Service Standards
- Marine Safety and Security
- Group 1: Service Standards for Pleasure Craft
- Group 2: Service Standards for Cargo and Port State Control Inspections
- Group 3: Service Standards for Marine Personnel Programs
- Group 4: Service Standards for Navigable Waters Protection Program
- Group 5: Service Standards for vessel registration, inspection and certification
- Ship construction plans must be reviewed and approved according to requirements specified in several regulations including the Hull Construction Regulations, Hull Inspection Regulations, Marine Machinery Regulations, and Life Saving Equipment Regulations, all made pursuant to Canada Shipping Act, 2001. Please note that Vessel Stability Booklets are considered as a plan.
- In addition, Transport Canada will issue certificates of approval for life-saving appliances and fire safety systems (see TP 14612 Section 2.4.1 for more information on fire safety systems), equipment and products that are not, under the agreement, approved by a Recognized Organization or listed by one of the accepted Product Certification Bodies.
- The load line survey requires plan analysis and calculations, as well as an in-person survey. This process is completed by either Transport Canada regional offices or classification societies. A review of the process is undertaken at Transport Canada headquarters. The load line survey is governed by the Load Line Regulations, also made pursuant to Canada Shipping Act, 2001.
Service standard:
- Approval of an individual plan for vessel design construction and equipment Vessel Stability Booklets
Within 45 working days (currently under review) - Issue a certificate of approval for lifesaving or fire safety equipment or systems
Within 15 working days (10 working days for renewal) - Plan analysis and calculations related to load line survey
Within 15 working days (10 working days for renewal) - In-person inspection related to load line survey
- Process request
Within 3 working days - Travel to vessel
Varies (timeline based on vessel status and requirements) - Issue a transcript upon completion of satisfactory inspection
Within 5 working days from boarding
- Process request
Performance target: The target for achieving this standard is set at 70%.
Performance results:
| Standard | Target | 2016/17 |
|---|---|---|
| Approval of an individual plan for vessel design construction and equipment Vessel Stability Booklets | 70% | 78% |
| Issue a certificate of approval for lifesaving or fire safety equipment or system | 70% | 0% |
| Plan analysis and calculations related to load line survey | 70% | N/A |
| In-person inspection related to load line survey | 70% | N/A |
| Process request | 70% | N/A |
| Travel to vessel | 70% | N/A |
| Issue a transcript upon completion of satisfactory inspection | 70% | N/A |
Apply for:
- A plan approval for the design, construction or modification of a vessel by contacting your regional office: https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation-regions
- A product approval by sending a request to the Manager, Arctic and Large Vessel, Design and Equipment Standards, Once a request is reviewed, requirements for the specific type of approval will be identified. The request can be sent:
- By mail to Transport Canada Marine Safety, Tower C, Place de Ville, 330 Sparks Street, 11th Floor, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0N8; or
- By email to insp.stand-norm.insp@tc.gc.ca.
- A load line certificate by contacting your regional office: https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation-regions
Service feedback:
Mailing Address:
Transport Canada
Marine Safety (AMSD)
Tower C, Place de Ville
330 Sparks Street, 11th Floor
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0N5
For more information:
- Inspection and Operations Standards
- Government-Wide Forward Regulatory Plans
- Cabinet Directive on Regulatory Management
- Red Tape Reduction Action Plan
- Canada–United States Regulatory Cooperation Council
- Regulatory Services and Quality Assurance
- Contacting Marine Safety
To learn about upcoming or ongoing consultations on proposed federal regulations, visit the Canada Gazette and Consulting with Canadians websites.