On this page
- 1 Policy objective
- 2 Policy statement
- 3 Scope
- 4 Authority
- 5 Responsibility/further information
- 6 Related documents
- 7 Background
- 8 Date of application
- 9 Date for review or expiry
- 10 SharePoint/RDIMS Reference
- 11 Keywords
- Related links
1 Policy objective
1.1 To improve safety by promoting the constant wearing of comfortable and effective alternatives to lifejackets on certain small commercial vessels operating in certain bodies of water.
1.2 To accept alternatives to lifejackets required to be carried under the Small Vessel Regulations.
2 Policy statement
2.1 Certain PFDs may be worn instead of lifejackets on non-pleasure vessels covered under the Small Vessel Regulations operating within near coastal voyages, Class 2 as defined in the Vessel Safety Certificates Regulations.
2.2 These PFDs must:
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2.2.1 Be approved by Transport Canada or Canadian Coast Guard
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2.2.2 Always be worn when underway in an open boat or when on deck or in the cockpit on a vessel of closed construction that is underway
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2.2.3. Be a highly visible colour (yellow, orange or red). For inflatable devices, this refers to the colour of the internal bladder, not the external cover
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2.2.4 Provide at least 100 N of buoyancy and have a turning capability, unless it is an approved suit, coat or jacket designed to provide thermal protection and buoyancy
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2.2.5 Be fitted with retro-reflective tape and a whistle; and
2.3 PFDs that require secondary or two-step action for donning are not recommended for use on passenger vessels.
2.4 If inflatable PFDs are provided for use on passenger vessels, automatic inflation is recommended.
2.5 PFDs that provide at least 69 N of buoyancy and meet all conditions listed in 2.2, other than the turning capability, may be used on the following vessels operating within Sheltered Waters, or within 2 nautical miles from shore on inland voyages:
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2.5.1 Passenger vessels of 8.5 metres or less in length
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2.5.2 Workboats of 12 metres or less in length 2.8
2.6 Small commercial vessels must carry lifejackets as required under the Small Vessel Regulations or an acceptable alternative as described in this policy.
2.7 Although the Small Vessel Regulations do not differentiate between inflatable lifejackets utilizing automatic or manual inflation and the referenced standard, CAN/CGSB 65.7-2007, allows for both types, Transport Canada is encouraging the use of automatically inflated devices on passenger vessels.
2.8 Vessels may carry approved PFDs that don’t meet the conditions of section 2.2 or 2.5 of this policy as additional equipment provided the vessel also carries Transport Canada approved, properly sized lifejackets for everyone on board.
2.9 Inflatable devices (lifejackets or PFDs) aren’t accepted on small commercial vessels for persons under 16 years old.
3 Scope
3.1 This policy applies to all non-pleasure vessels under the Small Vessel Regulations.
3.2 This policy doesn’t apply to vessels operating beyond the limits of a near coastal voyage, Class 2.
3.3. This policy doesn’t override or cancel previous Marine Technical Review Board (MTRB) decisions about wearing or having PFDs on board.
4 Authority
4.1 Under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001, Transport Canada can make regulations that promote and protect the safety of the travelling public, mariners, property, and the marine environment.
4.2 Section 4 of the Small Vessel Regulations accepts alternatives to the required safety equipment if the Minister determines they offer an equivalent level of safety.
5 Responsibility/further information
5.1 The Executive Director of Domestic Vessel Regulatory Oversight (AMSD) is responsible for developing, approving and updating this policy.
5.2 The Manager, National Marine Safety Program - Small and Fishing Vessels, Design and Construction (AMSDS) is the office of primary interest (OPI) for this policy.
5.3 The Regional Directors, Marine are responsible for enforcing this policy.
5.4 Send comments or questions related to this policy and how it applies to:
Transport Canada
Place de Ville, Tower C
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa ON K1A 0N8
6 Related documents
6.1 Standard for Life Jackets CAN/CGSB-65.7-2007.
6.2 Fully Inflatable Recreational Personal Flotation Devices – UL1180 2nd Ed. February 13, 2009.
6.3 Tier 1 Policy - Accepting lifejackets certified to UL12402-4 as equivalent to those certified to CAN/CGSB-65.7-M88 or CAN/CGSB 65.7-2007 CLASS 2.
6.4 Tier 1 Policy - Acceptance of Level 70 Buoyancy Aids Certified to UL12402-5 as Personal Flotation Devices.
7 Background
7.1 Canadian regulations require all commercial vessels carry standard or small vessel lifejackets. These lifejackets are usually designed for emergency abandonment and not for constant wear.
7.2 Transport Canada has consulted with industry to revise lifejacket standards to encourage more wearable lifejacket designs. For the lifejacket standard CAN/CGSB 65.7-2007, in place since June 2007, there is currently only one lifejacket available that meets this standard.
7.3 Ship safety bulletin No.: 02/2011, Wearing and Using Flotation Devices Small Non-Pleasure Craft & Small Commercial Fishing Vessels was issued on 2011-09-15. This bulletin was to help make sure commercial vessels followed regulations that require carrying Transport Canada approved lifejackets. It also gave options for certain PFDs that could be carried instead of lifejackets to encourage wearing flotation devices. This bulletin was replaced by Ship safety bulletin No.: 06/2012 and then Ship safety bulletin No.: 18/2025.
7.4 SSB 06/2012 advised that by June 30, 2012, commercial vessels must carry either Transport Canada approved lifejackets or PFDs meeting the requirements listed in that bulletin.
7.5 After SSB 02/2011 was published, Transport Canada Marine Safety and Security received feedback after presentations at the National Canadian Marine Advisory Council, November 2011 and April 2012.
7.6 This revision includes the following changes based on stakeholder feedback:
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passengers and crew must wear PFDs on deck if PFDs are carried instead of lifejackets
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the scope of the policy is for vessels operating on near coastal voyages class 2 under the Vessel Safety Certificates Regulations
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waist length bomber style PFDs that give thermal protection are now accepted.
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69 N Transport Canada approved PFDs meeting the conditions of this policy are approved on certain small vessels operating in sheltered waters or within 2 nautical miles from shore on a lake or river
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Inflatable devices that require secondary or two-step action for donning are not recommended for use on passenger vessels.
7.7 Wearing PFDs that meet the criteria of this policy gives users a level of safety equivalent to carrying small vessel and standard lifejackets.
7.8 PFDs that give thermal protection are accepted because they extend survival times in cold water.
7.9 The Small Vessel Regulations require that if inflatable type devices are carried, then they must always be worn in an open vessel and when on deck on a vessel of closed construction.
8 Date of application
8.1 This policy is effective September 9, 2025.
9 Date for review or expiry
9.1 This policy will be reviewed in five years.
10 SharePoint/RDIMS Reference
10.1 The English version of this document is saved in Sharepoint (Acceptance of PFDs in Lieu of Lifejackets Required by the Small Vessel Regulations.docx).
10.2 The French version of this document is saved in Sharepoint (Acceptation des vêtements de flottaison individuels (VFI) au lieu des gilets de sauvetage exigés en vertu du Réglement sur les Petits Bâtiments.docx).
10.3 This is the third approved and finalized revision of the English version of this document. The previous English version is saved in RDIMS under reference number 6784611 (2011) and the original English version is saved in RDIMS under reference number 841647 (2004). The previous French version is RDIMS reference number 6804572 (2011), and the original French version is RDIMS reference number 845800 (2004).
11 Keywords
- Personal flotation device
- PFD
- Lifejacket
- Flotation
- Buoyancy
- Small Vessel Regulations
- Thermal protection
Related links
