipping Act, 2001 (S.C. 2001, c. 26)

Marginal note:Answering distress signal

• 131. (1) Subject to this section, the master of a vessel in Canadian waters and every qualified person who is the master of a vessel in any waters, on receiving a signal from any source that a person, a vessel or an aircraft is in distress, shall proceed with all speed to render assistance and shall, if possible, inform the persons in distress or the sender of the signal.

• Marginal note:Distress signal — no assistance

  (2) If the master is unable or, in the special circumstances of the case, considers it unreasonable or unnecessary to proceed to the assistance of a person, a vessel or an aircraft in distress, the master is not required to proceed to their assistance and is to enter the reason in the official log book of the vessel.

• Marginal note:Ships requisitioned

  (3) The master of any vessel in distress may requisition one or more of any vessels that answer the distress call to render assistance. The master of a requisitioned vessel in Canadian waters and every qualified person who is the master of a requisitioned vessel in any waters shall continue to proceed with all speed to render assistance to the vessel in distress.

• Marginal note:Release from obligation

  (4) The master of a vessel shall be released from the obligation imposed by subsection (1) when the master learns that another vessel is complying with a requisition referred to in subsection (3).

• Marginal note:Further release

  (5) The master of a vessel shall be released from an obligation imposed by subsection (1) or (3) if the master is informed by the persons in distress or by the master of another vessel that has reached those persons that assistance is no longer necessary.

Marginal note:Assistance

132. The master of a vessel in Canadian waters and every qualified person who is the master of a vessel in any waters shall render assistance to every person who is found at sea and in danger of being lost.

Marginal note:Aircraft treated as if vessel

133. Sections 130 to 132 apply in respect of aircraft on or over Canadian waters as they apply in respect of vessels in Canadian waters, with any modifications that the circumstances require.

Marginal note:Presence on Island

134. No person shall be present on Sable Island unless the person

• (a) has been so authorized in writing by the Minister and meets any terms and conditions specified in the authorization;

• (b) is there to perform duties on behalf of the Government of Canada; or

• (c) landed on the Island because of adverse weather conditions or the wreck or distress of a vessel or an aircraft that the person was on.

Marginal note:Designation

• 135. (1) The Minister may designate any person or class of persons for the purposes of enforcing this Part.

• Marginal note:Stopping and boarding a vessel

  (2) A person, or a member of a class of persons, designated under subsection (1) who has reasonable grounds to believe that an offence has been committed or is about to be committed under this Part by a vessel or any person on board a vessel may stop and board the vessel and take any reasonable action to ensure public safety or protect the public interest.