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Life Saving Equipment Regulations (C.R.C., c. 1436)

Regulations are current to 2024-03-06 and last amended on 2023-12-20. Previous Versions

PART IIEquipment to Be Carried by New Ships (continued)

Class X Ships(Ships that are over 15 tons gross tonnage, are not Safety Convention ships and are not certified to carry passengers, or are certified to carry 12 or fewer passengers, on near coastal voyages, Class 1, limited to 120 nautical miles from shore, near coastal voyages, Class 2, sheltered waters voyages, inland voyages, inland voyages, limited to 25 nautical miles from shore, or near coastal voyages, Class 2, limited to five nautical miles from shore) (continued)

[
  • SOR/2023-257, s. 468
]

 A Class X ship shall carry

  • (a) one lifejacket, fitted with a whistle and a personal locator light, for each member of the complement; and

  • (b) the following supply of lifejackets, each fitted with a whistle and a personal locator light:

    • (i) at least two stowed in the wheelhouse,

    • (ii) at least two stowed in the engine room, and

    • (iii) enough that are suitable for children for all of the children on board.

  • SOR/96-218, s. 34

 A Class X ship shall carry

  • (a) the following number of survival craft VHF radiotelephone apparatus stowed so that they are readily accessible for immediate use:

    • (i) two, in the case of a ship that is 300 tons or over but under 500 tons gross tonnage and is engaged on a near coastal voyage, Class 1, limited to 120 nautical miles from shore, or a near coastal voyage, Class 2, and

    • (ii) three, in the case of a ship that is 500 tons gross tonnage or over and is engaged on a near coastal voyage, Class 1, limited to 120 nautical miles from shore, or a near coastal voyage, Class 2;

  • (b) where the ship is engaged on a voyage other than a sheltered waters voyage, one immersion suit, fitted with a whistle and a personal locator light, for each member of the complement;

  • (c) for each life raft,

    • (i) if the ship is engaged on a near coastal voyage, Class 1, limited to 120 nautical miles from shore, a SOLAS A pack as set out in the LSA Code, or

    • (ii) in any other case, a SOLAS B pack as set out in the LSA Code;

  • (d) [Repealed, SOR/2023-257, s. 472]

  • (e) [Repealed, SOR/2023-257, s. 472]

  • (f) [Repealed, SOR/2023-257, s. 472]

  • (g) if the ship is 85 m in length or over and is engaged on a voyage other than a sheltered waters voyage, a line-throwing appliance;

  • (h) the following pyrotechnic distress signals:

    • (i) where the ship is under 85 m in length, 12 pyrotechnic distress signals of which six are rocket parachute flares, and

    • (ii) where the ship is 85 m in length or over, 12 rocket parachute flares;

  • (i) means of embarkation into survival craft; and

  • (j) the following SARTs:

    • (i) in the case of a ship that is 300 tons or over but under 500 tons gross tonnage and is engaged on a voyage beyond the VHF coverage area or sea area A1, one SART stowed so that it is readily accessible for immediate use and for placing in one of the survival craft that are launched first, and

    • (ii) in the case of a ship that is 500 tons gross tonnage or over and is engaged on a voyage beyond the VHF coverage area or sea area A1, two SARTs stowed so that they are readily accessible for immediate use and for placing in the two survival craft that are launched first.

 A Class X ship shall be provided with signs that indicate

  • (a) the location of

    • (i) survival craft and their launching devices, and

    • (ii) embarkation stations; and

  • (b) directions to the embarkation stations.

  • SOR/96-218, s. 34

Class XI Ships(Ships that are over 15 tons gross tonnage, are not certified to carry passengers but carry a crew, are not self-propelled and are towed or pushed by a ship or operated by a cable)

  •  (1) A Class XI ship that is 85 m in length or over and is engaged on a voyage more than 20 nautical miles from shore shall carry

    • (a) the following lifeboats and life rafts:

      • (i) on each side of the ship, enough partially enclosed lifeboats under launching devices to accommodate the complement, and

      • (ii) enough life rafts, but no fewer than two, to accommodate the complement; or

    • (b) the following life rafts and rescue boats:

      • (i) on each side of the ship, enough life rafts to accommodate the complement,

      • (ii) enough life rafts, but no fewer than two, to accommodate the complement, and

      • (iii) at least one rescue boat with a means of launching.

  • (2) In addition to meeting the requirements of subsection (1), a Class XI ship that carries its survival craft more than 100 m from an area where persons are berthed shall carry, readily available to the persons berthed there, enough life rafts to accommodate them.

  • SOR/96-218, s. 34

 A Class XI ship that is under 85 m in length and is engaged on a voyage more than 20 nautical miles from shore shall carry

  • (a) on each side of the ship, enough life rafts to accommodate the complement; and

  • (b) one emergency boat with a means of launching.

  • SOR/96-218, s. 34
  •  (1) A Class XI ship that is engaged on a voyage not more than 20 nautical miles from shore shall carry

    • (a) enough life rafts to accommodate the complement; and

    • (b) one emergency boat with a means of launching.

  • (2) In addition to meeting the requirements of subsection (1), a Class XI ship that carries its survival craft more than 100 m from an area where persons are berthed shall carry, readily available to the persons berthed there, enough life rafts to accommodate them.

  • SOR/96-218, s. 34
  •  (1) A Class XI ship within the length range set out in column I of an item of the table to this section shall carry the supply of equipment set out in columns II to IV of that item.

  • (2) Notwithstanding the requirements of subsection (1), a Class XI ship need not carry more lifebuoys than there are members of the complement.

    TABLE

    Column IColumn IIColumn IIIColumn IV
    ItemLength of ShipLifebuoysSelf-igniting LightsBuoyant Lifelines
    1Under 85 m422
    285 m or over633
  • SOR/96-218, s. 34

 A Class XI ship shall carry

  • (a) one lifejacket, fitted with a whistle and a personal locator light, for each member of the complement;

  • (b) where the ship is engaged on a voyage other than a sheltered waters voyage, one immersion suit, fitted with a whistle and a personal locator light, for each member of the complement;

  • (c) for each life raft,

    • (i) if the ship is engaged on a near coastal voyage, Class 1, or a near coastal voyage, Class 1 that is limited to 120 nautical miles from shore, a SOLAS A pack as set out in the LSA Code, or

    • (ii) in any other case, a SOLAS B pack as set out in the LSA Code;

  • (d)  [Repealed, SOR/2023-257, s. 473]

  • (e)  [Repealed, SOR/2023-257, s. 473]

  • (f) [Repealed, SOR/2023-257, s. 473]

  • (g) one line-throwing appliance, unless the ship

    • (i) is engaged on a sheltered waters voyage, or

    • (ii) is making a voyage solely under tow and the tow boat is equipped with a line-throwing appliance;

  • (h) six rocket parachute flares; and

  • (i) means of embarkation into survival craft.

 A Class XI ship shall be provided with signs that indicate

  • (a) the location of

    • (i) survival craft and their launching devices, and

    • (ii) embarkation stations; and

  • (b) directions to the embarkation stations.

  • SOR/96-218, s. 34

PART IIIOperational Requirements and Equipment Standards

Life Saving Equipment Plans

 [Repealed, SOR/2023-257, s. 474]

  •  (1) Every ship shall carry, prominently displayed, the most recent life saving equipment plan that the Board approved for the ship.

  • (2) Despite subsection (1), a passenger ship of 25 m in length or under is not required to display a life saving equipment plan if doing so is impracticable because of the size or design of the ship.

  • (3) Every passenger ship shall make an announcement for the information of passengers before the ship leaves any place where passengers embark.

  • (4) The announcement shall

    • (a) specify the location of lifejackets;

    • (b) in each area of the ship, inform the passengers in that area of the location of lifejackets that are closest to them;

    • (c) specify the location of survival craft and muster stations; and

    • (d) in each area of the ship, inform the passengers in that area of the location of survival craft that are closest to them.

  • (5) The announcement shall be

    • (a) in either official language or in both, according to the needs of the passengers; and

    • (b) in the most recent format approved by the Board as meeting the requirements of this section.

  • SOR/2001-179, s. 40
  • SOR/2002-122, s. 2

Evacuation Procedures

 Every passenger ship shall have an evacuation procedure for the safe evacuation of the complement from the ship within 30 minutes after the abandon-ship signal is given.

  • SOR/96-218, s. 34
  • SOR/2006-256, s. 9

Evacuation of New Ships, Class IX

 The survival craft required for a new ship that is a Class IX ship shall be capable of being launched with their full complement and equipment within 10 minutes after the abandon-ship signal is given.

  • SOR/96-218, s. 34

Maintenance, Servicing and Training

 The following inspections and tests shall be carried out and recorded in the official log of a ship once every week on a Safety Convention ship and once every two weeks on any other ship:

  • (a) survival craft and launching devices shall be visually inspected to ensure that they are ready for use;

  • (b) the motor of lifeboats and rescue boats shall be run ahead and astern for a total period of not less than three minutes; and

  • (c) the general emergency alarm system shall be tested.

  • SOR/96-218, s.34
  • SOR/2001-179, s. 41
  • SOR/2004-26, s. 26
  •  (1) Every ship shall carry maintenance manuals for life saving equipment that contain the following information from the equipment manufacturers:

    • (a) maintenance and repair instructions;

    • (b) schedules for periodic maintenance;

    • (c) diagrams of lubrication points with recommended lubricants;

    • (d) lists of replaceable parts;

    • (e) if available, up-to-date lists of suppliers of spare parts; and

    • (f) logs for the records of inspection and maintenance.

  • (2) The maintenance manuals shall be

    • (a) drafted in easily understood terms; and

    • (b) made available

      • (i) in English and French, and

      • (ii) in sufficient numbers to provide easy access to all crew members.

  • (3) Maintenance of life saving equipment shall be carried out in accordance with International Maritime Organization Resolution MSC.402(96), Requirements for maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboats and rescue boats, launching appliances and release gear, as amended from time to time, and the instructions in the manuals referred to in subsection (1).

  • (4) Despite subsection (3), emergency repairs to emergency boats and rescue boats may be carried out on board ship if permanent repairs are then carried out at a service station.

 Every ship shall carry spare parts and repair equipment for the life saving equipment and components that need regular replacement.

  • SOR/96-218, s. 34
  •  (1) Where a ship carries survival craft that use falls as a means of launching, the falls shall be inspected in accordance with the appendix to annex 1 of International Maritime Organization Circular MSC.1/Circ.1206/Rev.1, Measures to prevent accidents with lifeboats, as amended from time to time, with special regard for areas passing through sheaves, and replaced when necessary due to deterioration of the falls or at intervals of not more than five years, whichever is earlier.

  • (2) For the purpose of interpreting the appendix referred to in subsection (1), “should” is to be read as “must” and any recommendation or suggestion is to be read as an obligation.

 

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