Ship Radio Inspection

  • The Canada Shipping Act, 2001 and Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act give Transport Canada Marine Safety and Security the authority to regulate maritime radio communication equipment on board for the purpose of distress alerting, safety and bridge-to-bridge communications.
  • Canadian vessels trading internationally outside the Great Lakes that are 300 gross tonnage (GT) or more or a passenger vessel, and foreign vessels trading in Canada must also meet the radio communication requirements of Chapter IV of International Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).
  • Compliance with the Acts and SOLAS is ensured by periodic technical inspection by Canadian Coast Guard radio inspectors under the Ship Radio Inspection (SRI) Program, on behalf of Transport Canada. To arrange a ship radio inspection, please consult section 4.3.11.1 of the Radio Aids to Marine Navigation.
  • Vessels that have been enrolled in the Delegated Statutory Inspection Program will have their radio inspection certificates issued by a Recognized Organization. For vessels not subject to a formal radio inspection required by regulations, Transport Canada Marine Safety inspectors conduct operational inspections of radio communication equipment as part of a vessel’s annual, or quadrennial, safety inspection.

Service standard:

  • Assign date and approximate time for Ship Radio Inspection
    Within 3 working days
  • Travel to vessel, conduct or complete radio equipment inspection
    Timeline varies based on vessel status, location and requirements
  • Sign-off a complete and satisfactory inspection, and issue or endorse a radio inspection certificate
    Within 5 working days

Performance target:

The target for achieving this standard is set at 70%.

Performance results:

Standard Target 2014/2015 2015/2016 2016/2017
Assign date and approximate time for Ship Radio Inspection within 3 working days 70% 50% 91% N/A
Travel to vessel, conduct or complete radio equipment inspection (timeline varies based on vessel status, location and requirements)        
Sign-off a complete and satisfactory inspection, and issue or endorse a radio inspection certificate within 5 working days (of the inspection) 70% 100% 100% N/A

Pending changes to Radio Inspection Database, a random sampling of completed inspections will be used to derive performance information.
Vessels enrolled in DSIP will not be part of annual service performance report.

Service feedback:

Phone: 613-991-3135
Toll Free: 1-855-859-3123
TTY/TDD: 1-888-675-6863
Fax: 613-991-4818

Mailing Address:
Marine Safety and Security
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0N8

For more information:

To learn about upcoming or ongoing consultations on proposed federal regulations, visit the Canada Gazette and Consulting with Canadians websites.