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

Marginal note:Steering gear

134 If a vessel is fitted with two or more steering gear power units that are capable of simultaneous operation, the vessel must have at least two of those units in operation in areas where navigation demands special caution.

Marginal note:Steering gear changeover procedures

• 135 (1) A vessel that is fitted with a remote steering gear control system or a steering gear power unit must have permanently displayed, on its navigating bridge and in its steering gear compartment, if any, simple, brief operating instructions and a block diagram showing the changeover procedures for the system or unit.

• Marginal note:Steering system familiarity

  (2) The master and any person on board the vessel who is responsible for the operation or maintenance of the steering gear must be familiar with the operation of the steering systems fitted on the vessel and with the procedures for changing from one system to another.

Marginal note:Steering gear checks and tests

• 136 (1) Within 12 hours before the departure of a vessel, the steering gear of the vessel must be checked and tested and the checks and tests must include

  • (a) verifying the operation of

    • (i) the main steering gear,

    • (ii) the auxiliary steering gear, unless the gear includes tackle,

    • (iii) the remote steering gear control systems,

    • (iv) the steering controls located at different positions on the navigating bridge,

    • (v) the emergency power supply,

    • (vi) the rudder angle indicators in relation to the actual position of the rudder,

    • (vii) the remote steering gear control system power failure alarms,

    • (viii) the steering gear power unit failure alarms, and

    • (ix) automatic isolating arrangements and other automatic equipment required for the steering gears;

  • (b) the full movement of the rudder according to the capabilities of the steering gear as designed;

  • (c) a visual inspection of the steering gear and its connecting linkage; and

  • (d) verifying the operation of the means of communication between the navigating bridge and the steering gear compartment.

• Marginal note:Exception — regular voyages

  (2) For a vessel that regularly engages on voyages of less than one week, the checks and tests referred to in subsection (1) do not need to be carried out within 12 hours before departure if those checks and tests have been carried out at least once every week.

• Marginal note:Emergency steering drills

  (3) In addition to the checks and tests referred to in subsections (1) and (2), emergency steering drills must be carried out at least once every three months and must include direct control from within the steering gear compartment, communications procedures with the navigating bridge and, where applicable, the operation of alternative power supplies.

• Marginal note:Log book

  (4) The person in charge of the deck watch must record the dates on which the checks and tests referred to in subsections (1) and (2) are carried out and the dates and details of the drills referred to in subsection (3) in the official log book, referred to in Division 7 of Part 3 of the Marine Personnel Regulations, if that Division applies to the vessel, or any log book if the Division does not apply to it.

Marginal note:Working language

• 137 (1) The master or authorized representative of a vessel must determine and record in the official log book referred to in Division 7 of Part 3 of the Marine Personnel Regulations or, if the Division does not apply, any log book, the appropriate working language for the purposes of navigational safety matters, and must ensure that each crew member is able to

  • (a) understand the working language;

  • (b) give orders and instructions in that language, if appropriate; and

  • (c) report back in that language, if appropriate.

• Marginal note:Translations

  (2) If the working language is not an official language of the state whose flag the vessel is entitled to fly, all plans and lists required to be posted, and all documents establishing procedures, must include a translation into the working language in addition to a copy in an official language.

• Marginal note:English as working language

  (3) Despite subsection (1), English must be used for bridge-to-bridge and bridge-to-shore safety communications, as well as for communications on board between the pilot and bridge watchkeeping personnel, unless the individuals directly involved in the communication speak a common language other than English.

Marginal note:Record of navigational activities

• 138 (1) Every vessel of 150 gross tonnage or more that is engaged on an international voyage must keep a record on board of navigational activities and events that are of importance to the safety of navigation.

• Marginal note:Contents of record

  (2) The record must contain

  • (a) the information set out in section 1 of the Annex to IMO resolution A.916(22), Guidelines for the Recording of Events Related to Navigation; and

  • (b) the dates on which the checks and tests referred to in subsections 136(1) and (2) were carried out and the dates and details of the emergency steering drills referred to in subsection 136(3).

• Marginal note:Maintenance of record

  (3) The record must be maintained in accordance with section 4 of the Annex referred to in subsection (2) and kept for at least five years.

Marginal note:Plan for cooperation — search and rescue

• 139 (1) Every passenger vessel of less than 150 gross tonnage that is engaged on an international voyage must keep on board a plan for cooperation with the search and rescue services for each area in which the vessel navigates in the event of an emergency.

• Marginal note:Plan for cooperation — requirements

  (2) The plan for cooperation must

  • (a) be developed by the authorized representative of the vessel in accordance with the Annex to IMO circular MSC.1/Circ.1079, Guidelines for Preparing Plans for Cooperation Between Search and Rescue Services and Passenger Ships; and

  • (b) include provisions for periodic exercises to test its effectiveness.

Marginal note:Visibility requirements from navigating bridge

• 140 (1) Every Canadian vessel that is 55 m or more in length and that is constructed on or after July 1, 2002, must comply with the following requirements:

  • (a) the view of the sea surface from the conning position must not be obscured for more than two vessel lengths or 500 m, whichever is lesser, forward of the bow to 10° on either side under all conditions of draught, trim and deck cargo;

  • (b) if there are blind sectors caused by cargo, cargo gear or other obstructions outside the wheelhouse forward of the beam that obstruct the view of the sea surface from the conning position,

    • (i) no blind sector may exceed 10° except that in the case of the view referred to in paragraph (a) a blind sector may not exceed 5°,

    • (ii) the total arc of blind sectors must not exceed 20°, and

    • (iii) the clear sectors between blind sectors must be at least 5°;

  • (c) the horizontal field of vision from the conning position must extend over an arc of not less than 225° that is from right ahead to not less than 22.5° abaft the beam on either side of the vessel;

  • (d) from each bridge wing, the horizontal field of vision must extend over an arc of at least 225° that is from at least 45° on the opposite side through right ahead and then from right ahead to right astern through 180° on the same side of the vessel;

  • (e) from the main steering position, the horizontal field of vision must extend over an arc from right ahead to at least 60° on each side of the vessel;

  • (f) the vessel’s side must be visible from the bridge wing;

  • (g) the height of the lower edge of the navigation bridge front windows above the bridge deck must be kept as low as possible without resulting in an obstruction of the forward view that contravenes this subsection;

  • (h) the upper edge of the navigation bridge front windows must allow a forward view of the horizon, for a person with a height of eye of 1 800 mm above the bridge deck at the conning position, when the vessel is pitching in heavy seas; and

  • (i) with respect to windows,

    • (i) the navigation bridge front windows must be inclined from the vertical plane, top out, at an angle of not less than 10° but not more than 25°,

    • (ii) the framing between navigation bridge windows must be kept to a minimum and not be installed immediately forward of any workstation,

    • (iii) the windows must not be polarized or tinted, and

    • (iv) it must be possible, at all times and regardless of weather conditions, to have a clear view through at least two of the navigation bridge front windows and, depending on the bridge configuration, through an additional number of clear-view windows.

• Marginal note:Canadian vessels constructed before July 1, 2002

  (2) Every Canadian vessel that is 55 m or more in length that was constructed before July 1, 2002 must comply with the requirements set out in paragraphs (1)(a) and (b), unless structural alterations or additional equipment are required to comply with those requirements.

DIVISION 6Charts and Publications

Marginal note:Definitions

141 The following definitions apply in this Division.

reference catalogue

reference catalogue means, in respect of an area to be navigated by a vessel, a catalogue of nautical charts and related publications for that area, published by or under the authority of the Canadian Hydrographic Service or published by or under the authority of a hydrographic office or other relevant government institution of a foreign state. (catalogue de référence)

waters under Canadian jurisdiction

waters under Canadian jurisdiction means

• (a) Canadian waters; and

• (b) the exclusive economic zone of Canada. (eaux de compétence canadienne)

Marginal note:Charts, documents and publications on board

• 142 (1) The master and authorized representative of a vessel must ensure that the most recent versions of the following charts, documents and publications, in respect of each area where the vessel is scheduled to be navigated, are kept on board:

  • (a) the reference catalogue and the applicable charts referred to in the catalogue in their largest scale, that are published by or under the authority of

    • (i) in the case of a Canadian vessel in Canadian waters, the Canadian Hydrographic Service, and

    • (ii) in any other case, the Canadian Hydrographic Service or the hydrographic office or other relevant government institution of a foreign state;

  • (b) the annual edition of Notices to Mariners;

  • (c) in the case of a Canadian vessel in waters under Canadian jurisdiction and a vessel that is not a Canadian vessel,

    • (i) Canadian Sailing Directions, published by the Canadian Hydrographic Service,

    • (ii) Canadian Tide and Current Tables, published by the Canadian Hydrographic Service,

    • (iii) List of Lights, Buoys and Fog Signals, published by the Canadian Coast Guard, and

    • (iv) if the vessel is required under these Regulations or any foreign law to be fitted with radio equipment, Radio Aids to Marine Navigation, published by the Canadian Coast Guard;

  • (d) in the case of a Canadian vessel not in waters under Canadian jurisdiction, the following publications referred to in the reference catalogue:

    • (i) sailing directions,

    • (ii) tide and current tables,

    • (iii) lists of lights, and

    • (iv) if the vessel is required to be fitted with radio equipment under these Regulations, the list of radio aids to navigation;

  • (e) in the case of a vessel, other than a pleasure craft of less than 150 gross tonnage, that is engaged on a voyage other than a sheltered waters voyage, an illustrated table of life-saving signals;

  • (f) in the case of a Canadian vessel of 150 gross tonnage or more, a printed copy of the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual, Volume III, Mobile Facilities, published by the IMO and the International Civil Aviation Organization;

  • (g) in the case of a Canadian vessel that is required to be fitted with radio equipment under Part 2 and that is engaged on a near coastal voyage, Class 1 or an unlimited voyage, or a Safety Convention vessel, a printed copy of the International Code of Signals published by the IMO and a printed copy of Annex 1 to IMO resolution A.918(22), IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases; and

  • (h) in the case of a vessel that is engaged on a voyage during which ice may be encountered, the document entitled Ice Navigation in Canadian Waters, published by the Canadian Coast Guard.

• Marginal note:Document availability — paragraphs (1)(e) and (f)

  (2) The master and authorized representative of a vessel must ensure that the table required under paragraph (1)(e) and the publication required under paragraph (1)(f) are readily available to the person in charge of navigation.

• Marginal note:Exception — less than 100 gross tonnage

  (3) Subsection (1) does not apply in the case of a vessel of less than 100 gross tonnage, if the person in charge of navigation has sufficient knowledge of the following about where the vessel is to be navigated such that the safety and efficiency of navigation in that area will not be compromised:

  • (a) the location and character of charted

    • (i) shipping routes,

    • (ii) lights, buoys and marks, and

    • (iii) navigational hazards; and

  • (b) the prevailing navigational conditions, taking into account such factors as tides, currents, and ice and weather patterns.

• Marginal note:Exception — charts, documents and publications

  (4) Subsection (1) does not apply if, after reasonable efforts, the master and authorized representative of a vessel are unable to obtain at any place where the vessel calls, the charts, documents or publications required under this Division and the safety and efficiency of navigation will not be compromised. However, they must comply with subsection (1) as soon as circumstances permit.

• Marginal note:Exception — foreign state publications

  (5) The publications referred to in paragraphs (1)(c) and (d) may be replaced by similar publications issued officially by or on the authority of a hydrographic office or other relevant government institution of a foreign state, if the information contained in them that is necessary for the safe navigation of a vessel in the area in which the vessel is to be navigated is as complete, accurate, intelligible and up-to-date as the information contained in the publications referred to in those paragraphs.

Marginal note:Electronic chart

• 143 (1) A chart referred to in paragraph 142(1)(a) may be in electronic form if it is displayed on an ECDIS that

  • (a) in waters for which an ENC is available, is operated using the ENC;

  • (b) in waters for which an ENC is not available, is operated using a raster navigational chart (RNC) that is a facsimile of a chart that has been printed and published by or under the authority of the Canadian Hydrographic Service or printed and published by a hydrographic office or other relevant government institution of a foreign state;

  • (c) when operating in the raster chart display system (RCDS) mode, is used in conjunction with other printed charts that meet the requirements of paragraph 142(1)(a);

  • (d) has chart content and display aspects that meet the requirements set out in the International Hydrographic Organization standard S-52, Specifications for Chart Content and Display Aspects of ECDIS; and

  • (e) is accompanied

    • (i) by an ECDIS back-up arrangement that

      • (A) meets the standards set out in Appendix 6 of the Annex to IMO resolution MSC.232(82), Adoption of the Revised Performance Standards for Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS),

      • (B) is connected to the vessel’s main and emergency sources of electrical energy, and

      • (C) is provided with an emergency source of electrical energy providing uninterrupted transitional power for a period of not less than 30 minutes, or

    • (ii) by other printed charts that meet the requirements of paragraph 142(1)(a) and on which the position of the vessel is being plotted at intervals that will enable a safe and immediate takeover in the event of an ECDIS failure.

• Marginal note:Definition of ENC

  (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), ENC means an electronic navigational chart database that

  • (a) is standardized as to content, structure and format;

  • (b) is issued for use with an ECDIS by or under the authority of the Canadian Hydrographic Service or by or under the authority of a hydrographic office or other relevant government institution of a foreign state; and

  • (c) contains all the chart information necessary for safe navigation.