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Load Line Regulations (SOR/2007-99)

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Regulations are current to 2024-03-06 and last amended on 2023-12-20. Previous Versions

PART 1Circle Load Lines (continued)

Authorized Representative’s Duties

  •  (1) The authorized representative of a vessel that holds an International Load Line Certificate or a Local Load Line Certificate shall ensure that

    • (a) the conditions of assignment that were required to be met for the issuance of the certificate are met and the vessel is maintained in accordance with the requirements of a classification society;

    • (b) the vessel is marked as it was required to be marked for the issuance of the certificate or as it may be marked under subsection 5(7) or (8);

    • (c) the certificate is endorsed as required by the Convention;

    • (d) no material alterations take place in the hull or superstructure of the vessel that would necessitate the assignment of an increased freeboard; and

    • (e) the vessel is operated only as intended, in the case of a Local Load Line Certificate.

  • (2) The authorized representative of a vessel that holds an International Load Line Exemption Certificate shall ensure that

    • (a) the conditions of assignment that were required to be met for the issuance of the certificate are met and the vessel is maintained in accordance with the requirements of a classification society;

    • (b) the vessel is marked as it was required to be marked for the issuance of the certificate or as it may be marked under subsection 5(7) or (8);

    • (c) the vessel complies with any safety requirements set under article 6(2) or (4) of the 1966 Convention or the Convention or under section 13, as the case may be;

    • (d) the certificate is endorsed as required by the Convention; and

    • (e) no material alterations take place in the hull or superstructure of the vessel that would necessitate the assignment of an increased freeboard.

Seasonal Zones, Areas and Periods

  •  (1) The seasonal zones, areas and periods set out in Annex II to the Convention apply for the purpose of determining the applicable load line when a new vessel is in one of those zones or areas.

  • (2) When a new vessel is engaged on a voyage set out in column 1 of the table to this subsection during a period set out in column 2, the seasonal period set out in column 3 applies for the purpose of determining the applicable load line.

    TABLE

    ItemColumn 1Column 2Column 3
    VoyagePeriodSeasonal Period
    1A voyage during the course of which the vessel crosses the eastern boundary of the St. Lawrence River Seasonal Area(a) Period beginning on November 1 and ending on March 31(a) Winter
    (b) Period beginning on April 1 and ending on October 31(b) Summer
    2A voyage entirely within the limits of the North American Great Lakes Zone and the St. Lawrence River Seasonal Area(a) Period beginning on November 1 and ending on March 31(a) Winter
    (b) Period beginning on April 1 and ending on April 30 and beginning on October 1 and ending on October 31(b) Summer
    (c) Period beginning on May 1 and ending on September 30(c) Tropical
  • (3) The seasonal zones, areas and periods set out in Schedule III or IV, whichever is applicable, of the Rules apply for the purpose of determining the applicable load line when an existing vessel is in one of those zones or areas.

  • (4) A port standing on the boundary line between two zones or two areas is considered to be in the zone or area from which a vessel departs or into which a vessel arrives, as the case may be.

Adjustments to Load Lines

  •  (1) When a vessel is in fresh water of a specific gravity of 1.0, the applicable load line is adjusted by the fresh water allowance that is specified in the vessel’s load line certificate and determined in accordance with the 1966 Convention, the Convention or the Rules, as the case may be. However, if the vessel is in water of a specific gravity that is greater than 1.0 but less than 1.025, the applicable load line is adjusted by the following formula:

    [(1.025 – A)/0.025] × B

    where

    A
    equals the actual specific gravity; and
    B
    equals the fresh water allowance.
  • (2) Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of

    • (a) a new vessel that is in the North American Great Lakes Zone; or

    • (b) an existing vessel that is in the North American Great Lakes Zone during the period starting on September 16 in any year and ending on April 30 in the next year.

  • (3) When a vessel departs from a place situated on a river or on inland waters to the sea, the applicable load line is raised to a level that accounts for the weight of fuel and all other materials required for consumption between the point of departure and the sea.

  • (4) Subsection (3) does not apply in respect of a vessel that

    • (a) is in the North American Great Lakes Zone; or

    • (b) is in the St. Lawrence River Seasonal Area, if the vessel is engaged on a voyage wholly within the limits of the North American Great Lakes Zone and the St. Lawrence River Seasonal Area.

Dredging Load Lines

 The dredging load line on an open-hopper dredge is the applicable load line when

  • (a) the dredge is operating not more than 20 nautical miles from the mouth of a harbour of safe refuge;

  • (b) the height of waves in the area of operation is not more than 3 m or the wind velocity in the area is not more than 65 km/h; and

  • (c) the dredge is carrying dredged material with a specific gravity that is not greater than the highest specific gravity of dredged material that the dredge is designed to dredge.

Timber Load Lines

 The provisions of the 1966 Convention and the Convention relating to timber load lines do not apply in respect of any vessel that is in the North American Great Lakes Zone or that is engaged on a voyage wholly within the limits of the North American Great Lakes Zone and the St. Lawrence River Seasonal Area.

Posting of Certificates

 The authorized representative of a Canadian vessel that holds an International Load Line Certificate, a Local Load Line Certificate or an International Load Line Exemption Certificate shall ensure that it is framed and posted in a conspicuous place on board the vessel.

Draught and Freeboard Notices

 The master of a Canadian vessel that holds an International Load Line Certificate, a Local Load Line Certificate or an International Load Line Exemption Certificate shall, before leaving a place to proceed on an international voyage, post the particulars of the draughts and freeboards in a conspicuous place on board the vessel and keep them legible until the vessel arrives at another place.

Exemptions and Equivalents

 The Board may exercise the powers conferred on the Administration by articles 6 and 8 of the 1966 Convention or the Convention, as the case may be.

PART 2Diamond Load Lines

Interpretation

 (1) The following definitions apply in this Part.

amidships

amidships means the middle of the length of a vessel. (milieu du bâtiment)

deck line

deck line means a horizontal line that is 300 mm long and 25 mm wide marked amidships on the outer surface of the shell on each side of the vessel. (ligne de pont)

existing vessel

existing vessel means a vessel that is not a new vessel. (bâtiment existant)

length

length or L

  • (a) in respect of a new vessel, means 96 per cent of the total length on a waterline at 85 per cent of the least moulded depth measured from the top of the keel, or the length from the fore side of the stem to the axis of the rudder stock on that waterline, if that is greater, except that, in vessels designed with a rake of keel, the waterline on which the length is measured shall be parallel to the designed waterline; and

  • (b) in respect of an existing vessel, has the same meaning as in subsection 1(2) of Schedule I to the Rules. (longueur ou L)

moulded depth

moulded depth means the vertical distance measured

  • (a) from the top of the freeboard deck beam at side

    • (i) to the top of the keel,

    • (ii) in the case of a vessel that is not of metal construction, to the lower edge of the keel rabbet, or

    • (iii) in the case of a vessel that is fitted with thick garboards or a structure other than a flat plate keel, to the point where a line extending the flat of the bottom continued inwards would cut the side of the keel;

  • (b) in the case of a vessel that has rounded gunwales, from the point where the moulded lines of the deck and shell would intersect if the gunwale were right-angled to the point described in subparagraph (a)(i), (ii) or (iii), as the case may be; or

  • (c) in the case of a vessel that has a stepped freeboard deck, from a line extending from the lower part of the freeboard deck along a line parallel to the higher part of the freeboard deck to the point described in subparagraph (a)(i), (ii) or (iii), as the case may be. (creux sur quille)

new vessel

new vessel means a vessel that is 24 m or more in length

  • (a) that was constructed on or after April 14, 1973; or

  • (b) that was constructed as a Canadian vessel before the date referred to in paragraph (a), if the vessel’s authorized representative makes a request in writing to the Minister for the vessel to be assigned freeboards as a new vessel. (bâtiment neuf)

Rules

Rules means the Load Line Rules for Lakes and Rivers, C.R.C., c. 1442, as they read on January 1, 2006. (Règles)

Application

  •  (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), this Part applies in respect of Canadian vessels and foreign vessels that are engaged on a voyage solely within the limits of the inland waters of Canada and Canadian vessels that are engaged on an inland voyage.

  • (2) This Part does not apply in respect of

    • (a) pleasure craft;

    • (b) vessels ordinarily engaged in catching, attempting to catch or harvesting fish, whales, seals, walrus or other living resources of the sea;

    • (c) high-speed craft that have been certified in accordance with the HSC Code and meet the requirements of that Code;

    • (d) [Repealed, SOR/2013-235, s. 17]

    • (e) existing vessels of less than 150 gross tonnage;

    • (f) vessels that hold an International Load Line Certificate, a Local Load Line Certificate or an International Load Line Exemption Certificate;

    • (g) vessels that are engaged on

      • (i) a sheltered waters voyage, or

      • (ii) a domestic voyage, if the vessels are not carrying passengers or cargo;

    • (h) new vessels that do not have means of self-propulsion, are engaged on a domestic voyage and are not carrying passengers, crew or oil as cargo; or

    • (i) existing vessels that do not have means of self-propulsion, are engaged on a domestic voyage and are not carrying passengers or crew.

  • (3) Section 17 does not apply in respect of vessels that hold a load line certificate issued under Title 46, chapter I, part 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations of the United States, as amended from time to time.

  • SOR/2013-235, s. 17

Exceptions

  •  (1) Despite paragraph 15(2)(g), a vessel that is constructed or converted for the purpose of towing on or after the day on which the Vessel Construction and Equipment Regulations come into force and that is engaged on an inland voyage shall meet the conditions of assignment set out in Schedule 1.

  • (2) Despite paragraphs 15(2)(g) to (i), a vessel that is constructed on or after the day on which the Vessel Construction and Equipment Regulations come into force, that carries at least one person and that is engaged on an inland voyage shall comply with sections 11 and 13 of Schedule 1.

Prohibitions

 No vessel shall depart from a place in Canada and no Canadian vessel shall depart from a place outside Canada unless it

  • (a) holds

    • (i) a Great Lakes and Inland Waters of Canada Load Line Certificate issued under section 17, or

    • (ii) a load line certificate issued under Title 46, chapter I, part 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations of the United States, as amended from time to time; and

  • (b) is marked in accordance with the certificate.

  • SOR/2013-235, s. 18(F)

Certificates

  •  (1) On application by the authorized representative of a new vessel, the Minister shall issue a Great Lakes and Inland Waters of Canada Load Line Certificate to the vessel if

    • (a) the conditions of assignment set out in Schedule 1 are met;

    • (b) the vessel is maintained in accordance with the requirements of a classification society;

    • (c) the vessel has been assigned freeboards that

      • (i) are determined in accordance with Schedule 2, or

      • (ii) if the freeboards determined under subparagraph (i) are not adequate because of the general structural strength of the vessel, are adequate for the general structural strength of the vessel; and

    • (d) the vessel is marked in accordance with Schedule 3.

  • (2) On application by the authorized representative of an existing vessel, the Minister shall issue a Great Lakes and Inland Waters of Canada Load Line Certificate to the vessel if

    • (a) the conditions of assignment set out in Part I of Schedule I to the Rules are met;

    • (b) the vessel is maintained in accordance with the requirements of a classification society;

    • (c) the vessel has been assigned freeboards determined in accordance with Part II, III or IV of Schedule I to the Rules; and

    • (d) the vessel is marked in accordance with Part V of Schedule I to the Rules.

  • (3) Despite paragraphs (1)(d) and (2)(d), the Minister may issue a certificate if

 

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