Canada rolls out new marine navigation safety regs

Written by Marine Log Staff
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Canadian Minister of Transport Marc Garneau today announced that the Government of Canada has published its new Marine Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020.

They apply to commercial vessels of all sizes, including fishing vessels, workboats, water taxis and ferries and consolidate nine existing sets of marine safety regulations into one.

According to Transport Canada, they:

  • provide clearer and more up to date language on required navigational safety equipment;
  • require vessel owners to have equipment to help reduce the risk of collisions that could cause pollution, such as oil spills, and threaten endangered marine life, such as whales;
  • require lifesaving equipment that will send emergency signals and provide the vessel’s location;
  • apply to over 23,000 commercial vessels of all sizes; and
  • better align with international marine safety standards such as the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).

The Marine Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020, also include enhanced requirements to address important safety issues highlighted by serious marine occurrences, such as the fatal capsizing of the Leviathan II in 2017, after which the Chief Coroner, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, and the Auditor General all made key safety recommendations. These include requirements for commercial vessels to have equipment on board to help improve search and rescue efforts as well as for collision avoidance.

While some of the requirements take effect immediately, others will take effect over the coming years: Automatic Identification Systems requirements will take effect in April 2021; Electronic Chart Display Information Systems in October 2021; and Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm Systems in January 2022.

Access the new Marine Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020 HERE.

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