The Marine Safety Management System Regulations Second Anniversary - SSB No.: 05/2026

Scope

This bulletin is for owners, authorized representatives and ship managers of Canadian vessels subject to the Marine Safety Management System Regulations (MSMSR):

Purpose

This bulletin is a reminder that certain transitional provisions, identified in Part 6 of the Regulations, will expire on July 3, 2026, the second anniversary of theMSMSR.

This bulletin is a complement to SSB No. 20/2024 issued on August 27, 2024, and SSB No.: 06/2025 issued on May 15, 2025.

What you need to know

Starting July 3, 2026, the following type of vessels will be required to develop and implement a documented safety management system (SMS) and obtain a certificate to be in full compliance with all requirements of the MSMSR:

• Class 2, 3 non-passenger-carrying vessels.
• Class 4 non-passenger-carrying vessels more than 15 gross tonnage
• Class 4 towboats and passenger carrying vessels with a gross tonnage of 15 or less and are up to 7 metres;

Transitional provisions for these vessels are defined in subsection 602(2), 603(2), 604(2), (4)(b) of the MSMSR.

Compliance Timelines

Vessels that are required by the Vessel Safety Certificates Regulationsto have a Safety Inspection Certificate, must comply with the MSMSR by the anniversary of the date of issuance of their Safety Inspection Certificate.

For example, if a Class 2 non-passenger carrying vessel’s Safety Inspection Certificate was issued for a period of 5 years, on August 17, 2023, the ship manager will be required to obtain the required Canadian Maritime Document under the MSMSR by August 17, 2026.

Vessels that are not required to hold a Safety Inspection Certificate, must comply with the MSMSR by the anniversary of the date of issuance of their Certificate of Registry. This applies to:

• Passenger-carrying vessels up to 7 metres in length and have a gross tonnage of 15 or less.
• Towboats up to 7 metres in length with a gross tonnage of 15 or less

For example, if a towboat’s Certificate of Registry was issued on May 22, 2024, they will be required to obtain the required Canadian Maritime Document under the MSMSR by May 22, 2027.

As a ship manager, make sure to factor-in the time that Transport Canada will need to review the SMS documents. Based on our service standards, we can take up to 45 business days to review a complete application.

What you need to do

As an authorized representative or a ship manager, you must ensure that the required certificates issued under the MSMSR,and the document in which your SMS is set out, are kept on board and available for consultation.

To obtain your required certificates you must contact:

• for a vessel enrolled in the Delegated Statutory Inspection Program (DSIP), your designated Recognized Organization.
• for a vessel not enrolled in DSIP, the regional TCMSS office where the ship manager performs the operations.

You will be required to submit an application package that includes:

• form 85-0547B – “Application for a Canadian Maritime Document under the Marine Safety Management System Regulations – Initial Certification”, and
• form 85-0547A – “Application for a Canadian Maritime Document under the Marine Safety Management System Regulations – Identification of a Ship Manager”.

As a ship manager you will have a period of 6 months, after obtaining your required certificates, to fully implement your SMS on board.

Non-compliance with the requirements of the MSMSR may result in enforcement action, including administrative monetary penalties stated in Part 12 of the schedule to the Administrative Monetary Penalties and Notices (CSA 2001) Regulations.)

Questions?

If you have any questions about how we’re implementing the MSMSR, please email your nearest Marine Safety and Security Office:

• Atlantic (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland and Labrador): ATLMSMSR-RSGSMATL@tc.gc.ca
• Quebec: servicestechniques-quebec-technicalservices@tc.gc.ca
• Ontario: MSSarnia-SarniaSM@tc.gc.ca
• Prairies and Northern (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut): TC.PNRMSMSRInformationDesk-BureauDeInformationRSGSMRPN.TC@tc.gc.ca
• Pacific (British Columbia): TC.PACMSMSRInformationDesk-BureauDeInformationRSGSM.TC@tc.gc.ca

Related links

• TP 15566 – Guide for Canadian Vessels' Operators for Compliance with the Marine Safety Management System Regulations
• Canada Gazette, Part 2, Volume 158, Number 14: Marine Safety Management System Regulations

Keywords:

1. Ship Manager
2. International Safety Management (ISM) Code
3. Guide for Canadian Vessels' Operators for Compliance with the Marine Safety Management System Regulations (TP 15566)

Questions concerning this Bulletin should be addressed to:

Contact us at: Email: marinesafety-securitemaritime@tc.gc.ca or Telephone: 1-855-859-3123 (Toll Free).