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 SharePoint reference
- 10 Keywords
- Related links
1 Policy objective
1.1 This policy was created to implement a pilot project to improve the safety and compliance of small certificated domestic vessels.
2 Policy statement
2.1 This policy creates a pilot project that uses a risk-based oversight framework to determine the frequency of periodic safety inspections for small certificated domestic vessels.
3 Scope
3.1 This policy applies to vessels eligible to participate in the pilot project.
3.2 Vessels that can apply to participate in the pilot project are:
3.2.1 passenger vessels of more than 15 gross tonnage (GT) and less than 24 metres, or vessels of 15 GT or less that carry more than 12 passengers,
3.2.2 non-passenger vessels of more than 15 GT and less than 150 GT and less than 24 metres, and
3.2.3 fishing vessels of more than 15 GT and not more than 150 GT and not more than 24.4 metres.
3.3 To participate, the vessel must also have:
3.3.1 no open deficiencies,
3.3.1.1 if any open deficiencies that have been corrected, the vessel’s authorized representative must show proof of the correction to apply to the pilot project
3.3.2 no high-risk deficiencies identified during the last inspection,
3.3.3 made no modifications or repairs to its hull, propulsion, or structure, and
3.3.4 made no changes to its intended service since its last inspection
3.4 The authorized representative of a vessel eligible to apply to participate in the pilot project must complete and submit an Attestation Form on the Condition and Operation of the Vessel (attestation form) at least 10 business days before the expiry of their vessel’s safety inspection certificate.
3.5 For vessels that are accepted in the pilot project, after reviewing the attestation form, their local Transport Canada Centre (TCC) will extend their safety inspection certificate by 1 year. If the vessel was also due for a dry dock inspection, the due date of the dry dock inspection will also be extended by one year from the original due date.
3.6 It is important to note that this certificate extension in no way changes the responsibility of the vessel’s authorized representative to comply with all relevant requirements of the Canada Shipping Act, 2001, or those of any regulations made under the Act.
4 Authority
4.1 This policy falls under the administrative authority of the Director General of Marine Safety and Security at Transport Canada.
4.2 The Marine Safety and Security Executive Committee has approved this policy for general use.
4.3 The Executive Director of Domestic Vessel Regulatory Oversight is the functional authority responsible for implementing and ensuring compliance with this policy.
5 Responsibility/Further information
5.1 The Executive Director of Domestic Vessel Regulatory Oversight is responsible for the development, implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of this policy.
5.2 The Regional Directors of Marine Safety and Security are responsible for making sure that this policy is implemented and followed within their regions, in line with approved business practices and performance targets.
5.3 The Transport Canada Centres (TCCs) are responsible for determining which vessels are approved for the pilot project.
5.4 The TCC managers have the authority to grant a one-year extension to the safety inspection certificates for vessels accepted into the pilot project.
5.5 Please send your questions or comments to:
Email: tc.opp2.0dvroreview-ppo2.0examendusrbc.tc@tc.gc.ca
Mail:
OPP 2.0 Domestic Vessel Oversight Review
Domestic Vessel Regulatory Oversight (AMSD)
Transport Canada, Marine Safety and Security
Place de Ville, Tower C
330 Sparks St
Ottawa ON K1A 0N5
6 Related documents
6.2 Vessel Safety Certificate Regulations
6.3 TP 15456 - Canadian Vessel Plan Approval and Inspection Standard
6.4 Fishing Vessel Safety Regulations
7 Background
7.1 Transport Canada’s Marine Safety and Security Branch (TCMSS) works to enhance the safety of domestic vessels operating within Canadian waters. This includes inspecting vessels to make sure they comply with regulations under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001, and the Marine Safety Management System (MSMS).
7.2 These inspections include risk-based monitoring to make sure vessels are maintained to the applicable safety standards and are fit for their intended service.
7.3 This pilot project uses a risk assessment to determine vessels’ risk levels, to verify whether they are eligible for different levels of oversight. Vessels with a strong safety record and good maintenance practices could be inspected less often.
7.4 By extending the frequency of inspections for certain vessels, based on past inspection results and incident data, TCMSS wants to improve how it allocates its inspection resources to focus on higher-risk vessels.
7.5 This framework supplements the current inspection regime.
7.6 This policy will be closely monitored, and data collected will be analyzed to determine impacts on safety and operational effectiveness.
8 Date of application
8.1 This policy is in effect from May 20, 2025 to October 31, 2026.
8.2 Transport Canada reserves the right to terminate this pilot project before October 31, 2026.
9 SharePoint reference
9.1 The English version of this document is saved in SharePoint at this link: Tier I - Policy - Pilot Project on Periodicity of Inspections for Small Vessels - Phase 2.docx. The applied naming convention is Tier I - Policy – Pilot Project on the Inspection Periodicity for Small Certificated Domestic Vessels
9.2 The French version of this document is saved in SharePoint at this link: Volet I - Politique - Projet pilote sur la périodicité des inspections pour des petits bâtiments canadiens certifiés - Phase 2.docx. The applied naming convention is Volet I - Politique – Projet pilote sur la périodicité des inspections pour des petits bâtiments canadiens certifiés.
9.3 This is the second approved and finalized English version of this document.
10 Keywords
- Non-passenger vessel
- Passenger vessel
- Fishing vessel
- Inspection
- Tugs
- Workboats
- Cargo vessel inspection
- Periodic inspections
- Vessel inspection
