Tonnage Measurements for Small Vessels (Non-Pleasure Craft)

The Vessel Registration and Tonnage Regulations of the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 (CSA 2001) cover vessel ownership, registration and tonnage measurement. Their purpose is to prescribe certain obligations to owners of registered vessels, including the requirements pertaining to tonnage. Gross Tons is a volume derived by multiplying the vessel length, breadth and depth by a constant factor. 

Tonnage of vessels is determined in accordance with the Vessel Registration and Tonnage Regulations and TP 13430 - Standard for the Tonnage Measurement of Vessels, either by using:

• the Simplified Method of Tonnage Measurement for monohull vessels, commonly referred to as Form 4A (follow this link to download Form 4A),
• the Tonnage Measurement of a Simple Multihull Vessel for simple multihull vessels, commonly referred to as Form 4B (follow this link to download Form 4B), or
• a duly appointed Tonnage Measurer.

Please follow this link for details on Appointed Tonnage Measurers, Canada.