Bulletin No.: 06/2009

PDF Version

RDIMS No .: 4994810
Date ( Y-M-D ): 2009-09-30

Subject: Certificate of Service as Watchkeeping Mate of a Fishing Vessel of less than 100 Gross Tonnage

Purpose

The purpose of this bulletin is to inform the stakeholders of the introduction of a new certificate of competency, the Certificate of Service as Watchkeeping Mate of a Fishing Vessel of Less than 100 Gross Tonnage, that will allow its holder to be the person in charge of a navigational watch on a fishing vessel of less than 100 gross tonnage.

Scope

This bulletin applies only to officers who wish to obtain this new certificate and who have acquired at least twelve months of sea service as officer in charge of a navigational watch prior to July 1, 2007 on board one or more fishing vessels of at least 15 gross tonnage or at least 12 m in overall length.

Background

Under the previous Crewing Regulations masters of fishing vessels of less than 60 gross tonnage were not required to hold a Certificate of Competency ( CoC ).

With the entry into force of the Marine Personnel Regulations ( MPR ), these masters are required to hold a certificate but only in accordance with the implementation schedule specified in the Regulations.

With the entry into force of the MPR , the master of a fishing vessel of at least 15 gross tonnage or at least 12 m in overall length and of less than 60 gross tonnage is required to hold, as a minimum, either a:

1. Certificate of Service as Master of a Fishing Vessel of Less Than 60 Gross Tonnage; or
2. Fishing Master, Fourth Class/ CoC .

Even if the hours of rest requirements do not apply to fishing vessels of less than 100 gross tonnage, because of lengthy voyages and not returning to port each night for rest, the master of such vessels cannot be on watch at all times. Such a vessel would then require a second certificated person to perform watchkeeping duties and radio watch duties, in addition to the master.

Under section 216 of the MPR , the person in charge of the deck watch must in all cases hold a certificate of competency and a radio operator certificate.

Existing officers who have been performing this task for years as officer in charge of the watch, but were not required by the previous regulations to hold a CoC , might not be able to obtain a Certificate of Service as Master of a Fishing Vessel of Less Than 60 Gross Tonnage because they might not have acquired sea service as master in a manner required by the MPR .

Therefore, the minimum certificate that these persons can obtain is a Fishing Master, Fourth Class CoC , which is a more stringent requirement than the certificate that the master of the same vessel might be holding. Therefore, there is a need for a new certificate that is more relevant for the watchkeeping officers on these vessels.

The fact that the MPR is now requiring masters of fishing vessels of less than 60 gross tonnage and all persons in charge of the watch to hold a certificate of competency is creating a huge shortage of qualified persons.

Transport Canada Policy

In order to ensure a smooth transition with the entry into force of the MPR , the Department of Transport Canada Marine Safety ( TCMS ) will allow experienced fishermen meeting the requirements described hereunder to obtain the new certificate of service that will allow its holder to be the person in charge of a navigational watch on a fishing vessel of less than 100 gross tonnage, in order to meet the deck watch requirements of the MPR , in cases where the length of the voyage does not permit the master to be the sole person in charge of the deck watch.

To be able to obtain the Certificate of Service as Watchkeeping Mate of a Fishing Vessel of Less Than 100 Gross Tonnage, the applicant must meet the following requirements:

1. At least twelve months of sea service acquired prior to July 1, 2007 as officer in charge of a navigational watch on one or more fishing vessels of at least 15 gross tonnage or at least 12 m in overall length while engaged on voyages that the certificate sought will permit;
2. MED with respect to basic safety (A1);
3. If the vessel is equipped with a VHF radiotelephone installation, an appropriate radio operator certificate issued under the Radiocommunication Act; and
4. If the applicant has not acquired at least seven fishing seasons of experience as officer in charge of a navigational watch on one or more fishing vessels, with no two of those seasons having occurred in the same year,
   1. SEN limited;
   2. Marine basic first aid; and
   3. Small Vessel Operator Proficiency.

Validity and renewal

The Certificate of Service as Watchkeeping Mate of a Fishing Vessel of Less Than 100 Gross Tonnage will be valid for a five-year period from the date of issue and the renewal requirements will be as per section 106 of the MPR .

The applications for the Certificate of Service as Watchkeeping Mate of a Fishing Vessel of Less Than 100 Gross Tons will be received at any Transport Canada Marine Safety office for a period of 10 years only from the date of coming into force of the Marine Personnel Regulations – i.e. until June 30, 2017, after which no fresh applications will be entertained.

The following document is available for downloading or viewing:

Certificate of Service as Watchkeeping Mate of a Fishing Vessel of less than 100 Gross Tonnage (114 KB ) 

To access the Portable Document Format ( PDF ) version you must have a PDF reader installed. If you do not already have such a reader, there are numerous PDF readers available for free download or for purchase on the Internet:

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To add or change your address, contact us at: marinesafety-securitemaritime@tc.gc.ca or 613-991-3135.

Owners of commercial vessels automatically receive Bulletins.