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

Class VIII Ships [reserved]

Class IX Ships(Ships that are over 15 tons gross tonnage and are (i) Safety Convention ships that are not certified to carry passengers, or that are certified to carry 12 or fewer passengers, on unlimited voyages, or (ii) ships that are not Safety Convention ships and that are not certified to carry passengers, or that are certified to carry 12 or fewer passengers, on unlimited voyages or near coastal voyages, Class 1)

Ships Other Than Tankers

• 20 (1) Subject to subsection (2), a Class IX ship that is not a tanker and is a Safety Convention ship or a ship engaged on an unlimited voyage shall carry

  • (a) Class 1 lifeboats not less than 7.3 m in length, each under davits, in accordance with paragraph (b) or (c), but where a ship is making sheltered waters voyages, the lifeboats may be of Class 2;

  • (b) subject to paragraph (c),

    • (i) on each side of the ship, one or more lifeboats of aggregate capacity sufficient to accommodate the complement of which one shall be a motor lifeboat if the ship is of 1,600 tons, gross tonnage, or over, but no motor lifeboat need be carried on a ship that does not go more than 20 miles from land,

    • (ii) in the case of a ship described in subsection (2) and a ship, other than a tug, that goes more than 20 miles from land, one or more life rafts of aggregate capacity sufficient to accommodate 50 per cent of the complement, and

    • (iii) in the case of a tug, one or more life rafts of aggregate capacity sufficient to accommodate the complement;

  • (c) if such ship is a whale factory, or fish processing or canning factory ship,

    • (i) either

      • (A) lifeboats, including one motor lifeboat, of aggregate capacity sufficient to accommodate 50 per cent of the complement on each side of the ship, or

      • (B) lifeboats, including one motor lifeboat, of aggregate capacity sufficient to accommodate at least 37 1/2 per cent of the complement on each side of the ship and life rafts, capable of being launched by launching devices, of aggregate capacity sufficient to accommodate the portion of the complement not accommodated in the lifeboats and launching devices sufficient to launch all the life rafts required under this clause, fully loaded, in 30 minutes in calm conditions,

    • (ii) life rafts, or additional life rafts, capable of being launched by launching devices if such devices are provided under subparagraph (i), of aggregate capacity sufficient to accommodate 50 per cent of the complement,

    • (iii) on each side of the ship, an approved boat that is not over 8.5 m in length and may count towards the requirements of subparagraph (i) if it is a Class 1 lifeboat, and

    • (iv) notwithstanding subsection 2(1) of Part I of Schedule IX, gravity-type davits for the launching of lifeboats and for the launching of emergency boats that, pursuant to subparagraph (iii), are counted towards the requirements of subparagraph (i);

  • (d) eight lifebuoys;

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

    • (i) one for each member of the complement, and

    • (ii) where the ship is a tug, at least two stowed in the wheelhouse and two stowed in the engine room;

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

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

    • (i) two, if the ship is 300 tons or over but under 500 tons gross tonnage, and

    • (ii) three, if the ship is 500 tons gross tonnage or over;

  • (h) for each life raft,

    • (i) if the ship is engaged on a voyage beyond the limits of a near coastal voyage, Class 2, a SOLAS A pack as set out in the LSA Code, and

    • (ii) if the ship is engaged on any other voyage, a SOLAS B pack as set out in the LSA Code;

  • (i) for each approved boat, the equipment set out in section 2 of Schedule II;

  • (j) a line-throwing appliance;

  • (k) if the ship is engaged on a voyage other than a sheltered waters voyage, 12 rocket parachute flares;

  • (l) the following SARTs:

    • (i) if the ship is 20 m or over in length but under 500 tons gross tonnage, 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) if the ship is 500 tons gross tonnage or over, two SARTs stowed so that they are readily accessible for immediate use and for placing in the two survival craft that are launched first; and

  • (m) [Repealed, SOR/2000-261, s. 8]

  • (n) means of embarkation into survival craft.

• (1.1) Despite subparagraph (1)(l)(i), a ship that is under 300 tons gross tonnage and that on March 31, 2001 was required by these Regulations to carry two Class II EPIRBs may continue to carry them instead of a SART until one of the batteries of the Class II EPIRBs needs to be replaced.

• (2) Every Class IX ship that is a bulk carrier, other than a tanker, that is over 91.4 m in length and makes voyages in the St. Lawrence River east of the Montreal entrance to the St. Lawrence Seaway shall include in its life saving equipment inflatable life rafts of sufficient capacity to accommodate half of the complement.

• (3) Where some of the persons carried on a ship described in subsection (2) are berthed in the forward part of the ship, inflatable life rafts of sufficient capacity to accommodate all of those persons shall be stowed forward and the remaining inflatable life rafts shall be stowed aft.

• (4) A ship of 150 m in length or over having no amidships superstructure shall carry, in addition to the life rafts required by subsection (1), a life raft that is capable of accommodating at least six persons and that is stowed as far forward as is reasonable and practicable.

• (5) [Repealed, SOR/96-218, s. 17]

21 [Repealed, SOR/96-218, s. 18]

• 22 (1) Subject to subsection 20(2), a Class IX ship that is engaged on a near coastal voyage, Class 1, other than a tanker or a Safety Convention ship, shall carry

  • (a) if 30.5 m in length or over, either

    • (i) on each side of such ship, one or more Class 1 lifeboats not less than 4.9 m in length, each under davits and of aggregate capacity sufficient to accommodate the complement,

    • (ii) on each side of the ship, one or more Class 1 lifeboats not less than 4.9 m in length, each under davits, and one or more life rafts that together with the lifeboats on either side have sufficient capacity to accommodate the complement, the aggregate capacity of the life rafts and lifeboats being sufficient to accommodate double the complement, or

    • (iii) on one side of the ship, one or more Class 1 lifeboats not less than 4.9 m in length, each under davits, and one or more life rafts that together with the lifeboats have sufficient capacity to accommodate double the complement, the life rafts alone being capable of accommodating the complement;

  • (b) if such ship is under 30.5 m in length, either

    • (i) on each side of such ship, one or more Class 1 lifeboats not less than 4.9 m in length, each under davits and of aggregate capacity sufficient to accommodate the complement,

    • (ii) on each side of the ship, one or more Class 1 lifeboats not less than 4.9 m in length, each under davits, and one or more life rafts that together with the lifeboats on either side have sufficient capacity to accommodate the complement, the aggregate capacity of the life rafts and lifeboats being sufficient to accommodate 1.5 times the complement, or

    • (iii) on each side of the ship, one or more Class 1 lifeboats not less than 4.9 m in length, each under davits, and one or more life rafts that together with the lifeboats have sufficient capacity to accommodate 1.5 times the complement, the life rafts alone being capable of accommodating the complement;

  • (c) if the requirements of paragraph (a) or (b) are impracticable, an approved boat that has a capacity of not less than 3.54 m³ and carries two or more equal-sized life rafts, the aggregate capacity of those survival craft being sufficient to accommodate 200 per cent of the complement;

  • (d) [Repealed, SOR/96-218, s. 19]

  • (e) if such ship is a tug, in addition to the other requirements of this section, one or more life rafts with sufficient aggregate capacity to accommodate the complement, but any life rafts provided to meet the requirements of paragraph (a), (b) or (c) may be counted toward the requirement of this paragraph;

  • (f) if such ship is of 1,600 tons, gross tonnage, or over, a Class 1 motor lifeboat not less than 4.9 m in length, under davits, which may count towards the lifeboat requirements elsewhere in this section;

  • (g) where the ship is within the length range set out in column I of an item of the table to this paragraph, the supply of equipment set out in columns II to IV of that item:

    	Column I	Column II	Column III	Column IV
    Item	Length of Ship	Lifebuoys	Self-igniting Lights	Buoyant Lifelines
    1	Under 30.5 m	4	2	2
    2	30.5 m or over	6	3	2

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

    • (i) one for each member of the complement, and

    • (ii) where the ship is a tug, at least two stowed in the wheelhouse and two stowed in the engine room;

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

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

    • (i) two, if the ship is 300 tons or over but under 500 tons gross tonnage, and

    • (ii) three, if the ship is 500 tons gross tonnage or over;

  • (k) for each life raft, a SOLAS A pack as set out in the LSA Code;

  • (l) for each approved boat, the equipment set out in section 2 of Schedule II;

  • (m) where the ship is 150 tons gross tonnage or over, a line-throwing appliance;

  • (n) 12 rocket parachute flares;

  • [(n) means of embarkation, in accordance with Schedule VI,

    • (i) at each set of davits, and

    • (ii) at places of embarkation into life rafts.]

  • (o) the following SARTs:

    • (i) if the ship is 20 m or over in length but under 500 tons gross tonnage, 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) if the ship is 500 tons gross tonnage or over, two SARTs stowed so that they are readily accessible for immediate use and for placing in the two survival craft that are launched first; and

  • (p) means of embarkation into survival craft.

• (2) Despite subparagraph (1)(o)(i), a ship that is under 300 tons gross tonnage and that on March 31, 2001 was required by these Regulations to carry two Class II EPIRBs may continue to carry them instead of a SART until one of the batteries of the Class II EPIRBs needs to be replaced.

Tankers

• 22.1 (1) A Class IX ship that is a tanker and is a Safety Convention ship or a ship engaged on an unlimited voyage shall carry

  • (a) where the ship is under 1,600 tons gross tonnage, on each side of the ship, one or more Class 1 lifeboats that are under davits, are not under 7.3 m in length and have an aggregate capacity sufficient to accommodate the complement;

  • (b) where the ship is 1,600 tons or over but under 3,000 tons gross tonnage, on each side of the ship and under gravity-type davits, the following lifeboats:

    • (i) where the ship is engaged on a voyage more than 20 nautical miles from shore, one motor lifeboat, and

    • (ii) one or more Class 1 lifeboats not under 7.3 m in length, the aggregate capacity of which is sufficient to accommodate that part of the complement not accommodated in the motor lifeboat;

  • (c) where the ship is 3,000 tons gross tonnage or over, four lifeboats that are under gravity-type davits and are distributed equally on both sides of the ship, two of which are carried aft and two amidships or, where the ship has no amidships superstructure, are carried aft;

  • (d) where the ship is engaged on a voyage more than 20 nautical miles from shore, the following life rafts:

    • (i) one or more life rafts having an aggregate capacity sufficient to accommodate 50 per cent of the complement, and

    • (ii) where the ship is 150 m or over in length and has no amidships superstructure, a life raft that is capable of accommodating at least six persons and is stowed as far forward as is practicable;

  • (e) eight lifebuoys;

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

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

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

    • (i) two, if the ship is 300 tons or over but under 500 tons gross tonnage, and

    • (ii) three, if the ship is 500 tons gross tonnage or over;

  • (i) for each life raft,

    • (i) if the ship is engaged on a voyage beyond the limits of a near coastal voyage, Class 2, a SOLAS A pack as set out in the LSA Code, and

    • (ii) if the ship is engaged on any other voyage, a SOLAS B pack as set out in the LSA Code;

  • (j) [Repealed, SOR/2023-257, s. 451]

  • (k) a line-throwing appliance;

  • (l) if the ship is engaged on a voyage other than a sheltered waters voyage, 12 rocket parachute flares;

  • (m) the following SARTs:

    • (i) if the ship is 20 m or over in length but under 500 tons gross tonnage, 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) if the ship is 500 tons gross tonnage or over, two SARTs stowed so that they are readily accessible for immediate use and for placing in the two survival craft that are launched first; and

  • (n) [Repealed, SOR/2000-261, s. 10]

  • (o) means of embarkation into survival craft.

• (1.1) Despite subparagraph (1)(m)(i), a ship that is under 300 tons gross tonnage and that on March 31, 2001 was required by these Regulations to carry two Class II EPIRBs may continue to carry them instead of a SART until one of the batteries of the Class II EPIRBs needs to be replaced.

• (2) A Class IX ship that is not a Safety Convention ship and is a tanker engaged on a near coastal voyage, Class 1, shall carry

  • (a) where the ship is under 1,600 tons gross tonnage, on each side of the ship, one or more Class 1 lifeboats that are under davits, are 4.9 m or over in length and have an aggregate capacity sufficient to accommodate the complement;

  • (b) where the ship is 1,600 tons or over but under 3,000 tons gross tonnage, the following lifeboats, under gravity-type davits,

    • (i) one motor lifeboat, and

    • (ii) on each side of the ship, one or more Class 1 lifeboats that are 4.9 m or over in length, the aggregate capacity of which is sufficient to accommodate that part of the complement not accommodated in the motor lifeboat;

  • (c) where the ship is 3,000 tons gross tonnage or over, four lifeboats, under gravity-type davits,

    • (i) that are distributed equally on both sides of the ship, two of which are carried aft and two amidships or, where the ship has no amidships superstructure, are carried aft, and

    • (ii) one of which is a motor lifeboat or, where the ship is 5,000 tons gross tonnage or over, two of which are motor lifeboats and are carried one on each side of the ship;

  • (d) where the ship is within the length range set out in column I of an item of the table to this paragraph, the supply of equipment set out in columns II to IV of that item:

    	Column I	Column II	Column III	Column IV
    Item	Length of Ship	Lifebuoys	Self-igniting Lights	Buoyant Lifelines
    1	Under 30.5 m	4	2	2
    2	30.5 m or over	6	3	2

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

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

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

    • (i) two, if the ship is 300 tons or over but under 500 tons gross tonnage, and

    • (ii) three, if the ship is 500 tons gross tonnage or over;

  • (h) for each life raft, a SOLAS A pack as set out in the LSA Code;

  • (i) [Repealed, SOR/2023-257, s. 451]

  • (j) where the ship is 150 tons gross tonnage or over, a line-throwing appliance;

  • (k) 12 rocket parachute flares;

  • (l) the following SARTs:

    • (i) if the ship is 20 m or over in length but under 500 tons gross tonnage, 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) if the ship is 500 tons gross tonnage or over, two SARTs stowed so that they are readily accessible for immediate use and for placing in the two survival craft that are launched first; and

  • (m) means of embarkation into survival craft.

• (2.1) Despite subparagraph (2)(l)(i), a ship that is under 300 tons gross tonnage and that on March 31, 2001 was required by these Regulations to carry two Class II EPIRBs may continue to carry them instead of a SART until one of the batteries of the Class II EPIRBs needs to be replaced.

• (3) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1)(c) and (2)(c), where it is not practicable to carry four lifeboats aft, a Class IX ship may carry two lifeboats, one on each side of the ship, if

  • (a) each lifeboat

    • (i) has the capacity sufficient to accommodate the complement and is not over

      • (A) 8.5 m in length, where the ship is engaged on an unlimited voyage, or

      • (B) 7.9 m in length, where the ship is engaged on a near coastal voyage, Class 1, and

    • (ii) is stowed

      • (A) as near as is safe and practicable to the waterline of the ship in its lightest seagoing condition, and

      • (B) as far forward as is practicable and, in any case, at least 1.5 times its own length forward of the ship’s propeller; and

  • (b) life rafts having the capacity sufficient to accommodate 50 per cent of the complement are carried.