Small Vessel Compliance Program (SVCP)

1 Policy Objective

1.1 This policy aims to help small non-pleasure vessel owners operate their vessel safely and protect the environment. Taking part in the program would help authorized representatives (ARs) or owners to comply with regulations.

1.2 This policy establishes the national Small Vessel Compliance Program.

1.3 This policy updates the Small Vessel Compliance Program policy issued on June 2, 2011.

2 Policy Statement

The Small Vessel Compliance Program will:

• Provide authorized representatives (ARs) /owners with tools, guidelines and related documents to help them ensure their vessels meet the requirements of regulations that apply to them; and
• Monitor the compliance of vessels enrolled in the program.

2.2 To participate in the SVCP, ARs / owners must enroll individual vessels, and receive Transport Canada Marine Safety approval.

2.3 Marine Safety and Security will have greater capacity to carry out risk-based compliance oversight of the small vessel fleet.

2.4 Marine Safety and Security will expand relationships with other government organizations, industry associations and business entities with interests in the small non-pleasure vessel sector to help achieve this policy’s objectives.

3 Scope

3.1 This policy applies to non-pleasure workboats and passenger vessels not more than 15 gross tonnage, carrying not more than 12 passengers.

3.2 This policy applies to small fishing vessel not more than 15 gross tonnage, used for commercial fishing.

3.3 This policy applies to recreational boating schools that have chosen to adopt the alternative compliance provisions of the Small Vessel Compliance Program Recreational Boating Schools policy (RDIMS# 1280476) and TP 15136 for vessels:

• not larger than 15 metres,
• carrying no more than 12 students and
• engaged on:
  • a sheltered waters voyage or
  • a near coastal voyage class 2, or
  • a limited contiguous waters voyage.

3.4 This policy does not apply to;

• Pleasure craft
• Tugs
• Small special-purpose vessels

4 Authority

4.1 The Director General, Marine Safety and Security has overall administrative authority.

4.2 The Marine Safety and Security Executive Committee has approved this policy for general application.

4.3 The Executive Director, Domestic Vessel Regulatory Oversight is the functional authority.

4.4 The Manager, Flag State, Compliance and Enforcement is the national Office of Primary Interest (OPI).

5 Responsibility

5.1 Flag State, Compliance & Enforcement is the group responsible for developing, implementing, maintaining and continuously improving this policy.

5.2 The Regional Directors, Marine Safety and Security, will conduct the activities that support this policy in line with approved business practices and performance targets.

5.3 Each Regional Director, Marine Safety and Security, will assign an employee to act as the local OPI for the SVCP.

5.4 The Regional Directors, Marine Safety and Security, will give subject matter input and feedback to the functional authority as needed.

5.5 The Regional Directors, Marine Safety and Security will develop and manage the program framework needed to support this policy. This may include, but not be limited to, procedures, work instructions, education and awareness material, checklist tools, guidance documents, databases and systems.

5.6 The Regional Directors, Marine Safety and Security will provide management oversight of the program, performance monitoring and reporting to the national level.

5.7 The Regional Directors, Marine Safety and Security will help ensure effective communications with and amongst the Regions.

5.8 Please address your questions or comments to :

Director, Domestic Vessel Regulatory Oversight (AMSD)
Transport Canada, Marine Safety and Security
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, ON     K1A 0N8
1-855-859-3123 (Toll Free)
insp.stand-norm.insp@tc.gc.ca

6 Related Documents

6.1 Canada Shipping Act, 2001

6.2 Small Vessel Regulations

6.3 Fishing Vessel Safety Regulations

6.4 Policy – Oversight of Small Non-pleasure vessels (RDIMS # 12307732).

6.5 Policy – Small Vessel Compliance Program – Recreational Boating Schools (RDIMS# 1280476).

6.6 Procedure – Enrolment of Vessels in the Small Vessel Compliance Program (RDIMS # 12309821)

6.7 Procedure – Inspection of Small Non-Pleasure Vessels Enrolled in the Small Vessel Compliance Program (SVCP) (RDIMS # 12322365).

6.8 Procedure - Inspection of Non-pleasure vessels not Enrolled in the Small Vessel Compliance Program (SVCP) (RDIMS # 11261488)

7 Background

7.1 Small non-pleasure vessel owners / authorized representatives (ARs) have many obligations under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 (CSA, 2001).

7.2 The CSA, 2001, Section 106 makes the owner/ authorized representative (AR) responsible for vessel safety: “(1) The authorized representative of a Canadian vessel shall (a) ensure that the vessel and its machinery and equipment meet the requirements of the regulations made under this Part; (b) develop procedures for the safe operation of the vessel and for dealing with emergencies; and (c) ensure that the crew and passengers receive safety training.”

7.3 Through this policy, Marine Safety and Security helps vessel owners/ authorized representatives (ARs) meet their responsibility under the CSA, 2001.

7.4 A major CSA, 2001 objective is to establish an effective inspection and enforcement program.

7.5 This policy gives Marine Safety and Security greater capacity to meet this objective.

8 Definitions

8.1 The term “pleasure craft” is defined in section 2 of the Canada Shipping Act, 2001.

8.2 The term “fishing vessel” is defined in section 2 of the Fishing Vessel Safety Regulations.

8.3 The term “passenger” is defined in section 2 of the Canada Shipping Act, 2001.

8.4 The term “Authorized Representative (AR)” is defined in section 2 of the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 and referred to in section 14 of that Act.

8.5 The term “special-purpose vessels” refers to any vessel in respect of which the Special-Purpose Vessels Regulations apply.

9 Date of Application

9.1 This policy comes into effect on July 13, 2017.

10 Date of Review

10.1 This policy will be reviewed 12 months after its release and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 5 years.

11 RDIMS Reference

11.1 The English version of this document is saved in RDIMS under reference number 12306851. The applied naming convention is Publication – TP13585 – Policy - Small Vessel Compliance Program (SVCP).

11.2 La version française du présent document est dans le SGDDI et porte le numéro de référence 12830624. La règle d’affectation des noms est Publication – TP13585 – Politique – Programme de conformité des petits bâtiments (PCPB).

11.3 Previously approved and finalized revisions of the English version of this document is saved in RDIMS under reference number 6061293.

12 Keywords

• Small Vessel Compliance Program
• Small non-pleasure vessel
• Decal
• Letter of participation
• Workboat
• Passenger vessel
• Small fishing vessel