7. (1) A ship shall be equipped with one non-portable VHF radiotelephone if the ship is

• (a) a closed construction ship of more than 8 m in length;

• (b) a ship carrying passengers that is engaged on a voyage any part of which is

  • (i) in a VHF coverage area, or

  • (ii) more than five miles from shore; or

• (c) a tow-boat.

(2) Unless a ship is equipped with two VHF radiotelephones, its VHF radiotelephone shall have dual watch capability if the ship is

• (a) a ship that has a gross tonnage of 300 tons or more;

• (b) a passenger ship that is 20 m or more in length, certified to carry more than 12 passengers and engaged on a voyage other than a home-trade voyage, Class IV, or a minor waters voyage, Class II; or

• (c) a ship whose VHF radiotelephone was installed after April 28, 1996.

(3) Despite paragraph (1)(b), a ship other than a closed construction ship that does not carry more than six passengers may carry a portable VHF radiotelephone that

• (a) meets the requirements of section 7 of the Ship Station (Radio) Technical Regulations, 1999; and

• (b) has a source of energy sufficient for the duration of the voyage.

7.1 (1) A ship carrying passengers that is engaged on a voyage any part of which is outside a VHF coverage area or sea area A1 shall be equipped with radio equipment capable of establishing continuous two-way communications with a Canadian Coast Guard Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centre or, if that is not possible, with another organization or person on shore that is providing communications with the ship.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of a ship engaged on a minor waters voyage during which it remains within two miles of shore, if it does not carry more than six passengers.

8. (1) A ship engaged on a voyage in the Great Lakes Basin shall be equipped with two non-portable VHF radiotelephones if the ship

• (a) has a gross tonnage of 300 tons or more; or

• (b) is a passenger ship that is 20 m or more in length, certified to carry more than 12 passengers and engaged on a voyage other than a home-trade voyage, Class IV, or a minor waters voyage, Class II.

(2) Any other ship engaged on a voyage in the Great Lakes Basin shall be equipped with two VHF radiotelephones, one of which may be portable, if the ship

• (a) is carrying more than six passengers; or

• (b) is a tow-boat whose tow, excluding the tow line, is 20 m or more in length.

9. (1) Instead of a VHF radiotelephone required by section 7, a ship engaged on a foreign voyage or a home-trade voyage shall be equipped with a VHF radio installation capable of receiving and transmitting voice communications and communications using DSC

• (a) beginning on April 1, 2001, in the case of a ship that is not engaged on a voyage in a Vessel Traffic Services Zone and that

  • (i) has a gross tonnage of 300 tons or more, or

  • (ii) is 20 m or more in length and certified to carry more than 12 passengers; and

• (b) beginning on the later of February 1, 2003 and the date that the VHF coverage areas on the east and west coasts of Canada are converted to sea areas A1, in the case of a ship that is

  • (i) a closed construction ship of more than 8 m in length,

  • (ii) a ship carrying more than six passengers,

  • (ii.1) a ship carrying fewer than six passengers, engaged on a home-trade voyage, Class I, a home-trade voyage, Class II, or a foreign voyage, or

  • (iii) a tow-boat.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of a ship engaged on a home-trade voyage, Class IV, in a Vessel Traffic Services Zone.