Small Vessel Regulations (SOR/2010-91)

SUBPART 3General Exceptions for Pleasure Craft

Personal Flotation Devices and Lifejackets

212 If a person who is a resident of a country other than Canada brings on board a pleasure craft a personal flotation device or lifejacket for their personal use that conforms to the laws of that country and that is of an appropriate size and in good condition, the pleasure craft is not required to carry on board a personal flotation device or lifejacket for that person that meets the requirements of these Regulations.

Visual Signals

• 213 (1) No visual signals are required to be carried on board a pleasure craft that is not more than 6 m in length and is not fitted with an engine.

• (2) Pyrotechnic distress signals are not required to be carried on board a pleasure craft that

  • (a) is operating on a river, canal or lake in which it can at no time be more than one nautical mile from shore; or

  • (b) has no sleeping arrangements and is engaged in an official competition or in final preparation for an official competition.

• (3) For a pleasure craft more than 6 m in length, the number of pyrotechnic distress signals referred to in subitems 2(b) and 3(b) of the table to section 205 and in item 2 of the table to section 210 may be reduced up to a maximum of 50%, provided the number of smoke signals does not exceed 50% of the permitted number of smoke signals in those tables, if the pleasure craft is equipped with

  • (a) a means of two-way radio communication;

  • (b) a 406 MHz personal locator beacon that is the subject of a technical acceptance certificate issued under subparagraph 5(1)(a)(iv) of the Radiocommunication Act, worn by the pleasure craft operator; or

  • (c) a 406 MHz emergency position-indicating radio beacon.

Bailers and Manual Bilge Pumps

214 A bailer or manual bilge pump is not required to be carried on board a pleasure craft that cannot retain a sufficient quantity of water to make it capsize or whose compartments are sealed and are not readily accessible.

Magnetic Compass

215 A magnetic compass is not required to be carried on board a pleasure craft that is not more than 8 m in length and that navigates within sight of seamarks.

Racing Pleasure Craft

216 A racing pleasure craft, other than a canoe, kayak or rowing shell, that is engaged in formal training, in an official competition or in final preparation for an official competition, and that is operated under conditions of clear visibility and is attended by a safety craft, may carry on board the safety equipment that is required by the rules of the governing body instead of the safety equipment required by this Part.

SUBPART 4Exceptions for Pleasure Craft Other than Human-Powered Pleasure Craft

Firefighting Equipment

217 A portable fire extinguisher of a particular classification is not required to be carried on board a pleasure craft other than a human-powered pleasure craft if two or more portable fire extinguishers are carried on board that meet the requirements of subsection 12(1) and that have a total capacity rating at least equal to the capacity rating of the required fire extinguisher.

Personal Watercraft

218 If every person on board a personal watercraft is wearing a personal flotation device or a lifejacket of an appropriate size, the personal watercraft is required to carry on board only the following safety equipment:

• (a) a sound-signalling device;

• (b) a watertight flashlight or three pyrotechnic distress signals, not more than one of which is a smoke signal;

• (c) a magnetic compass, if the personal watercraft is navigated out of sight of seamarks; and

• (d) navigation lights that meet the requirements of the Collision Regulations, if the personal watercraft is operated after sunset or before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility.

Sailboards and Kiteboards

• 219 (1) If the operator of a sailboard or kiteboard is wearing a personal flotation device of an appropriate size, the sailboard or kiteboard is required to carry on board only the following safety equipment:

  • (a) a sound-signalling device; and

  • (b) a watertight flashlight, if the sailboard or kiteboard is operated after sunset or before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility.

• (2) A sailboard or kiteboard is not required to carry on board the safety equipment required by this Part if it is engaged in an official competition at which a safety craft is in attendance and carrying on board a personal flotation device or lifejacket of an appropriate size for the operator of the sailboard or kiteboard that can be donned in the water.

SUBPART 5Exceptions for Human-Powered Pleasure Craft

Paddleboats, Watercycles, Stand-Up Paddleboards and Sealed-Hull, Sit-on-Top Kayaks

220 If every person on board a paddleboat, a watercycle, a stand-up paddleboard or a sealed-hull, sit-on-top kayak is wearing a personal flotation device or lifejacket of an appropriate size, the paddleboat, watercycle, paddleboard or kayak is required to carry on board only the following safety equipment:

• (a) a sound-signalling device; and

• (b) a watertight flashlight, if the paddleboat, watercycle, paddleboard or kayak is operated after sunset or before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility.

Racing Canoes and Racing Kayaks

• 221 (1) A racing canoe or racing kayak that is engaged in formal training, in an official competition or in final preparation for an official competition that is governed by safety guidelines and procedures established by the governing body is not required to carry on board the safety equipment required by this Part if it is attended by a safety craft that is carrying on board a personal flotation device or lifejacket of an appropriate size

  • (a) for each person on board the canoe or kayak, if the safety craft is attending only one pleasure craft; or

  • (b) for each person on board the canoe or kayak with the most persons on board, if the safety craft is attending more than one pleasure craft.

• (2) However, if the canoe or kayak is not attended by a safety craft, it is required to carry on board the following safety equipment:

  • (a) a personal flotation device or lifejacket of an appropriate size for each person on board;

  • (b) a sound-signalling device; and

  • (c) a watertight flashlight, if the canoe or kayak is operated after sunset or before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility.

Rowing Shells

• 222 (1) A rowing shell that is competing in a provincially, nationally or internationally sanctioned regatta or competition, or engaged in training at the venue at which the regatta or competition is taking place, is not required to carry on board the safety equipment required by this Part.

• (2) A rowing shell that is engaged in activities governed by safety guidelines and procedures established by the governing body is not required to carry on board the safety equipment required by this Part if it is attended by a safety craft that is carrying on board a personal flotation device or lifejacket of an appropriate size

  • (a) for each person on board the rowing shell, if the safety craft is attending only one rowing shell; or

  • (b) for each person on board the rowing shell with the most persons on board, if the safety craft is attending more than one rowing shell.

• (3) However, if the rowing shell is not attended by a safety craft, it is required to carry on board only the following safety equipment:

  • (a) a personal flotation device or lifejacket of an appropriate size for each person on board;

  • (b) a sound-signalling device; and

  • (c) a watertight flashlight, if the rowing shell is operated after sunset or before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility.

PART 3Human-Powered Vessels Other than Pleasure Craft

Interpretation

300 The following definitions apply in this Part.

class 3 or above waters

class 3 or above waters means waters that have

• (a) rapids with moderate and irregular waves; or

• (b) rapids that are stronger, have more obstructions or are otherwise more difficult to navigate than rapids with moderate and irregular waves. (eaux de classe 3 ou plus)

guided excursion

guided excursion means a non-competitive outdoor recreational activity or excursion led by a person in charge of the activity or excursion during which the participants use a human-powered vessel. (excursion guidée)

helmet

helmet means a helmet that has a fastening system and that is designed to protect a person’s head from injury from the mid-line of the forehead to the back of the crown of the head. (casque protecteur)

Application

301 This Part applies in respect of a human-powered vessel other than a pleasure craft.

Personal Flotation Devices and Lifejackets

302 If a personal flotation device or lifejacket that must be carried on board a human-powered vessel is to be worn by a person less than 16 years of age, it shall be inherently buoyant.

Guided Excursions

• 303 (1) A person responsible for an enterprise that conducts guided excursions and the leader of a guided excursion shall ensure that

  • (a) every participant in the excursion wears the following safety equipment:

    • (i) a personal flotation device or lifejacket of an appropriate size, and

    • (ii) when on class 3 or above waters, a helmet of an appropriate size; and

  • (b) any equipment or material that is carried on board the vessel and that is not being used is secured in place when the vessel is moving.

• (2) If the water temperature is less than 15ºC, a person responsible for an enterprise that conducts guided excursions and the leader of a guided excursion shall ensure that equipment is immediately available or that procedures are established to protect the participants from the effects of hypothermia or cold shock resulting from swamping, capsizing or falling overboard.

304 A person responsible for an enterprise that conducts guided excursions and the leader of a guided excursion shall, before the beginning of the excursion, ensure that all participants are briefed in either or both official languages, according to their needs, on the safety and emergency procedures relevant to the guided excursion.

• 305 (1) The leader of a guided excursion shall, before the beginning of the excursion, report the number of participants in the excursion to a person on shore who has been designated by the leader to be responsible for communicating with search and rescue authorities in case of an emergency.

• (2) If the guided excursion takes place in a remote area and it is not possible to report the number of participants to a person on shore, the leader of the excursion shall leave a record of the number of participants and the area of operation in a known location on shore that is accessible to search and rescue authorities.

• (3) If the guided excursion departs from a support vessel, the leader of the excursion may designate a person on board the support vessel to be responsible for communicating with search and rescue authorities in case of an emergency.

Human-Powered Passenger-Carrying Vessels

306 If the water temperature is less than 15°C, a person who operates or permits another person to operate a human-powered passenger-carrying vessel shall ensure that equipment is carried on board the vessel or that procedures are established to protect all persons on board from the effects of hypothermia or cold shock resulting from swamping, or falling overboard.

307 The operator of a human-powered passenger-carrying vessel shall, before departure, ensure that all passengers are briefed in either or both official languages, according to their needs, on the safety and emergency procedures relevant to the type of vessel and nature of the activity.

• 308 (1) The operator of a human-powered passenger-carrying vessel shall, before departure, report the number of persons on board to a person on shore who has been designated by the operator to be responsible for communicating with search and rescue authorities in the case of an emergency.

• (2) If the human-powered passenger-carrying vessel is operated in a remote area and it is not possible to report the number of persons on board to a person on shore, the operator of the vessel shall leave a record of the number of persons on board and the area of operation in a known location on shore that is accessible to search and rescue authorities.

• (3) If the human-powered passenger-carrying vessel is operated from a support vessel, the operator of the passenger-carrying vessel may designate a person on board the support vessel to be responsible for communicating with search and rescue authorities in case of an emergency.

Safety Equipment

First Aid Kit

309 A human-powered vessel shall carry on board a first aid kit.

Personal Life-Saving Appliances and Visual Signals

• 310 (1) A human-powered vessel shall carry on board

  • (a) a personal flotation device or lifejacket that is

    • (i) of an appropriate size for each person on board, and

    • (ii) inherently buoyant, if the vessel is being used during whitewater paddling; and

  • (b) for the category of life-saving appliance set out in column 1 of the table to this subsection, the additional life-saving appliance set out in column 2 as indicated in that column.

    	Column 1	Column 2
    Item	Category of Life-Saving Appliance	Additional Life-Saving Appliance
    1	personal life-saving appliance	(a) a reboarding device, unless the vertical height that must be climbed in order to reboard the vessel is not more than 0.5 m; and (b) a buoyant heaving line of not less than 15 m in length that is contained in a throw bag
    2	visual signals	(a) if the human-powered vessel is not more than 6 m in length, a watertight flashlight or three pyrotechnic distress signals other than smoke signals; or (b) if the human-powered vessel is more than 6 m in length, a watertight flashlight and six pyrotechnic distress signals other than smoke signals

• (2) Every person on board a human-powered vessel shall wear

  • (a) a personal flotation device or lifejacket; and

  • (b) when on class 3 or above waters, a helmet of an appropriate size.

Vessel Safety Equipment and Navigation Equipment

• 311 (1) A human-powered vessel shall carry on board, for the category of equipment set out in column 1 of the table to this subsection, the equipment set out in column 2 as indicated in that column.

  	Column 1	Column 2
  Item	Category of Equipment	Equipment
  1	vessel safety equipment	(a) a bailer; (b) a manual bilge pump; or (c) bilge-pumping arrangements
  2	navigation equipment	(a) a sound-signalling appliance that meets the requirements of the Collision Regulations, or a sound-signalling device; (b) if the vessel is operated after sunset or before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility, navigation lights that meet the requirements of the Collision Regulations; and (c) a magnetic compass

• (2) A magnetic compass is not required to be carried on board a human-powered vessel that is not more than 8 m in length and that navigates within sight of seamarks.