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Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020 (SOR/2020-216)

Regulations are current to 2024-10-30 and last amended on 2023-12-20. Previous Versions

PART 3Limitations and Prohibitions (continued)

DIVISION 3St. Clair River and Detroit River (continued)

Marginal note:Conflict

310 In the event of any inconsistency between this Division and the laws of the United States, the laws of the United States prevail to the extent of the inconsistency in respect of a Canadian vessel while it is in United States waters.

Marginal note:Continuous listening watch

311 Every vessel must maintain a continuous listening watch in accordance with Radio Aids to Marine Navigation published by the Canadian Coast Guard and make traffic reports to the Canadian Coast Guard Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centre located in Sarnia, Ontario, under the circumstances set out in that publication.

Marginal note:Detroit River restrictions

  • 312 (1) It is prohibited for a vessel in the Detroit River to

    • (a) proceed upbound in the West Outer Channel;

    • (b) proceed downbound in the Amherstburg Channel east of Bois Blanc Island;

    • (c) proceed upbound in the Livingstone Channel west of Bois Blanc Island; and

    • (d) overtake another vessel between Bar Point Pier Light “D33” and Fighting Island South Light if there is a risk that the vessel will meet a third vessel proceeding in the opposite direction while the overtaking is taking place.

  • Marginal note:Exception — paragraph (1)(b)

    (2) Despite paragraph (1)(b), the Assistant Commissioner may authorize a vessel to proceed downbound in the Amherstburg Channel east of Bois Blanc Island if the safety of navigation is not compromised.

Marginal note:Overtaking prohibited

313 It is prohibited for a vessel to overtake another vessel

  • (a) in the St. Clair River between St. Clair Flats Canal Light “2” and Russell Island Light “33”, unless the vessel being overtaken is a towboat;

  • (b) in the Rouge River; and

  • (c) in the Detroit River between the west end of Belle Isle and Peche Island Light, unless the vessel being overtaken

    • (i) is a towboat; or

    • (ii) has checked down its speed to await berth availability or to make the turn for Rouge River and has so advised the Canadian Coast Guard Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centre located in Sarnia, Ontario.

Marginal note:Area of one-way traffic

314 The waters between the St. Clair/Black River Junction Light and Lake Huron Cut Lighted Buoy “1” constitute an area of alternating one-way traffic where the following rules apply

  • (a) a vessel must not, in that area, overtake or meet another vessel or come about;

  • (b) a moored vessel must not get underway until it is able to proceed through those waters without passing or being passed by another vessel;

  • (c) a downbound vessel that has reached Lake Huron Cut Light “7” has the right-of-way over an upbound vessel that has not yet reached the St. Clair/Black River Junction Light; and

  • (d) an upbound vessel awaiting the transit of a downbound vessel must wait its turn below the St. Clair/Black River Junction Light.

Marginal note:Embark, disembark or exchange pilot

315 It is prohibited for a vessel to embark, disembark or exchange a pilot between the St. Clair/Black River Junction Light and Lake Huron Cut Lighted Buoy “1” unless, because of the weather, it is unsafe to carry out that activity at the normal pilotage ground above Lake Huron Cut Lighted Buoy “1”.

Marginal note:Navigation safety calls

316 Every vessel must, by using navigation safety calls, communicate its intentions to any other vessel in the vicinity and ensure that the movements of the vessels are coordinated and there is an agreement between the vessels before proceeding to overtake or meet the other vessel.

Marginal note:Anchorage rules

317 In the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers, it is prohibited for a vessel to anchor in such a manner that it could swing into the channel or across steering courses.

Marginal note:Floating plant activities

318 A floating plant may be operated, anchored or moored for the purposes of engaging in dredging, construction or wrecking only if the person having conduct of the floating plant obtains an authorization from the Assistant Commissioner, the District Commander, the Captain of the Port or the Windsor harbour master having jurisdiction in waters in which the floating plant will operate, anchor or moor, on such terms and conditions as are necessary to ensure the safety of navigation.

Marginal note:Speed limits

319 Except when required for the safety of the vessel or any other vessel, a vessel that is 20 m or more in length must not proceed at a speed greater than

  • (a) 10.4 knots between

    • (i) Fort Gratiot and St. Clair Flats Canal Light “2”, and

    • (ii) Peche Island Light and Bar Point Pier Light “D33”;

  • (b) 3.5 knots in the Rouge River; and

  • (c) 5 knots in the navigable channel south of Peche Island.

Marginal note:Towboat

  • 320 (1) It is prohibited for a towboat to drop or anchor its tows in such a manner that they could swing into a channel or across steering courses.

  • Marginal note:Prohibition against obstructing navigation

    (2) It is prohibited for a towboat engaged in arranging its tow to obstruct the navigation of other vessels.

Marginal note:Temporary instructions

321 Despite anything in this Division, a vessel must comply with temporary instructions to proceed in a certain manner or by a certain route, to anchor in a certain place or not to proceed or anchor except as specified in lieu of or in addition to any provisions of this Division if because of channel obstructions, a casualty, the weather, ice conditions, water levels or other unforeseen or temporary circumstances, compliance with this Division would be impossible, impracticable or unsafe or would cause a risk of pollution, and the instructions are

  • (a) given by the Assistant Commissioner, in the case of Canadian waters, or the District Commander or the Captain of the Port, in the case of the waters of the United States; and

  • (b) published in Notices to Mariners or a navigational warning.

[322 to 399 reserved]

PART 4Transitional Provision, Consequential Amendments, Repeals and Coming into Force

Transitional Provision

Marginal note:Application – subsection 118(1)

400 Subsection 118(1) does not apply until 180 days after the day on which this section comes into force, except in the case of the following vessels in respect of which that subsection applies beginning on the day on which this section comes into force:

  • (a) a passenger vessel of 150 gross tonnage or more that is engaged on an international voyage;

  • (b) a vessel of 300 gross tonnage or more, other than a fishing vessel, that is engaged on an international voyage; and

  • (c) a vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more, other than a fishing vessel, that is not engaged on an international voyage.

Consequential Amendments

Canada Shipping Act, 2001

Large Fishing Vessel Inspection Regulations

401 [Amendments]

402 [Amendments]

Life Saving Equipment Regulations

403 [Amendments]

404 [Amendments]

405 [Amendments]

406 [Amendments]

Fishing Vessel Safety Regulations

407 [Amendments]

408 [Amendments]

409 [Amendments]

Steering Appliances and Equipment Regulations

410 [Amendments]

411 [Amendments]

Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft Regulations

412 [Amendments]

Marine Personnel Regulations

413 [Amendments]

414 [Amendments]

415 [Amendments]

416 [Amendments]

417 [Amendments]

Small Vessel Regulations

418 [Amendments]

419 [Amendments]

420 [Amendments]

Long-Range Identification and Tracking of Vessels Regulations

421 [Amendments]

422 [Amendments]

423 [Amendments]

424 [Amendments]

Canada–Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act

Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Installations Regulations

425 [Amendments]

Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act

Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Installations Regulations

426 [Amendments]

Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act

Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations

427 [Amendments]

Repeals

428 The following Regulations are repealed:

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