Before you get started, it's important to understand that the Canadian Register of Vessels is divided into 2 parts: the Small Vessel Register and the general part (commonly referred to as the Large Vessel Register).
The Canadian Register of Vessels is a title system that tracks vessel ownership and vessel characteristics like tonnage, construction material and type.
Uncertified or certified transcripts
An uncertified transcript is provided for general information only. No search has been done on our part for pending transactions. We do not assume any legal responsibility for uncertified transcripts.
A certified transcript means that we verified that the information is up-to-date and current in the registry and that there are no pending transactions.
Historical research
You can ask for historical research of a vessel when information on a vessel isn't available through the Vessel Registration Query System or transcript. The information is taken from the Canadian Register of Vessels, microfilm, or Library and Archives Canada's Ship Registration Index Database.