Tonnage Measurements

The Vessel Registration and Tonnage Regulations of the Canada Shipping Act 2001 ( CSA 2001) cover vessel ownership, registration and tonnage measurement and their purpose is to prescribe certain obligations to owners of registered vessels including the requirements pertaining to tonnage. Tonnage measurement is mandatory for the purpose of registration.

The tonnage of vessels shall be determined in accordance with the Vessel Registration and Tonnage Regulations and TP 13430 (Standard for the Tonnage Measurement of Vessels) by a duly appointed Tonnage Measurer. Depending on compliance with certain limitations described in the TP 13430, tonnage of some small vessels may be determined by their owners as described below.

For vessels of less than 12 metres in length as defined in the Small Vessel Regulations (SVR), you can choose to use the “Assigned Formal Tonnage” (non-calculated tonnage). Assigned Formal Tonnage simply means linking the length of the vessel to the tonnage number in the table in subsection 3.7 of TP 13430.

• Less than 8.5 m = gross tonnage of 4.99
• 8.5 m or more but less than 10 m = gross tonnage of 9.99
• 10 m or more but less than 12 m = gross tonnage of 14.99

Should you require a more accurate tonnage calculation instead of the non-calculated “Assigned Formal Tonnage”, use Form 4A or 4B (see below).

In addition to the non-calculated “Assigned Formal Tonnage” and as an option, if chosen by the ship owner instead of the full measurement by the appointed Tonnage Measurer, the Simplified Method, can be used by the vessel owner as described in Part 3 of the TP 13430. This method applies for the following vessels:

• Monohull of 15 metres in tonnage measurement length (TML) or less having not more than a single tier of deckhouses and/or superstructures (including breaks that are also being regarded as one tier of superstructures) whose total combined length does not exceed 70% of TML - use Form 4A Simplified Method of Tonnage Measurement [PDF version].
• “Monohull vessel” means a vessel having just one hull.
• Simple multihull vessels of 15 metres in tonnage measurement length (TML) or less - use Form 4B Tonnage Measurement of a Simple Multihull Vessel [PDF version].
• “Simple multihull vessel” means a flat platform installed on two or more pontoons and having no other spaces that could contribute to the volume of the vessel except the pontoons.

For full tonnage calculations in accordance with Part 3 of the TP 13430 please use the services of an appointed Tonnage Measurer.

Please refer to the following for details on:

• Appointed Tonnage Measurers, Canada
• Appointed Tonnage Measurers, USA and International
• Recognized Classification Societies Appointed as Tonnage Measurers