Pilot project on dry dock inspections by external survey resources for small certified domestic vessels - SSB No.: 08/2025

Purpose

This bulletin includes information about a nationwide pilot project to use external survey resources for dry dock inspections of eligible small certificated domestic vessels.

Scope

This bulletin applies to:

• Interested external survey resources
• Transport Canada Centres (TCC) responsible for marine safety inspections
• Authorized representatives of eligible vessels

Background

Transport Canada inspects domestic commercial vessels to make sure they comply with the applicable regulations. In an effort to make this part of our work more efficient, we’re reviewing how we oversee small domestic non-pleasure vessels. Our goal is to focus on higher-risk areas, which may involve reallocating resources to inspect vessel types or operations that are most at risk.

What you need to know

To make better use of inspection resources, Transport Canada is launching a pilot project to allow authorized external survey resources to conduct dry dock (outside of the vessel’s bottom) inspections for some vessels.

The pilot project is being launched in 2 phases:

• May 23, 2025: external survey resources can apply for authorization to conduct dry dock inspections during the pilot project
• June 1, 2025: eligible vessels will be invited to participate in the pilot project

The pilot project will end on November 30, 2025.

What you need to do

If you want to be authorized to do dry dock inspections during the pilot project, please contact your local TCC to request an application form and submit the completed form to Transport Canada.

The local TCC will confirm whether you meet the criteria for performing dry dock inspections as part of the pilot project. If you meet the requirements, the TCC will send you a letter of authorization, which will be valid until November 30, 2025. You’ll also receive an inspection report template to complete when you conduct a dry dock inspection that must be sent to the local TCC after the inspection.

How vessels can participate

If your vessel is due for a dry dock inspection between June 1 and November 30, 2025, it could be eligible for an alternative process that allows for the inspection to be done by an authorized external survey resource.

The pilot project is open to:

• passenger vessels of more than 15 gross tonnage (GT) and less than 24 metres long, or vessels of 15 GT or less that carry more than 12 passengers,
• non-passenger vessels (like tugs and workboats) of more than 15 GT and less than 150 GT and less than 24 metres long, and
• fishing vessels of more than 15 GT and not more than 150 GT and not more than 24.4 metres long

You may be invited to participate in the pilot project when you contact your local TCC to schedule your dry dock inspection.

If you choose to participate, the TCC will send you a list of possible external survey resources that could complete your vessel’s dry dock inspection. You’ll be responsible for arranging the inspection with the external survey resource you select and for paying any related fees to the external survey resource, but you won’t have to pay any fees to Transport Canada for the dry dock inspection.

If you decide not to participate, a Marine Safety Inspector will schedule an inspection as usual.

Related links

• Tier I – Policy – Pilot Project on Dry Dock Inspection by External Survey Resources for Small Certificated Domestic Vessels
• Tier II – Procedure – Pilot Project on Dry Dock Inspection by External Survey Resources for Small Certificated Domestic Vessels

Keywords:

1. dry dock inspection
2. external survey resource
3. small vessel inspection
4. pilot project on dry dock inspection

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).