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

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.

Marginal note:Planning a voyage

• 144 (1) The master of a vessel must, before the vessel embarks on a voyage, plan the voyage taking into account the Annex to IMO resolution A.893(21), Guidelines for Voyage Planning, and if charts, documents and publications are required to be kept on board under section 142, by using those charts, documents and publications to the extent that they relate to voyage planning.

• Marginal note:Identifying a route

  (2) When planning the voyage, the master must identify a route taking the following factors into account:

  • (a) any relevant routing systems;

  • (b) sufficient sea room for the safe passage of the vessel throughout the intended voyage;

  • (c) all known navigational hazards and adverse weather conditions;

  • (d) any marine environmental protection measures that apply; and

  • (e) actions and activities that could cause damage to the environment and measures to be taken to avoid those actions and activities.

• Marginal note:Voyage display and position monitoring

  (3) The master of a vessel must display the vessel’s route for the voyage using a chart referred to in paragraph 142(1)(a) and plot and monitor the vessel’s position throughout the voyage on that chart.