Marine Personnel Regulations (SOR/2007-115)

264. The master of a Safety Convention vessel shall ensure that it is in compliance with regulation 12 of Chapter IV of SOLAS in respect of radio watches.

265. The master of a vessel shall ensure that it is in compliance with

• (a) paragraphs 1 to 3 and 6 of article VII of the Agreement between Canada and the United States of America for Promotion of Safety on the Great Lakes by Means of Radio, 1973, if

  • (i) the vessel is engaged on a voyage in the Great Lakes Basin, and

  • (ii) article V of that Agreement requires the vessel to be in compliance; and

• (b) in the case of a Safety Convention vessel, Part 3-3 of section A-VIII/2 of the STCW Code.

• 266. (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), the master of a vessel that is required to be fitted with a VHF radiotelephone installation shall ensure that a person who holds one of the following certificates referred to in Schedule II to the Radiocommunication Regulations is in charge of the radio watch:

  • (a) Restricted Operator Certificate with Maritime Qualification;

  • (b) General Operator Certificate; or

  • (c) Restricted Operator’s Certificate (ROC-MC).

• (2) The master of a vessel engaged on a voyage other than a sheltered waters voyage and that is required to be fitted with a VHF radiotelephone installation capable of digital selective calling shall ensure that the person in charge of the radio watch holds

  • (a) in the case of a vessel that is engaged on a near coastal voyage, Class 2 and that has such a VHF installation as its only radiotelephone installation, a Restricted Operator Certificate with Maritime Qualifications issued after January 1, 2005; and

  • (b) in all other cases, a Restricted Operator’s Certificate (ROC-MC) issued under the Radiocommunication Act.

• (3) The authorized representative of a vessel to which section 10 of the Ship Station (Radio) Regulations, 1999 applies, when operating in sea areas A2, A3 or A4, shall employ and the master of that vessel shall ensure that there is on board

  • (a) a member of the complement who holds a First-class Radioelectronic certificate; or

  • (b) at least two persons

    • (i) each of whom holds a General Operator certificate, and

    • (ii) who, between them, are in charge of the radio watch for at least 16 hours during any 24-hour period.

• 267. (1) The master of a vessel of at least 300 gross tonnage shall assign a crew member as principal communicator whose duty is to operate the radiocommunication equipment during an emergency.

• (2) The principal communicator of a vessel shall hold, at a minimum, the certificate referred to in section 266 that applies in respect of that vessel.

• (3) If, owing to the duration of an emergency, the continuous presence of the principal communicator on the bridge is unreasonable, the master may assign any other member of the complement who is the holder of any of the certificates referred to in section 266 to replace the principal communicator.

• (4) Despite subsection (1), if the continuous presence of the principal communicator on the bridge becomes unnecessary, the master may relieve them of their duty.