Canal Regulations (C.R.C., c. 1564)

Lights on Vessels

• 19 (1) Every vessel in any canal shall comply with the rules respecting lights as contained in the Collision Regulations.

• (2) No vessel shall use a searchlight in such manner that the rays of the searchlight interfere with the navigation of a vessel or the operation of the canal structures.

Passing of Vessels Under Way

20 The passing of vessels meeting or overtaking one another in a canal shall be governed by the Collision Regulations, subject, however, as follows:

• (a) when two vessels are approaching, from opposite directions, a swing bridge that does not provide separate channels for up and down traffic and curtails the normal width of the navigation channel, the downbound vessel shall have the right-of-way, the upbound vessel holding back so that the vessels will pass each other at least 300 feet below the bridge;

• (b) when two vessels, either one of which exceeds 100 feet in length, are approaching a bend in a canal from opposite directions, the downbound vessel shall have the right-of-way and the upbound vessel shall check its speed so as to avoid meeting in the bend; and

• (c) no vessel shall attempt to overtake another vessel while within 1,000 feet of a lock, guard gate or bridge that both are approaching.

Passing Moored Vessels

21 Any vessel passing a moored vessel or equipment working in a canal shall proceed at dead slow speed.

Vessel Precedence at Railway Bridges

• 22 (1) Precedence at railway movable bridges shall, at all times, be given to canal traffic.

• (2) If no train is on the railway signal block when a vessel whistles for the bridge, the bridge master shall, at once, set the signals against railway traffic and proceed to open the bridge.

• (3) If a train is on the railway signal block, the train will be permitted to cross and the vessel shall slow down, stop if necessary, and await the passage of the train.

Vessels Approaching Lock or Bridge

• 23 (1) A whistle, bell or horn shall be sounded before a vessel reaches any lock or movable bridge as an approach signal to such extent only as is necessary to give the officer in charge of such lock or bridge warning to receive the vessel.

• (2) The master of any vessel within a lock or approaching or leaving a lock, guard gate or bridge shall ascertain for himself whether or not such lock, guard gate or bridge is prepared to allow his vessel to enter or pass, and he shall control his vessel so as to avoid collision with canal works.

• (3) When approaching any lock or guard gate equipped with traffic signal lights, the stem of any vessel shall not pass the sign marked LIMIT OF APPROACH while the signal light shows red or when no light is shown.

• (4) No vessel shall attempt to pass any bridge equipped with traffic signal lights while the lights thereon show red or when no light is showing.

• 24 (1) At night, when approaching any lock not equipped with traffic signal lights, no vessel shall attempt to enter such lock until the red light is shown on the mitre of the gates farthest from the approaching vessel.

• (2) On all bridges not equipped with traffic lights, lanterns with red and green lenses are provided.

• (3) At night no vessel shall attempt to pass any bridge not equipped with traffic signal lights while the light shows red or when no light is showing.

Vessels Waiting at Locks

• 25 (1) All vessels approaching a lock while another vessel is in or about to enter the lock shall be moored at the approach wharf until directed by the officer in charge to proceed.

• (2) Where several vessels are waiting to enter a lock, they shall be moored in single tier at the approach wharf unless otherwise directed by the Superintending Engineer, Superintendent or lockmaster.

• (3) Each vessel shall advance to the lock in the order in which it arrived, except that:

  • (a) specific classes of vessels shall follow such order of precedence as may be established by the Chief;

  • (b) a vessel small enough to lock with a preceding vessel shall advance for that purpose ahead of its regular turn, if so instructed by the officer in charge;

  • (c) vessels with barges in tow and, in special circumstances, other vessels, shall follow such order of precedence as may be determined by the Superintending Engineer or the Superintendent; and

  • (d) a vessel approaching a lock and having precedence under the provisions of paragraph (a), (b) or (c) is not entitled to such precedence unless it is within 1/2 mile, or lesser distance, of the lock when it signals for such lock.

• (4) Vessels shall not be moored at approach wharves during the operating day except while waiting for lockage.

• (5) Except with the written authority of the Chief or Superintending Engineer, a vessel shall not be moored to a canal wharf or wall for a period in excess of 48 hours.

• (6) A vessel that has been moored to a canal wharf or wall at a lock station shall not return to any wharf or wall at that station until 24 hours have elapsed from the time of its departure therefrom.

Vessels Entering and Leaving Locks

• 26 (1) No vessel shall attempt to enter or leave a lock until the gates are fully opened, and the engines shall be stopped while the propeller wheel is passing over the mitre sills.

• (2) The rate of speed of any vessel on entering a lock, when the bow of the vessel has reached the open gates, shall be such that the vessel can be moved into position by her lines alone without depending on the propeller wheel, and the engine shall be stopped when the bow of the vessel has reached the middle of the lock between the upper and lower gates; the remaining distance to be travelled shall be by means of lines attached to winches installed on the vessel’s deck.

• (3) Any vessel, while entering, locking or leaving a lock shall be so controlled as to prevent damage by the vessel to the lock structure and auxiliary equipment.

Crew to Assist in Passing Vessels

• 27 (1) When any vessel is passing through a lock or bridge, the vessel’s crew shall, when and in such numbers as required by the officer in charge, be assigned to assist in passing the vessel.

• (2) Any men assigned under subsection (1) shall comply with the instructions given them by the officer in charge.

Control of Vessels During Ice Conditions

• 28 (1) Upon the formation of ice on any canal, the Chief may give priority or refuse passage to any vessel or require any vessel to tie up for the winter at any location in the canal.

• (2) Vessels lying in wait or wintering in a canal as a result of such instructions shall pay the wharfage, lying-up and wintering charges provided for in these Regulations.

Vessel Lines

• 29 (1) Every vessel of 200 registered gross tons and under navigating the canals shall be provided with at least two good and sufficient lines or hawsers, one at the bow and one at the quarter.

• (2) Every vessel of more than 200 registered gross tons shall be provided with at least four good and sufficient lines or hawsers, two leading astern, one leading ahead and one abreast, all so arranged that they may be used on either side, and on self-propelled vessels at least three of these lines shall run from power-driven winches.

• (3) Cargo winches may be used for the handling of mooring lines if

  • (a) each of the three mooring lines is wound on the main drum of a separate winch;

  • (b) each mooring line passes through no more than one lead between the winch and the fairlead in the vessel’s side;

  • (c) leads are fixed in place and provided with free sheaves so that the mooring line may be led to either side of the vessel as required; and

  • (d) where the exact compliance with this subsection is not possible, a slight deviation therefrom may be made on the permission in writing of the Chief, the Superintending Engineer or the Superintendent.

• (4) For the handling of mooring lines, every vessel shall have on both sides chocks satisfactory to the Chief, the Superintending Engineer or the Superintendent.

• 30 (1) Each line shall be provided with a hand-hold loop spliced thereto at the end of the eye that is thrown over the snubbing post.

• (2) When locking, each line shall be made fast to snubbing posts on the bank of the canal or lock.

• (3) The two lines leading astern of a vessel of more than 200 registered gross tons, pulling evenly, shall be made fast to separate snubbing posts.

• (4) To check the speed of a vessel while entering the lock, to prevent it from striking against the gates or other parts of the lock and to keep it in proper position while the lock is being filled or emptied, each line shall be attended by one of the vessel’s crew during the whole period that the vessel is in any lock.

• (5) A vessel shall not be permitted to pass if, in the opinion of the Chief, the Superintending Engineer or the Superintendent, the lines, winches or chocks are not good or sufficient.

Vessel Held on Canal Bank

31 No vessel when blown or otherwise held on the bank in a canal shall attempt to work itself off with the vessels engine and wheel but shall run lines to the opposite side of the canal and heave out into the channel with its capstan.

Mooring and Fastening of Vessels

• 32 (1) No vessel shall be fastened or moored so as to obstruct navigation.

• (2) An order given by the Chief, Superintending Engineer or the Superintendent with regard to the position, mooring or removal of any vessel in a canal, or to the accommodation to be given by the master of such vessel to the master of another vessel, shall be complied with immediately.

Vessels Prohibited from Tying to Poles

33 No vessel shall place a line on any electric transmission, light, telephone or telegraph pole or railings situated on canal property.

Top Wharfage, Side Wharfage and Storage Charges

• 34 (1) Top wharfage charges shall be levied on all goods loaded on or unloaded from vessels in a canal at the rates as set out in Schedule I to the Government Wharves Regulations established under the Government Harbours and Piers Act subject to subsections (2) and (3).

• (2) Top wharfage charges shall only be levied once on goods loaded on and subsequently unloaded from a vessel, or unloaded from and subsequently loaded on a vessel, at the same point in a canal, provided that such goods have not, in the interval, gone through any manufacturing or refining process.

• (3) Top wharfage charges shall not be levied on grain and grain products determined by the Chief to be destined for export out of Canada, and the books and papers of the persons and companies owning or handling such grain and grain products shall be open to inspection and audit by the officers of the Department for the purpose of determining the destination of such grain and grain products and such persons and companies shall satisfy the Chief that such grain and grain products are destined for export out of Canada.

• (4) Goods transhipped from one vessel to another in a canal are subject to top wharfage charges at the rates set out in Schedule I to the Government Wharves Regulations and the charges are payable by the owner of the discharging vessel.

• (5) The quantities on which top wharfage charges shall be computed shall be based on reports, vessel’s manifest and bills of lading furnished by the owner of the vessel or the owner of the goods concerned.

• 35 (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), berthage shall be levied on a vessel moored, loading or unloading goods or lying in wait in any canal or in any waters forming part of a canal referred to in subsection 6(1) at the rates set out in Schedule VII.

• (2) No berthage or side wharfage charge shall be levied on a vessel holding a permit issued under subsection 7(1) for the first 24 hours that the vessel is moored at a canal mooring facility.

• (3) No berthage or side wharfage charge shall be levied on a vessel at a canal mooring facility where the cost of collecting that charge would equal or exceed the amount of that charge.

• 36 (1) No goods shall be deposited on or occupy any portion of a restricted area.

• (2) No goods shall be deposited on or occupy any portion of an unrestricted area except with permission in writing of, and as directed by, the Superintending Engineer or the Superintendent.

• (3) Except as provided in subsection (5), storage charges shall be levied on all goods occupying an unrestricted area at the rate of $0.01 per square foot of the area occupied for each period of seven days or portion thereof in a season of navigation and for each period of 20 days or portion thereof in a non-navigation season during which the goods occupy such area.

• (4) The charges set forth in subsection (3) are in addition to top wharfage and side wharfage charges.

• (5) Goods that are not to be loaded directly on to a vessel or that have been unloaded directly from a vessel from or to an unrestricted area are not liable to storage charges until they have occupied such area for 48 hours on any canal.

• 37 (1) Top wharfage, side wharfage and storage charges are payable to the officer appointed by the Chief or Superintending Engineer to collect such charges and, subject to subsection (2), shall be paid by the owner of the vessel or by the owner of the goods

  • (a) in the case of side wharfage charges, by the owner of the vessel before the vessel leaves the canal; and

  • (b) in the case of top wharfage and storage charges, by the owner of the goods before the goods are removed from the canal lands.

• (2) Where the Chief so authorizes, the charges referred to in subsection (1) may be billed and in such case are payable by the owner of the vessel or the goods within 20 days from the date of billing.

• 38 (1) The master of any vessel entering a canal to discharge goods or leaving a canal in which goods have been taken aboard shall, upon the vessel’s arrival in the canal before discharging and prior to the vessel’s departure from the canal after loading, respectively, furnish to the proper officer of the canal correct reports in such form as may be required by the Department specifying the goods making up the vessel’s cargo on entering and on leaving the canal and showing the details of each consignment of all goods loaded or unloaded in the canal and, if so required by the Chief or the Superintending Engineer, certified copies of bills of lading of each consignment and a certified copy of vessel’s manifest shall also be furnished.

• (2) If so authorized by the Chief or the Superintending Engineer, the reports, vessel’s manifest, and bills of lading referred to in subsection (1) shall be furnished at a later date by the owner of the vessel or the owner of the goods.

Loading or Unloading Otherwise Than at a Wharf

39 No vessel shall take on or discharge passengers or goods at any place other than a regular wharf, as determined by the Superintending Engineer, without the express permission in writing of the Chief or Superintending Engineer.

Loading or Unloading in Front of Leased Lots

• 40 (1) Lessees of canal lots facing canals or basins have the first privilege of loading or unloading vessels on the unleased canal property fronting their respective leased lots.

• (2) The Superintending Engineer may, if he sees fit, allow any vessel to discharge on unleased canal property that is fronting on leased lots.

Time Allowance for Loading and Unloading of Goods

• 41 (1) The loading and unloading of goods shall be carried out expeditiously throughout each working day in a manner satisfactory to the Superintending Engineer or the Superintendent.

• (2) Vessels that have ceased discharging or loading, from any cause, are not entitled to retain their berths.

• (3) Goods unloaded shall be removed at once to a point clear of the canal wharves and banks.

Placing Goods on Unleased Land

42 Goods placed on unleased canal land shall be placed as directed by the Superintending Engineer or the Superintendent.

Obstruction of Thoroughfare

• 43 (1) No goods shall be placed on canal wharves or lands so as to obstruct any thoroughfare, or hinder free passage for persons, teams or vehicles along the front of such wharves or lands.

• (2) Goods shall not be loaded or unloaded at any lock.

Goods Left on Wharves or Canal Property Beyond Time Limit

• 44 (1) In the event of violation of section 41, 42 or 43, the Superintending Engineer or the Superintendent may remove any goods remaining on the wharf or canal land longer than permitted by these Regulations to any place that he sees fit and such removal shall be made at the cost of the owner of the goods or of the owner of the vessel from which they were unloaded or to which they are to be loaded, and the costs and the penalties incurred for such violation constitute a lien upon the goods, and the goods shall not be delivered to or removed by any person until all such costs and penalties are paid; and notwithstanding such removal by or on the orders of the Superintending Engineer or the Superintendent, such goods continue to be at the risk of the owner thereof.

• (2) If, within 30 days after the removal of goods under subsection (1), the costs and penalties due under subsection (1) are not paid, the Chief may sell, by public auction or otherwise, the goods and apply the net proceeds in payment or part payment of such costs and penalties and the balance, if any, owing to the Department shall be recoverable with costs from the owners.

• (3) The surplus net proceeds, if any, from the sale of goods under subsection (2) after the payment of the costs and penalties shall be paid to the owners.