Mandatory fatigue management training (Revised) - SSB No.: 01/2026

This Ship Safety Bulletin (SSB) replaces SSB 15/2025 issued on October 23, 2025.

Important Notice

This is a policy revision of bulletin No: 15/2025 regarding the Fatigue Management at Sea e-course. The revised policy permits students to complete the Fatigue Management at Sea e-course training following their MED training courses, subject to the Recognized Institution’s requirements, with the understanding that the fatigue training certificate must be produced prior to receiving the MED training certificate from the Recognized Institution.

Scope

This bulletin applies to:

• all Canadian seafarers
• Canadian recognized institutions

Purpose

This bulletin:

• advises seafarers that they must complete an online fatigue management course when enrolling in any Marine Emergency Duties Training

Background

Fatigue is a major factor across the transportation industry. The issue of managing fatigue in the marine sector has been on the Transportation Safety Board’s Watchlist since 2018.

What you need to know

Information for seafarers

When enrolling in any of these Marine Emergency Duties courses:

• Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF)
• Refresher Training Course In Advanced Fire Fighting (Ref-AFF)
• Domestic Vessel Safety (DVS)
• Domestic Passenger Vessel Safety (DPVS)
• Proficiency In Survival Craft And Rescue Boats Other Than Fast Rescue Boats (PSC)
• Refresher Training Course In Proficiency In Survival Craft And Rescue Boats Other Than Fast Rescue Boats (Ref-PSC)
• Proficiency In Fast Rescue Boats (FRC)
• Refresher Training Course In Proficiency In Fast Rescue Boats (Ref-FRC)
• Proficiency In Free-Fall Lifeboats (FFB)
• Refresher Training Course In Proficiency In Free-Fall Lifeboats (Ref-FFB)
• Seasonal Passenger Vessel Safety (Non-Certificated Personnel) (SPV-NCP)
• Small Non-Pleasure Domestic Vessel Basic Safety (SDV-BS)
• Small Seasonal Passenger Vessel Safety (Certificated Personnel) (SSPV-CP)
• STCW Basic Safety (STCW BS)
• Refresher Training Course in STCW Basic Safety (Ref- STCW BS)

You must take the Fatigue Management at Sea e-course from the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.

To access the Fatigue Management at Sea course, visit the CCOHS registration page and follow these steps:

• Step 1: Register with the CCOHS.
• Step 2: Sign-in using the password provided in the registration confirmation email.

Please note, free access is provided to Canadian seafarers with a CDN courtesy of Transport Canada Marine Safety and Security.

Once you’re done the course, make sure to print a copy of your training certificate. This certificate proves that you’ve completed the training and you will need to provide a copy to a Recognized Institution, subject to the requirements of the applicable Recognized Institution, when you enrol in any of the courses listed above. Seafarers must provide a copy of their Fatigue Management at Sea e-course certificate of completion to the Recognized Institution prior to being issued their MED course training certificate.

For further information on how to manage fatigue in Canada and the Fatigue Management at Sea e-course, please visit the TC website on fatigue: Fatigue Management Training for Seafarers.

Information for recognized institutions

As specified in TP 4957, Recognized Institutions are asked to keep a copy of every student’s fatigue management training certificate in their student file in case of an audit.

Keywords:

1. Fatigue management
2. Mandatory training
3. Online ecourse

Questions concerning this Bulletin should be addressed to:

Contact us at: Email: marinesafety-securitemaritime@tc.gc.ca or Telephone: 1-855-859-3123 (Toll Free).