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

Marginal note:Canadian towboats — radar

• 125 (1) A Canadian vessel that is a towboat must be fitted with

  • (a) if it is of 5 gross tonnage or more and is engaged on an inland voyage or a near coastal voyage, Class 2, a radar to determine and display the range and bearing of radar transponders and of other surface craft, obstructions, buoys, shorelines and navigational marks;

  • (b) if it is engaged on a near coastal voyage, Class 1,

    • (i) echo-sounding equipment to measure and display the available depth of water, and

    • (ii) two radars that meet the requirements set out in paragraph (a) and that are functionally independent of each other; and

  • (c) if it is engaged on an unlimited voyage, the equipment set out in paragraph (b) and a gyro-compass to determine and display its heading by shipborne non-magnetic means.

• Marginal note:Exception

  (2) A Canadian vessel that is a towboat does not have to meet the equipment requirements set out in subsection (1) if it is engaged in a towing operation in an emergency situation on an exceptional basis.

DIVISION 5Additional Requirements — Vessels Not Subject to Chapter V of SOLAS

Marginal note:Non-application

126 This Division does not apply in respect of vessels subject to the requirements of Division 2 of this Part.

Marginal note:Guidelines and standards – bridge

127 On every vessel of 150 gross tonnage or more that is engaged on an international voyage and on every vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more that is engaged on a voyage other than a sheltered waters voyage, all decisions that affect bridge design, bridge procedures and the design and arrangement of navigational systems and equipment on the bridge must take into consideration the following documents:

• (a) the Annex to IMO circular MSC/Circ.982, Guidelines on Ergonomic Criteria for Bridge Equipment and Layout;

• (b) if the vessel is fitted with an integrated bridge system, the Annex to IMO circular SN.1/Circ.288, Guidelines for Bridge Equipment and Systems, Their Arrangement and Integration (BES); and

• (c) if the vessel is fitted with an integrated navigation system, Annex 3 to IMO resolution MSC.86(70), Adoption of New and Amended Performance Standards for Navigational Equipment.

Marginal note:Electromagnetic compatibility

128 The electrical and electronic equipment installed on a vessel of 150 gross tonnage or more that is engaged on an international voyage, or on a vessel of 500 gross tonnage or more, must meet the following requirements, if the equipment has not been type approved by a competent authority as meeting testing standard IEC 60945, Maritime Navigation and Radiocommunication Equipment and Systems – General Requirements – Methods of Testing and Required Test Results:

• (a) the equipment must be installed so that electromagnetic interference does not affect the proper functioning of navigational systems and equipment;

• (b) if the equipment is portable, it must not be operated on the bridge if it might affect the proper functioning of navigational systems and equipment; and

• (c) if the equipment is on the bridge or in the vicinity of the bridge on a vessel constructed on or after July 1, 2002, it must be tested for electromagnetic compatibility when the equipment is installed, taking into account testing standard IEC 60533, Electrical and Electronic Installations in Ships — Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) – Ships with a Metallic Hull.

Marginal note:Modes of operation — equipment

129 The mode of operation being used must be indicated if equipment that is referred to in this Part and fitted on a vessel on or after July 1, 2002 offers alternative modes of operation.

Marginal note:Integrated bridge systems

130 Integrated bridge systems that are fitted on a vessel on or after July 1, 2002 must be so arranged that failure of any subsystem is brought to the immediate attention of the person in charge of the deck watch by audible and visual alarms and does not cause the failure of any other subsystem.

Marginal note:Failure of integrated navigation system

131 In the case of a failure in one part of an integrated navigation system, it must be possible to operate every other individual piece of equipment or part of the system separately.

Marginal note:Compass inspection

• 132 (1) During an inspection of the compasses on a vessel that is not a pleasure craft, the master of the vessel must

  • (a) show the inspector the most recent deviation card for each compass, signed and dated by the master and a deck officer; or

  • (b) provide the inspector with a statement, signed by the master and a deck officer, confirming that the compasses have been found to be satisfactory to provide heading direction.

• Marginal note:Inspector

  (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), an inspector is a marine safety inspector referred to in section 11 of the Act or a person, classification society or other organization authorized to carry out inspections under section 12 of the Act.

Marginal note:Heading or track control system

• 133 (1) When the heading or track control system of a vessel is used in an area of high traffic density, under conditions of restricted visibility or in any other hazardous navigational situation, means must be provided to enable the immediate changeover to manual steering.

• Marginal note:Qualified helmsman

  (2) In any situation described in subsection (1), the person in charge of the deck watch must ensure that the services of a qualified helmsman are available at all times to take over steering control.

• Marginal note:Qualified person

  (3) Every changeover from the heading or track control system to manual steering of a vessel and vice versa must be made by, or under the supervision of, the person in charge of the deck watch.

• Marginal note:Manual steering — testing

  (4) The manual steering of a vessel must be tested, while the heading or track control system is not in use, before the vessel enters any area where navigation demands special caution, and at least once a day, to ensure the manual steering is in effective operating condition.

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.