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Version of document from 2005-12-12 to 2007-06-30:

Canada Shipping Act

R.S.C., 1985, c. S-9

An Act respecting shipping

Short Title

Marginal note:Short title

 This Act may be cited as the Canada Shipping Act.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 1

Interpretation

Marginal note:Definitions

 In this Act,

Admiralty Court

Cour d’Amirauté

Admiralty Court means the Federal Court; (Cour d’Amirauté)

agreement with the crew

contrat d’engagement de l’équipage

agreement with the crew has the meaning as indicated in section 163; (contrat d’engagement de l’équipage)

air cushion vehicle

aéroglisseur

air cushion vehicle means a machine designed to derive support in the atmosphere primarily from reactions against the earth’s surface of air expelled from the machine; (aéroglisseur)

authorized representative

représentant autorisé

authorized representative means, except in paragraph 712(7)(a), an authorized representative referred to in section 9; (représentant autorisé)

bare-boat charter

affrètement coque nue

bare-boat charter means a ship charter agreement under which the charterer has complete possession and control of the ship, including the right to appoint its master and crew; (affrètement coque nue)

Board

Bureau

Board means the Board of Steamship Inspection established by section 304; (Bureau)

Board of Trade or Chamber of Commerce

Board of Trade ou chambre de commerce

Board of Trade or Chamber of Commerce means the board of trade or chamber of commerce for any city, town or place in Canada that is nearest to any harbour or anchorage of ships; (Board of Trade ou chambre de commerce)

British ship

British ship[Repealed, 1998, c. 16, s. 1]

builder’s mortgage

builder’s mortgage[Repealed, 1998, c. 16, s. 1]

Canadian ship

navire canadien

Canadian ship means a ship registered or listed under Part I; (navire canadien)

Canadian waters

eaux canadiennes

Canadian waters means the territorial sea of Canada and all internal waters of Canada; (eaux canadiennes)

cargo ship

navire de charge

cargo ship means a ship that is not a fishing vessel, a passenger ship or a pleasure craft; (navire de charge)

Chairman

président

Chairman means the Chairman of the Board; (président)

chief officer of customs

préposé en chef des douanes

chief officer of customs means the chief or only officer of customs at any port; (préposé en chef des douanes)

claim, the amount of

montant de la réclamation

claim, the amount of, in respect of jurisdiction in matters of salvage, means the amount claimed in the proceeding or suit before the receiver of wrecks, or in the court in which the suit or proceeding is taken; (montant de la réclamation)

coast of Canada

littoral du Canada

coast of Canada means the sea-coast of Canada and the salt water bays, gulfs and harbours on the sea-coast of Canada; (littoral du Canada)

coasting trade of Canada

coasting trade of Canada[Repealed, 1992, c. 31, s. 23]

Collision Regulations

règlements sur les abordages

Collision Regulations means the regulations made under section 562.11; (règlements sur les abordages)

Commonwealth country

pays du Commonwealth

Commonwealth country means a country

  • (a) whose government was a party to the British Commonwealth Merchant Shipping Agreement signed at London on December 10, 1931, or

  • (b) that was included within the ambit of that Agreement in 1931 and the government of which, as a government of a separate entity within the association of the Commonwealth of Nations, continues to participate in that Agreement,

and includes the colonies, possessions, dependencies, protectorates, protected states, condominiums and trust territories of any such country; (pays du Commonwealth)

conditions of assignment

conditions d’assignation

conditions of assignment means those provisions of the Load Line Rules made by the Governor in Council that give effect to Part II of Annex I to the Load Line Convention; (conditions d’assignation)

consular officer

fonctionnaire consulaire

consular officer means a consular officer of Canada or any person for the time being discharging the duties of a consular officer of Canada, and, in the absence of a consular officer of Canada or such other person, means a consul-general, consul or vice-consul of the United Kingdom or any person for the time being discharging the duties of consul-general, consul or vice-consul of the United Kingdom, and, when used in relation to a country other than Canada, means the officer recognized by Her Majesty as a consular officer of that country; (fonctionnaire consulaire)

contravention

contravention

contravention includes failure to comply and the expression “contravenes” shall be construed accordingly; (contravention)

country to which the Load Line Convention applies

pays auquel s’applique la Convention sur les lignes de charge

country to which the Load Line Convention applies means

  • (a) a country the government of which has been declared by the Governor in Council under section 352 to have ratified, or acceded to, the Load Line Convention, and has not been so declared to have denounced that Convention, and

  • (b) a country to which it has been so declared that the Load Line Convention has been applied under Article 21 thereof, not being a country to which it has been so declared that the Convention has ceased to apply under that Article; (pays auquel s’applique la Convention sur les lignes de charge)

country to which the Safety Convention applies

pays auquel s’applique la Convention de sécurité

country to which the Safety Convention applies means a country the government of which has been declared under section 315 to have ratified or acceded to the Safety Convention and has not been so declared to have denounced that Convention; (pays auquel s’applique la Convention de sécurité)

dangerous goods or goods of a dangerous nature

marchandises dangereuses ou marchandises de nature dangereuse

dangerous goods or goods of a dangerous nature means goods that by reason of their nature, quantity or mode of stowage are either singly or collectively liable to endanger the lives of the passengers or imperil the ship, and includes all substances determined by the Governor in Council, in regulations made by him, to be dangerous goods; (marchandises dangereuses ou marchandises de nature dangereuse)

deck line

livet de pont

deck line means the line indicating the uppermost complete deck of a ship as defined by the Load Line Rules; (livet de pont)

Department

ministère

Department means, except in Part VII, the Department of Transport; (ministère)

equipment

équipement

equipment includes life-boats, life-saving equipment, apparatus for protection against fire and for detection and extinguishing of fire, fire-control plans, line-throwing apparatus, anchors, cables, pilot ladders, means of making sound signals and distress signals, compasses, lights, signals, navigating appliances and all other apparatus or equipment designed or required for the safety of the ship or the protection of the passengers and crew, but does not include radio equipment other than radio equipment for survival craft; (équipement)

fishing vessel

bâtiment de pêche ou bateau de pêche

fishing vessel, except in section 712, means a ship that is employed in catching fish, whales, seals, walrus or other living resources of the sea, and that does not carry passengers or cargo; (bâtiment de pêche ou bateau de pêche)

foreign ship

navire étranger

foreign ship means

  • (a) except in paragraphs 662(1)(c) and (d), a ship other than a British ship, or

  • (b) in paragraphs 662(1)(c) and (d), a ship other than a Canadian ship; (navire étranger)

foreign voyage

voyage de long cours

foreign voyage means a voyage extending beyond the area of a home-trade voyage and not being an inland or minor waters voyage; (voyage de long cours)

foreign-going

au long cours

foreign-going, when used with reference to a ship, means employed on foreign voyages; (au long cours)

goods

marchandises

goods includes every description of wares and merchandise; (marchandises)

government ship

navire d’État

government ship means a ship or vessel that is owned by and is in the service of Her Majesty in right of Canada or of any province or is, while so employed, wholly employed in the service of Her Majesty in that right; (navire d’État)

grain

grain

grain includes wheat, maize (corn), oats, rye, barley, rice, pulses, seeds and any processed forms of seeds the behaviour of which is similar to that of grain in its natural state; (grain)

grain cargo

cargaison de grains

grain cargo means a cargo of which the portion consisting of grain is more than one-quarter of the dead weight carrying capacity of the ship carrying it; (cargaison de grains)

Great Lakes

Grands Lacs

Great Lakes means Lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron (including Georgian Bay), Michigan and Superior, and their connecting waters; (Grands Lacs)

gross tonnage

jauge brute

gross tonnage means the overall size of a ship as determined by a tonnage measurer; (jauge brute)

harbour

havre

harbour means harbours and places properly so called whether proclaimed public harbours or not, and whether natural or artificial, to which ships may resort for shelter or to ship or unship goods or passengers; (havre)

home-trade ships

navire de cabotage

home-trade ships means ships engaged in home-trade voyages; (navire de cabotage)

home-trade voyage

voyage de cabotage

home-trade voyage means a voyage, not being an inland or minor waters voyage, between places within the area following, namely, Canada, the United States other than Hawaii, St. Pierre and Miquelon, the West Indies, Mexico, Central America and the northeast coast of South America, in the course of which a ship does not go south of the sixth parallel of north latitude; (voyage de cabotage)

hull

coque

hull means the body of a vessel including the masts and rigging and all parts of its structure; (coque)

inland voyage

voyage en eaux internes

inland voyage means a voyage, not being a minor waters voyage, on the inland waters of Canada together with such part of any lake or river forming part of the inland waters of Canada as lies within the United States or on Lake Michigan; (voyage en eaux internes)

inland waters of Canada

eaux internes du Canada

inland waters of Canada means all the rivers, lakes and other navigable fresh waters within Canada, and includes the St. Lawrence River as far seaward as a straight line drawn

  • (a) from Cap des Rosiers to West Point Anticosti Island, and

  • (b) from Anticosti Island to the north shore of the St. Lawrence River along the meridian of longitude sixty-three degrees west; (eaux internes du Canada)

inland waters ship

navire d’eaux internes

inland waters ship means a ship employed on an inland voyage; (navire d’eaux internes)

international voyage

voyage international

international voyage

  • (a) when used with reference to Load Line Convention ships, means a voyage, not being an inland voyage, from a port in one country to a port in another country, either of those countries being a country to which the Load Line Convention applies, and

  • (b) when used with reference to Safety Convention ships, means a voyage, not being an inland voyage, from a port in one country to a port in another country, either of those countries being a country to which the Safety Convention applies,

and, for the purposes of this definition, every territory for the international relations of which a country to which the appropriate Convention applies is responsible or for which the United Nations is the administering authority shall be deemed to be a separate country; (voyage international)

licensed pilot

pilote breveté

licensed pilot means a person who holds a valid licence as pilot issued by a Pilotage Authority under the Pilotage Act; (pilote breveté)

Load Line Convention

Convention sur les lignes de charge

Load Line Convention means the International Convention respecting Load Lines together with the Final Protocol signed at London on July 5, 1930; (Convention sur les lignes de charge)

Load Line Convention Certificate

certificat selon la Convention sur les lignes de charge

Load Line Convention Certificate means a certificate indicating that a ship has been surveyed and marked with load lines in accordance with Part V and complies with the conditions of assignment to the extent required in its case; (certificat selon la Convention sur les lignes de charge)

Load Line Convention ship

navire ressortissant à la Convention sur les lignes de charge

Load Line Convention ship means a Load Line ship belonging to a country to which the Load Line Convention applies; (navire ressortissant à la Convention sur les lignes de charge)

Load Line Regulations

règlements sur les lignes de charge

Load Line Regulations means the regulations made pursuant to paragraph 375(2)(a); (règlements sur les lignes de charge)

Load Line Rules

règles sur les lignes de charge

Load Line Rules means the rules made by the Governor in Council for the purpose of giving effect to Articles 6 to 10 of the Load Line Convention and Annex I and Annex II thereto; (règles sur les lignes de charge)

Load Line ship

navire de franc-bord

Load Line ship means a ship of the kind described in section 353 that is not exempt under subsections (2) and (3) of that section from the provisions of Part V relating to load lines; (navire de franc-bord)

load lines

lignes de charge

load lines means the marks indicating the several maximum depths to which a ship can be safely loaded in the various circumstances prescribed by the Load Line Rules or Load Line Regulations applicable to that ship; (lignes de charge)

machinery

machines

machinery includes propulsion systems, steering systems, pressurized containers and systems, pumping systems, electrical systems, windlasses, and all similar apparatus required for, or affecting, the safety or operation of a ship or the safety of the personnel on board a ship; (machines)

master

capitaine

master includes every person having command or charge of any ship, but does not include a pilot; (capitaine)

Merchant Shipping Acts

Merchant Shipping Acts

"Merchant Shipping Acts" means the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894 of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, 57-58 Victoria, chapter 60, and all Acts adding to or amending that Act; (Merchant Shipping Acts)

Minister

ministre

Minister means, except in Part VII, the Minister of Transport; (ministre)

minor waters of Canada

eaux secondaires du Canada

minor waters of Canada means all inland waters of Canada other than Lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, including Georgian Bay, and Superior and the St. Lawrence River east of a line drawn from Father Point to Point Orient, and includes all bays, inlets and harbours of or on those lakes and Georgian Bay and such sheltered waters on the sea-coasts of Canada as the Minister may specify; (eaux secondaires du Canada)

minor waters ship

navire d’eaux secondaires

minor waters ship means a ship employed on a minor waters voyage; (navire d’eaux secondaires)

minor waters voyage

voyage en eaux secondaires

minor waters voyage means a voyage within the following limits, namely, the minor waters of Canada together with such part of any lake or river forming part of the minor waters of Canada as lies within the United States; (voyage en eaux secondaires)

net tonnage

jauge nette

net tonnage means the useful capacity of a ship as determined by a tonnage measurer; (jauge nette)

night or night-time

nuit ou heures de nuit

night or night-time includes all that portion of the day extending from one-half hour after sunset until one-half hour before sunrise; (nuit ou heures de nuit)

nominal horsepower

puissance nominale en chevaux ou chevaux-vapeur nominaux

nominal horsepower means the measure of the size of marine engines, ascertained in accordance with regulations made by the Governor in Council; (puissance nominale en chevaux ou chevaux-vapeur nominaux)

nuclear ship

navire nucléaire

nuclear ship means a ship fitted with a nuclear power plant; (navire nucléaire)

ordinary practice of seamen

pratique ordinaire des marins

ordinary practice of seamen, as applied to any case, means the ordinary practice of skilful and careful persons engaged in navigation in like cases; (pratique ordinaire des marins)

owner

propriétaire

owner, except in Parts XV and XVI,

  • (a) means

    • (i) as applied to unregistered ships, the actual owner and as applied to registered ships, the registered owner only, and

    • (ii) when used in relation to goods, every person who is for the time being entitled either as owner or agent for the owner to the possession of the goods, subject in the case of a lien to that lien, and

  • (b) includes for the purposes of Part IX the lessee or charterer of any vessel who is responsible for the navigation thereof and includes for the purposes specified in section 75 beneficial owner; (propriétaire)

passenger

passager

passenger means a person carried on a ship by the owner or operator, other than

  • (a) a person carried on a Safety Convention ship who is

    • (i) the master, a member of the crew or a person employed or engaged in any capacity on board the ship on the business of that ship, or

    • (ii) under one year of age,

  • (b) a person carried on a ship that is not a Safety Convention ship who is

    • (i) the master, a member of the crew or a person employed or engaged in any capacity on board the ship on the business of that ship, or

    • (ii) a guest on board the ship, if the ship is used exclusively for pleasure and the guest is carried on it without remuneration or any object of profit,

  • (c) a person carried on a ship in pursuance of the obligation on the master to carry shipwrecked, distressed or other persons or by reason of any circumstances that neither the master nor the owner could have prevented, or

  • (d) special purpose personnel; (passager)

passenger ship

navire à passagers

passenger ship means a ship carrying passengers; (navire à passagers)

pilot

pilote

pilot means any person not belonging to a ship who has the conduct thereof; (pilote)

pleasure craft

embarcation de plaisance

pleasure craft means a vessel used by an individual for pleasure and not for a commercial purpose; (embarcation de plaisance)

pleasure yacht

pleasure yacht[Repealed, 1998, c. 16, s. 1]

port

port

port includes harbour but does not include the port of Montreal as defined in The Montreal Harbour Commissioners’ Act, 1894 (57-58 Victoria, chapter 48) or the port of Quebec as defined in The Quebec Harbour Commissioners Act, 1899 (62-63 Victoria, chapter 34); (port)

proper authority

autorité compétente

proper authority, when used in Part IV, means

  • (a) with respect to a place not within Canada or any other Commonwealth country, a consular officer, or, if there is no consular officer in the place, any two British merchants resident at or near the place, or, if there is only one British merchant so resident, that British merchant, and

  • (b) with respect to a place within a Commonwealth country,

    • (i) in relation to the discharge or leaving behind of seamen, or the payment of penalties, a person designated by the Governor in Council, and in the absence of such a person, a superintendent as defined in the Merchant Shipping Acts, or, in the absence of any such superintendent, the chief officer of customs at or near the place, and

    • (ii) in relation to distressed seamen, a person designated by the Governor in Council, and in the absence of such a person, the governor of any Commonwealth country, or any person acting under his authority; (autorité compétente)

proper officer

fonctionnaire compétent

proper officer, when used in Parts III and IV, means

  • (a) in Canada, a shipping master,

  • (b) at a port in the United Kingdom, a person designated by the Governor in Council, and in the absence of such a person, a superintendent,

  • (c) at a port in any other Commonwealth country, a person designated by the Governor in Council, and in the absence of such a person, a superintendent or shipping master, or in the absence of any such superintendent or shipping master, the chief officer of customs at or near the port, and

  • (d) at a port elsewhere, a consular officer; (fonctionnaire compétent)

qualified person

personne qualifiée

qualified person means

  • (a) a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, or

  • (b) a corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada or a province; (personne qualifiée)

Radio Regulations

règlements sur la radio

Radio Regulations means the regulations respecting radio made by the Governor in Council and the Minister respectively under sections 342 and 343; (règlements sur la radio)

radio-telegraph

radiotélégraphie

radio-telegraph includes a system of radio communication for the transmission of written matter by the use of a signal code; (radiotélégraphie)

radio-telephone

radiotéléphonie

radio-telephone includes a system of radio communication for the transmission of speech or, in some cases, other sounds; (radiotéléphonie)

recorded vessel

recorded vessel[Repealed, 1998, c. 16, s. 1]

Register

Registre

Register means the Canadian Register of Ships established under section 13; (Registre)

register tonnage

jauge au registre

register tonnage means the net tonnage shown on a ship’s certificate of registry; (jauge au registre)

registrar

registrar[Repealed, 1998, c. 16, s. 1]

remuneration

rémunération

remuneration includes fuel and ships’ stores of any kind or any other kind of payment or compensation; (rémunération)

representation

représentation

representation means probate, administration, confirmation or other instrument constituting a person the executor, administrator or other representative of a deceased person; (représentation)

rules for life-saving appliances

règles sur les engins de sauvetage

rules for life-saving appliances means the regulations respecting life-boats, buoyant apparatus and other life-saving equipment made under section 338; (règles sur les engins de sauvetage)

Safety Convention

Convention de sécurité

Safety Convention means the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, signed at London on November 1, 1974 and the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, signed at London on February 17, 1978, and any amendments, whenever made, to the Annex to that Convention other than Chapter I of the Annex; (Convention de sécurité)

Safety Convention ship

navire ressortissant à la Convention de sécurité

Safety Convention ship means a steamship, other than a ship of war, a troop ship or a fishing vessel, registered in a country to which the Safety Convention applies, that is on an international voyage and

  • (a) is carrying more than twelve passengers,

  • (b) is of three hundred tons gross tonnage or more, or

  • (c) is a nuclear ship; (navire ressortissant à la Convention de sécurité)

sailing ship

voilier ou navire à voiles

sailing ship, except for the purposes of the Load Line Rules, means

  • (a) a ship that is propelled wholly by sails, and

  • (b) a ship that is principally employed in fishing, not exceeding two hundred tons gross tonnage, provided with masts, sails and rigging sufficient to allow it to make voyages under sail alone, and that, in addition, is fitted with mechanical means of propulsion other than a steam engine; (voilier ou navire à voiles)

sea-going ship

navire de mer

sea-going ship means any ship employed on a voyage any part of which is on the sea; (navire de mer)

seaman

marin

seaman includes

  • (a) every person, except masters, pilots and apprentices duly indentured and registered, employed or engaged in any capacity on board any ship, and

  • (b) for the purposes of the Seamen’s Repatriation Convention, every person employed or engaged in any capacity on board any vessel and entered on the ship’s articles,

but does not include pilots, cadets and pupils on training ships and naval ratings, or other persons in the permanent service of a government except when used in Part IV where it includes an apprentice to the sea service; (marin)

Seamen’s Articles Convention

Convention concernant le contrat d’engagement des marins

Seamen’s Articles Convention means the International Convention respecting Seamen’s Articles of Agreement adopted by the International Labour Conference at Geneva on June 24, 1926; (Convention concernant le contrat d’engagement des marins)

Seamen’s Repatriation Convention

Convention concernant le rapatriement des marins

Seamen’s Repatriation Convention means the International Convention concerning the repatriation of seamen adopted by the International Labour Conference at Geneva on June 24, 1926 as modified by the recommendation of the same date respecting masters and apprentices; (Convention concernant le rapatriement des marins)

ship

navire

ship, except in Parts II, XV and XVI, includes

  • (a) any description of vessel used in navigation and not propelled by oars, and

  • (b) for the purpose of Part I and sections 574 to 581, any description of lighter, barge or like vessel used in navigation in Canada however propelled; (navire)

ship station

station de bord ou station de navire

ship station means any radio station established on board a ship that is not permanently moored; (station de bord ou station de navire)

ships belonging to Her Majesty

navires appartenant à Sa Majesté

ships belonging to Her Majesty means all ships of war and other unregistered vessels held by or on behalf of Her Majesty in right of any Commonwealth country; (navires appartenant à Sa Majesté)

shipwrecked persons

naufragés

shipwrecked persons includes persons belonging to or on board any British or foreign vessel, wrecked, stranded or in distress, at any place within Canada; (naufragés)

special passenger trade

transport spécial de passagers

special passenger trade means a trade in relation to which the Governor in Council has modified the construction regulations or the rules for life-saving appliances in pursuance of this Act; (transport spécial de passagers)

special purpose personnel

personnel d’un navire à usage spécial

special purpose personnel means a person designated as special purpose personnel under subsection 379.1(1); (personnel d’un navire à usage spécial)

special purpose ship

navire à usage spécial

special purpose ship means a ship designated as a special purpose ship under subsection 379.1(1); (navire à usage spécial)

steamship or steamer

navire à vapeur ou vapeur

steamship or steamer, except as provided under the Load Line Rules, means any ship propelled by machinery and not coming within the definition of sailing ship; (navire à vapeur ou vapeur)

tackle

outillage de chargement

tackle, when used in relation to a vessel, means the tackle, machinery, gear, apparatus and appliances used on board the vessel for the loading and unloading thereof; (outillage de chargement)

tonnage regulations

tonnage regulations[Repealed, 1998, c. 16, s. 1]

tug

remorqueur

tug means a steamship used exclusively for towing purposes; (remorqueur)

valuable securities

valeurs ou titres valables

valuable securities includes every document forming the title or evidence of the title to any property of any kind whatever; (valeurs ou titres valables)

value of the property liable

valeur des biens répondants

value of the property liable, in respect of jurisdiction in matters of salvage, means the value of the property when first brought into safety by the salvors; (valeur des biens répondants)

vessel

bâtiment

vessel includes any ship or boat or any other description of vessel used or designed to be used in navigation; (bâtiment)

voyage

voyage

voyage includes passage or trip and any movement of a ship from one place to another or from one place and returning to that place; (voyage)

wages

gages ou salaire

wages includes emoluments; (gages ou salaire)

West Indies

Antilles

West Indies includes the West Indies and the Bahama and Bermuda Islands; (Antilles)

wharf

quai

wharf includes all wharfs, quays, docks and premises in or on which any goods, when landed from ships, may be lawfully placed; (quai)

wreck

épaves

wreck includes

  • (a) jetsam, flotsam, lagan and derelict found in or on the shores of the sea or of any tidal water, or of any of the inland waters of Canada,

  • (b) cargo, stores and tackle of any vessel and of all parts of the vessel separated therefrom,

  • (c) the property of shipwrecked persons, and

  • (d) any wrecked aircraft, any part or cargo of any wrecked aircraft and any property in the possession of persons on board any aircraft that is wrecked, stranded or in distress; (épaves)

year

année

year means a calendar year, but for the purpose of the inspection of steamships by this Act rendered imperative, means twelve calendar months from the date of the certificate of inspection. (année)

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 2
  • R.S., 1985, c. 1 (2nd Supp.), s. 213, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), ss. 1, 87(F)
  • 1992, c. 31, s. 23
  • 1996, c. 31, s. 95
  • 1998, c. 16, ss. 1, 23
  • 2001, c. 27, s. 216
  • 2005, c. 29, s. 1

Marginal note:References to owner

 Every reference in this Act, other than in Part I, to “owner” shall be read as a reference to

  • (a) in respect of a Canadian ship described in paragraph 17(b) (a ship owned by a foreign corporation), its authorized representative; and

  • (b) in respect of a ship described in section 18 (a bare-boat chartered ship), the bare-boat charterer.

  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 2
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 2

Marginal note:Air cushion vehicles

 Except as provided in section 632, this Act does not apply to air cushion vehicles.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 3

PART 0.1General

Her Majesty

Marginal note:Binding on Her Majesty

 Except as otherwise provided, this Act is binding on Her Majesty in right of Canada or a province.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 4
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Objectives

Marginal note:Objectives of Act

 The objectives of this Act are to

  • (a) protect the health and well-being of individuals, including the crews of ships, who participate in marine transportation and commerce;

  • (b) promote safety in the marine transportation system;

  • (c) protect the marine environment from damage due to navigation and shipping activities;

  • (d) develop a regulatory scheme that encourages viable, effective and economical marine transportation and commerce;

  • (e) promote an efficient marine transportation system;

  • (f) ensure that Canada can meet its international obligations under bilateral and multilateral agreements with respect to navigation and shipping;

  • (g) encourage the harmonization of marine practices;

  • (h) provide an appropriate liability and compensation regime in relation to incidents involving ships; and

  • (i) establish an effective inspection and enforcement program.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 5
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Application

Marginal note:Exclusion

  •  (1) Except as otherwise provided, this Act, other than sections 467 to 471 and 565 to 567, does not apply to a vessel belonging to the Canadian Forces or a foreign military force or to any other vessel that is under the command, control or direction of the Canadian Forces.

  • Marginal note:Regulations

    (2) The Governor in Council may make regulations varying or excluding the application, in respect of government ships, of any provision of this Act.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 6
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Ministerial Responsibility

Marginal note:Role of Minister

 Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the Minister is responsible for the administration of this Act.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 7
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3
  • 2005, c. 29, s. 3

Powers of Ministers

Marginal note:General

  •  (1) For the purpose of achieving the objectives set out in section 5, the Minister of Transport or the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans may, with respect to that Minister’s responsibilities under this Act,

    • (a) establish consultative bodies;

    • (b) issue bulletins, guidelines and standards; and

    • (c) enter into agreements or arrangements respecting the administration of any provision of this Act or the regulations and authorize any person with whom an agreement or arrangement is entered into to exercise or perform such powers and duties under this Act as are specified in the agreement or arrangement.

  • Marginal note:Emergency power of Minister of Transport

    (2) Subject to any conditions that the Minister of Transport considers appropriate, the Minister may exempt for a specified period any ship owner, ship or class of ships from the application of any provision of this Act or the regulations if the Minister is of the opinion that the exemption is in the interest of preventing damage to property or the environment or is in the interest of public health or safety. Notice of every exemption must be published in the Canada Gazette.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 8
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Interim Orders

Marginal note:Interim orders

  •  (1) The Minister of Transport or the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, or both, may make an interim order that contains any of the following provisions, if the Minister or Ministers, as the case may be, believe that immediate action is required to deal with a significant risk, direct or indirect, to safety, security or the environment:

    • (a) and (b) [Not in force]

    • (c) in the case of the Minister of Transport, any provision that may be contained in a regulation made under any other section of this Act, other than section 727.7.

  • Marginal note:Cessation of effect

    (2) An interim order has effect from the time that it is made but ceases to have effect on the earliest of

    • (a) 14 days after it is made, unless it is approved by the Governor in Council,

    • (b) the day on which it is repealed,

    • (c) the day on which a regulation made under this Act, that has the same effect as the interim order, comes into force, and

    • (d) one year after the interim order is made or any shorter period that may be specified in the interim order.

  • Marginal note:Contravention of unpublished order

    (3) No person or ship shall be convicted of an offence consisting of a contravention of an interim order that, at the time of the alleged contravention, had not been published in the Canada Gazette unless it is proved that, at the time of the alleged contravention, the person or ship had been notified of the interim order or reasonable steps had been taken to bring the purport of the interim order to the notice of those persons or ships likely to be affected by it.

  • Marginal note:Exemption from Statutory Instruments Act

    (4) An interim order

  • Marginal note:Deeming

    (5) For the purpose of any provision of this Act other than this section, any reference to regulations made under this Act is deemed to include interim orders, and any reference to a regulation made under a specified provision of this Act is deemed to include a reference to the portion of an interim order containing any provision that may be contained in a regulation made under the specified provision.

  • Marginal note:Tabling of order

    (6) A copy of each interim order must be tabled in each House of Parliament within 15 days after it is made.

  • Marginal note:House not sitting

    (7) In order to comply with subsection (6), the interim order may be sent to the Clerk of the House if the House is not sitting.

  • 2004, c. 15, s. 104

Authorized Representative

Marginal note:Authorized representative

  •  (1) Every Canadian ship, other than a pleasure craft, must have a person who is responsible for acting with respect to all matters relating to the ship and who is to be known as the authorized representative.

  • Marginal note:Authorized representative

    (2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), the authorized representative of a Canadian ship is the owner of the ship or, in the case of a ship described in section 18 (a bare-boat chartered ship), the bare-boat charterer.

  • Marginal note:Representative if more than one owner

    (3) In the case of a Canadian ship that is owned by more than one person, the owners must appoint one of themselves as the authorized representative.

  • Marginal note:Representative of foreign corporation

    (4) In the case of a ship owned by a corporation that is incorporated under the laws of a country other than Canada, the authorized representative must be

    • (a) a subsidiary of the corporation that is incorporated under the laws of Canada or a province;

    • (b) an employee or director in Canada of a branch office of the corporation that is carrying on business in Canada; or

    • (c) a ship management company incorporated under the laws of Canada or a province.

  • Marginal note:Acts or omissions of authorized representative binding

    (5) The owner of a Canadian ship is bound by the acts or omissions of their authorized representative with respect to any matter relating to the ship.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 9
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Incorporation by Reference

Marginal note:Externally produced material

  •  (1) For greater certainty, a regulation made under this Act may incorporate by reference material produced by a person or body other than the authority making the regulation, including

    • (a) an organization established for the purpose of writing standards, including an organization accredited by the Standards Council of Canada;

    • (b) an industrial or trade organization; and

    • (c) a government, government agency or international body.

  • Marginal note:Reproduced or translated material

    (2) For greater certainty, a regulation made under this Act may incorporate by reference material that the authority making the regulation reproduces or translates from material produced by a person or body other than that authority

    • (a) with any adaptations of form and reference that will facilitate the incorporation of the material in the regulation; or

    • (b) in a form that sets out only the parts of the material that apply for the purposes of the regulation.

  • Marginal note:Jointly produced material

    (3) For greater certainty, a regulation made under this Act may incorporate by reference material that the authority making the regulation produces jointly with another government or government agency for the purpose of harmonizing the regulation with other laws.

  • Marginal note:Internally produced standards

    (4) For greater certainty, a regulation made under this Act may incorporate by reference technical or explanatory material that the authority making the regulation produces, such as

    • (a) specifications, classifications, illustrations, graphs and other information of a technical nature; and

    • (b) test methods, procedures, operational standards, safety standards and performance standards of a technical nature.

  • Marginal note:Incorporation as amended from time to time

    (5) For greater certainty, material may be incorporated by reference as amended from time to time.

  • Marginal note:Incorporated material is not a regulation

    (6) For greater certainty, material that is incorporated by reference in a regulation made under this Act is not a regulation for the purposes of the Statutory Instruments Act.

  • Marginal note:Authority making regulations

    (7) If a regulation is authorized to be made by the Governor in Council, the minister who recommends the making of it to the Governor in Council is deemed to be an authority who is authorized to make the regulation.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 10
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Marginal note:Defence

 For greater certainty, no person or ship may be convicted of an offence or subjected to a penalty for the contravention of a provision of a regulation made under this Act that incorporates material by reference, unless it is proved that, at the time of the alleged contravention,

  • (a) the material was reasonably accessible to the person or ship;

  • (b) reasonable steps had been taken to ensure that the material was accessible to persons or ships likely to be affected by the regulation; or

  • (c) the material had been published in the Canada Gazette.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 11
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

PART IRegistration, Listing, Recording and Licensing

Canadian Register of Ships and Registrars

Marginal note:Appointment of Chief Registrar

 The Minister is to appoint an officer to be known as the Chief Registrar.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 12
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Marginal note:Duties of Chief Registrar

  •  (1) The Chief Registrar is responsible for establishing and maintaining a register to be known as the Canadian Register of Ships.

  • Marginal note:Records

    (2) The Register is to contain records of the information and documents specified by the Chief Registrar in respect of a Canadian ship, including

    • (a) its name and description;

    • (b) its official number;

    • (c) its register tonnage;

    • (d) the name and address of its owner; and

    • (e) details of all mortgages registered in respect of it.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 13
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Marginal note:Registrars

  •  (1) The Chief Registrar may appoint the registrars that the Chief Registrar considers necessary.

  • Marginal note:Duties of registrars

    (2) A registrar is to perform the duties and responsibilities that the Chief Registrar assigns to the registrar.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 14
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Marginal note:Immunity

 The Chief Registrar and the registrars are not personally liable for anything they do or omit to do in good faith under this Act.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 15
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Registration, Listing and Recording

Marginal note:Mandatory registration — ships that exceed 15 tons

  •  (1) Every ship that exceeds 15 tons gross tonnage, is owned only by qualified persons and is not registered in a foreign country must be registered under this Part.

  • Marginal note:Obligation of owner

    (2) Every owner of a ship described in subsection (1) shall ensure that it is registered under this Part.

  • Marginal note:Mandatory registration — government ships

    (3) Every government ship that exceeds 15 tons gross tonnage must be registered under this Part.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 16
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 4
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Marginal note:Optional registration

 Unless they are registered in a foreign country, the following ships may be registered under this Part:

  • (a) a ship that is owned only by qualified persons and that does not exceed 15 tons gross tonnage;

  • (b) a ship that is owned by a corporation incorporated under the laws of a country other than Canada if one of the following is acting with respect to all matters relating to the ship, namely,

    • (i) a subsidiary of the corporation that is incorporated under the laws of Canada or a province,

    • (ii) an employee or director in Canada of any branch office of the corporation that is carrying on business in Canada, or

    • (iii) a ship management company incorporated under the laws of Canada or a province; and

  • (c) a ship that is in the exclusive possession of a qualified person under a financing agreement under which the person will acquire ownership on completion of the agreement.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 17
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Marginal note:Ships registered in a foreign country

 A ship registered in a foreign country that is bare-boat chartered exclusively to a qualified person may be listed under this Part as a bare-boat chartered ship for the duration of the charter if, for the duration of the charter, the registration is suspended in respect of the right to fly the flag of that country.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 18
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Marginal note:Ships under construction

 A ship that is about to be built or that is under construction in Canada may be temporarily recorded in the Register as a ship being built in Canada.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 19
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Marginal note:Ships built outside Canada

 Notwithstanding sections 16, 17 and 18, the Minister may direct the Chief Registrar to refuse to register or list a ship built outside Canada.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 20
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Application

Marginal note:Application

  •  (1) An application for the registration, listing or recording of a ship must be made in the form and manner and include the information and be accompanied by the documents specified by the Chief Registrar.

  • Marginal note:Further evidence

    (2) In addition to the specified information or documentation, the Chief Registrar may require an applicant to provide evidence, including declarations, that the Chief Registrar considers necessary to establish that a ship is required or entitled to be registered or is entitled to be listed or recorded.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 21
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Names of Ships

Marginal note:Name of ship

  •  (1) Every ship must be named in the form and manner specified by the Chief Registrar before being registered or listed.

  • Marginal note:Approval of names

    (2) The Chief Registrar may, on application, approve the name of a ship before it is registered or listed and approve a change in the name of a Canadian ship.

  • Marginal note:Disallowance of names

    (3) The Chief Registrar must disallow any name if

    • (a) it is the same as the name of a Canadian ship;

    • (b) it is likely, in the opinion of the Chief Registrar, to be confused with the name of a Canadian ship or with a distress signal;

    • (c) it is likely, in the opinion of the Chief Registrar, to be offensive to members of the public; or

    • (d) its use is prohibited under any other Act of Parliament.

  • Marginal note:Requiring renaming

    (4) The Minister may order that a Canadian ship be renamed if the Minister considers that its name would prejudice the international reputation of Canada.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 22
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Ownership of Ships

Marginal note:Shares

  •  (1) For the purposes of registration, the property in a ship is divided into 64 shares.

  • Marginal note:Registered owners

    (2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), only owners, or joint owners, of a ship or of one or more shares in a ship may be registered in the Register as owners of the ship or shares, as the case may be.

  • Marginal note:Registered owners — financing agreements

    (3) In the case of a ship described in paragraph 17(c) (a ship subject to a financing agreement), persons referred to in that paragraph are to be registered in the Register as the owners of the ships.

  • Marginal note:Bare-boat charterers

    (4) In the case of a ship described in section 18 (a bare-boat chartered ship), no person is to be registered in the Register as an owner of the ship.

  • Marginal note:Registration of joint owners

    (5) No more than five persons may be registered in the Register as joint owners of a ship or a share in a ship.

  • Marginal note:Disposition of registered joint interests

    (6) A registered jointly owned interest in a ship or a share in a ship may be disposed of only by all of the joint owners.

  • Marginal note:Registration of fractions prohibited

    (7) No person may be registered as the owner of a fractional part of a share in a ship.

  • Marginal note:No effect on beneficial owners

    (8) This section does not affect the beneficial interests of a person represented by or claiming through an owner of a ship or a share in a ship.

  • Marginal note:Trusts not recognized

    (9) No notice of a trust may be entered in the Register.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 23
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Certificates

Marginal note:Certificates of registry

  •  (1) If the Chief Registrar is satisfied that all of the requirements of registration or listing have been met with respect to a ship, the Chief Registrar must register or list the ship, as the case may be, in the Register and issue a certificate of registry.

  • Marginal note:Information

    (2) Every certificate of registry in respect of a ship must contain the information specified by the Chief Registrar, including

    • (a) its name and description;

    • (b) its official number;

    • (c) its register tonnage; and

    • (d) the name and address of

      • (i) in the case of a ship described in paragraph 17(b) (a ship owned by a foreign corporation), its authorized representative,

      • (ii) in the case of a ship described in section 18 (a bare-boat chartered ship), the bare-boat charterer, and

      • (iii) in any other case, its owner.

  • Marginal note:Validity of certificates of registry

    (3) Certificates of registry are valid for the period that the Minister specifies.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 24
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Marginal note:Provisional certificates

  •  (1) The Chief Registrar may, on application, issue a provisional certificate in respect of a ship that is required or entitled to be registered under this Part if the ship

    • (a) is in a foreign port and a person intends to register it under this Part; or

    • (b) is in a port in Canada and the Chief Registrar is satisfied that permission to operate the ship should be granted before a certificate of registry can be issued.

  • Marginal note:Issuance

    (2) The Chief Registrar may, on application, issue a provisional certificate in respect of a ship that is not required or entitled to be registered under this Part if the Chief Registrar is satisfied that the ship needs to undergo sea trials.

  • Marginal note:Validity

    (3) A provisional certificate is valid for the purpose and the period that the Chief Registrar specifies.

  • Marginal note:Application

    (4) An application for a provisional certificate must be made in the form and manner and include the information and be accompanied by the documents specified by the Chief Registrar.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 25
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Marginal note:Lost certificates

 If a certificate of registry or provisional certificate is mislaid, lost or destroyed, the Chief Registrar, on application made by the authorized representative of the ship in the form and manner and including the information and accompanied by the documents specified by the Chief Registrar, must issue a replacement certificate of registry or provisional certificate, as the case may be.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 26
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Marking

Marginal note:Marking

  •  (1) The authorized representative of a Canadian ship shall, in the form and manner specified by the Chief Registrar, mark the ship with its name, its register tonnage, its official number and any other information that the Chief Registrar specifies.

  • Marginal note:Validity of certificate of registry

    (2) A ship’s certificate of registry is not valid until the ship has been marked in accordance with subsection (1).

  • Marginal note:Maintenance of markings

    (3) The authorized representative shall ensure that the ship is kept marked.

  • Marginal note:Defacing, etc., markings

    (4) No person shall deface, alter, conceal or remove the markings of a Canadian ship.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 27
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Notifying Chief Registrar

Marginal note:Notification of changes

  •  (1) The authorized representative of a Canadian ship shall notify the Chief Registrar within 30 days after any of the following occurs:

    • (a) the ship is lost, wrecked or removed from service;

    • (b) there has been a change in the owner’s or a registered mortgagee’s name or address;

    • (c) there has been a change in the information provided with the application under section 21; or

    • (d) in the case of a ship described in section 18 (a bare-boat chartered ship),

      • (i) the right to fly the flag of the foreign country is reinstated, or

      • (ii) the charterer ceases to have complete control and possession of the ship.

  • Marginal note:Notification of alterations

    (2) If a Canadian ship is altered to the extent that it no longer corresponds with its description or particulars set out on the certificate of registry, the authorized representative of the ship shall

    • (a) notify the Chief Registrar within 30 days after the alteration; and

    • (b) arrange for a new tonnage certificate to be provided to the Chief Registrar.

  • Marginal note:Notification of changes

    (3) If for any reason a Canadian ship does not have an authorized representative, its owner shall notify the Chief Registrar

    • (a) of that fact as soon as possible in the circumstances; and

    • (b) within 30 days after any of the events referred to in subsection (1) or (2) occurs.

  • Marginal note:Notification of completion of construction

    (4) Within 30 days after completion of the construction of a ship that is recorded as being built in Canada, the person in whose name the ship is recorded shall notify the Chief Registrar of that fact and of the name and address of its owner.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 28
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Maintenance of Register

Marginal note:Amendments

 The Chief Registrar may amend the Register or a certificate of registry to give effect to changes of which the Chief Registrar has been notified under section 28 or to correct any clerical errors or obvious mistakes.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 29
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Suspension, Cancellation and Reinstatement of Registration

Marginal note:Suspension and cancellation

  •  (1) Subject to the regulations, the Chief Registrar may suspend or cancel the registration or listing of a Canadian ship if

    • (a) it is not marked in accordance with subsection 27(1);

    • (b) its certificate of registry has expired;

    • (c) it does not have an authorized representative; or

    • (d) its authorized representative has not complied with section 28.

  • Marginal note:Cancellation

    (2) Subject to the regulations, the Chief Registrar must cancel the registration or listing of a Canadian ship if

    • (a) it has been lost, wrecked or removed from service;

    • (b) it is no longer required or entitled to be registered or entitled to be listed under this Part; or

    • (c) in the case of a registered ship, a tonnage certificate provided by a tonnage measurer indicates that the ship should be re-registered.

  • Marginal note:Notice before cancellation

    (3) If a Canadian ship is not required or entitled to be registered under this Part after its ownership changes, the Chief Registrar must, before cancelling its registration under paragraph (2)(b), give the owners and registered mortgagees

    • (a) notice, in accordance with the regulations, of the change in ownership; and

    • (b) an opportunity that, in the opinion of the Chief Registrar, is sufficient to transfer the ship or shares to a qualified person or to make an application under section 46.

  • Marginal note:Cancellation of registration

    (4) Except in the case of a ship described in paragraph 17(c) (a ship subject to a financing agreement), the Chief Registrar must cancel the registration of a ship if a person who acquires the ship or a share in it does not, within the prescribed period, provide evidence that satisfies the Chief Registrar that the ship is required or entitled to be registered under this Part.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 30
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Marginal note:Registration of mortgages not affected

 The cancellation of the registration of a ship does not affect the registration of mortgages in respect of the ship.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 31
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Marginal note:Reinstatement

 The Chief Registrar may reinstate the registration or listing of a ship if, in the Chief Registrar’s opinion, the registration or listing of the ship should not have been cancelled.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 32
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Custody of Certificates of Registry

Marginal note:Carrying on board ship

  •  (1) Subject to subsection (3), no person shall operate a ship in respect of which a certificate of registry or provisional certificate has been issued unless the certificate is on board the ship.

  • Marginal note:Delivery of certificate

    (2) A person who is in possession of a ship’s certificate of registry or provisional certificate shall deliver it to the person who is entitled to operate the ship.

  • Marginal note:Delivery of certificate

    (3) A person who is in possession of a certificate of registry or a provisional certificate issued under this Part shall deliver it to the Chief Registrar on request.

  • Marginal note:Detention of certificate

    (4) A certificate of registry or provisional certificate is not subject to detention because of any title to, lien on, charge on or interest in the ship that is claimed by an owner, mortgagee, charterer or operator of the ship, or by any other person.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 33
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Rights and Obligations

Marginal note:Right to fly Canadian flag

  •  (1) A Canadian ship has the right to fly the Canadian flag.

  • Marginal note:Obligation to fly flag

    (2) The master of a Canadian ship shall fly the Canadian flag

    • (a) when signalled to do so by a government ship or a ship under the command of the Canadian Forces; or

    • (b) when entering or leaving, or while moored at or anchored in, a port.

  • Marginal note:Exception

    (3) The Chief Registrar may, on application, suspend the registration of a Canadian ship in respect of the right to fly the Canadian flag while the ship is shown on the registry of a foreign country as a bare-boat chartered ship.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 34
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Calculation of Ships’ Tonnage

Marginal note:Appointment of tonnage measurers

 The Minister may appoint persons, to be known as tonnage measurers, to calculate ships’ tonnage.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 35
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Marginal note:Fees and travel expenses

 A tonnage measurer may withhold the tonnage certificate in respect of a ship until the person requesting it pays the tonnage measurer’s fees and travel expenses. The Minister may set limits on the fees and travel expenses that may be charged.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 36
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Mortgages

Marginal note:Mortgage of ship or share

  •  (1) The owner of a ship registered under this Part, of a share in one or of a ship recorded as being built in Canada may give the ship or share, as the case may be, as security for a mortgage to be registered under this Part.

  • Marginal note:Filing of mortgage

    (2) A mortgage is to be filed with the Chief Registrar in the form and manner specified by the Chief Registrar.

  • Marginal note:Date and time of registration

    (3) A mortgage is to be registered in the order in which it is filed, indicating the date and time of the registration.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 37
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Marginal note:Entry of discharge of mortgage

 On receipt of satisfactory evidence that a mortgage has been discharged, the Chief Registrar is to enter the discharge in the Register.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 38
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Marginal note:Priority of mortgages

  •  (1) If more than one mortgage is registered in respect of the same ship or share in a ship, the priority among the mortgages is according to the date and time of registration.

  • Marginal note:Consent to change in priority

    (2) The priority of mortgages may be changed if all of the mortgagees file their written consent with the Chief Registrar.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 39
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Marginal note:Mortgagee not treated as owner

 A mortgage of a ship or a share in a ship does not have the effect of the mortgagee becoming, or the mortgagor ceasing to be, the owner of the ship, except to the extent necessary to make the ship or share available as security under the mortgage.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 40
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Marginal note:Mortgagee has power of sale

  •  (1) A mortgagee of a ship or a share in a ship has the absolute power, subject to any limitation set out in the registered mortgage, to sell the ship or the share.

  • Marginal note:Restriction

    (2) If there is more than one registered mortgage of the same ship or share, a subsequent mortgagee may not, except under the order of the Federal Court or of a court of competent jurisdiction whose rules provide for in rem procedure in respect of ships, sell the ship or share without the agreement of every prior mortgagee.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 41
  • R.S., 1985, c. 31 (1st Supp.), s. 87
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Marginal note:Mortgage not affected by bankruptcy

 The mortgage of a ship or a share in a ship is not affected by the bankruptcy of the mortgagor after the date of the registration of the mortgage, and the mortgage is to be preferred to any right, claim or interest in the ship or share of the other creditors of the bankrupt or any trustee or assignee on their behalf.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 42
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Marginal note:Transfer of mortgages

  •  (1) A registered mortgage of a ship or a share in a ship may be transferred to any person, in which case the instrument effecting the transfer must be filed in the form and manner specified by the Chief Registrar.

  • Marginal note:Entry of particulars

    (2) The Chief Registrar is to enter the particulars of the transfer in the Register.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 43
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Marginal note:Transmission of interest of mortgagee

  •  (1) If the interest of a mortgagee in a ship or a share in a ship is transmitted on death or bankruptcy, or by any lawful means other than by a transfer under section 43, the person to whom the interest is transmitted must file with the Chief Registrar the evidence of the transmission that the Chief Registrar specifies.

  • Marginal note:Entry of particulars

    (2) The Chief Registrar is to enter the particulars of the transmission in the Register.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 44
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Transfers of Ships or Shares in Ships

Marginal note:Transfer

 If the ownership of a Canadian ship or a share in one changes and the ship is still required or entitled to be registered under this Part,

  • (a) the owner must provide the Chief Registrar with the evidence, including declarations, that the Chief Registrar considers necessary to establish that the ship is required or entitled to be registered; and

  • (b) the Chief Registrar must amend the Register and the ship’s certificate of registry to reflect the change.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 45
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Marginal note:Order for sale on acquisition by an unqualified person

 If an unqualified person acquires a Canadian ship, other than a ship described in paragraph 17(b) (a ship owned by a foreign corporation), a ship described in paragraph 17(c) (a ship subject to a financing agreement) or a ship described in section 18 (a bare-boat chartered ship), or a share in one, any interested person may apply to the Federal Court, or any court of competent jurisdiction whose rules provide for in rem procedure in respect of ships, for an order that the ship or share, as the case may be, be sold to a qualified person.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 46
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Marginal note:Power of court to prohibit transfer

 On the application of any interested person, the Federal Court, or any court of competent jurisdiction whose rules provide for in rem procedure in respect of ships, may make an order prohibiting for a specified period any dealing with a Canadian ship or a share in one.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 47
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Regulations

Marginal note:Regulations

 The Governor in Council may make regulations

  • (a) respecting the registration, listing and recording of ships;

  • (b) respecting the issuance and renewal of certificates of registry;

  • (c) respecting the suspension and cancellation of the registration of a Canadian ship;

  • (d) respecting the naming and marking of ships;

  • (e) respecting the port of registration;

  • (f) respecting the form and manner of notifying the Chief Registrar of changes under section 28;

  • (g) respecting the evidence that owners of ships previously registered in a foreign country must provide to prove that the ships are no longer registered in a foreign country;

  • (h) respecting the calculation of the tonnage of ships and the issuance of certificates of tonnage;

  • (i) to implement the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969, signed at London on June 23, 1969, including any amendments, whenever made, to the Annexes or Appendix to that Convention;

  • (j) respecting the payment of fees for services provided in the administration of this Part and prescribing the amount of the fees;

  • (k) prescribing anything that may be prescribed under this Part; and

  • (l) generally for carrying out the purposes and provisions of this Part.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 48
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Entries and Documents

Marginal note:Copies of entries

 A person may examine or obtain copies of any entries in the Register with respect to a ship.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 49
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Marginal note:Documents admissible in evidence

 The following documents are admissible as evidence in any court in Canada, in the manner provided by this Act:

  • (a) either of the following that purports to be signed by the Chief Registrar or a registrar:

    • (i) a certified copy of any entry in the Register, or

    • (ii) in the case of electronic data, a printout of any entry in the Register;

  • (b) a certificate of registry or a provisional certificate issued under this Part; and

  • (c) every declaration made under this Part.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 50
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Offences and Punishment

Marginal note:Contravention of Act or regulations

  •  (1) Every person commits an offence who contravenes

    • (a) subsection 16(2) (failure to register);

    • (b) subsection 27(1) (failure to mark);

    • (c) subsection 27(3) (maintenance of markings);

    • (d) subsection 27(4) (defacing, altering, concealing or removing markings);

    • (e) subsection 28(1) (failure to notify — authorized representative);

    • (f) subsection 28(2) (failure to notify of alteration — authorized representative);

    • (g) subsection 28(3) (failure to notify — owner);

    • (h) subsection 28(4) (failure to notify of completion of construction);

    • (i) subsection 33(1) (operation of ship without a certificate on board);

    • (j) subsection 33(2) (failure to deliver certificate to person entitled to operate ship);

    • (k) subsection 33(3) (failure to deliver certificate to Chief Registrar);

    • (l) subsection 34(2) (failure to fly Canadian flag);

    • (m) an order made under subsection 22(4) (renaming of ship); or

    • (n) a provision of the regulations made under this Part.

  • Marginal note:False or misleading information, etc.

    (2) Every person commits an offence who, for the purpose of applying for the registration, listing or recording of a ship or the registration of a mortgage under this Part or of complying with this Part or the regulations, provides any person with false or misleading information.

  • Marginal note:Punishment

    (3) Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1) or (2) is liable

    • (a) on conviction on indictment,

      • (i) if the offence is committed knowingly, to a fine of not more than $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than two years, or to both, and

      • (ii) if the offence is committed negligently, to a fine of not more than $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than one year, or to both; and

    • (b) on summary conviction,

      • (i) if the offence is committed knowingly, to a fine of not more than $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both, and

      • (ii) if the offence is committed negligently, to a fine of not more than $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both.

  • Marginal note:Continuing offence

    (4) If an offence under this Part that arises out of a contravention of subsection 16(2) (failure to register) or 27(1) (failure to mark) is committed or continued on more than one day, the person who committed the offence is liable to be convicted for a separate offence for each day on which the offence is committed or continued.

  • Marginal note:Words in parentheses

    (5) The words in parentheses in paragraphs (1)(a) to (m) and subsection (4) form no part of those paragraphs but are inserted for convenience of reference only.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 51
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3

Transitional

Marginal note:Acquired rights

  •  (1) Every ship registered in Canada when this Part comes into force is deemed to be registered under this Part until the ship’s ownership changes.

  • Marginal note:Expiry of certificates of registry

    (2) A certificate of registry issued under this Act before this Part comes into force expires no later than three years after this Part comes into force.

  • Marginal note:Exemption from registration

    (3) Ships exempt from registration under this Act before this Part comes into force continue to be exempt until two years or, in the case of a pleasure craft, six years after this Part comes into force.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 52
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 3
  • 2001, c. 26, s. 319

 [Repealed, 1998, c. 16, s. 3]

 [Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 5]

 [Repealed, 1998, c. 16, s. 3]

 [Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 7]

 [Repealed, 1998, c. 16, s. 3]

 [Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 8]

Licensing of Small Vessels

Marginal note:Small vessel licensing

 The Governor in Council may, notwithstanding anything in this Part, make regulations

  • (a) providing for the licensing of vessels that are exempted from registry under this Act;

  • (b) providing for the marking of licensed vessels;

  • (c) prescribing forms for licences and the forms for applications for licences;

  • (d) providing for the designation of persons to be issuers of licences;

  • (e) prescribing the fees to be paid for licences;

  • (f) providing for the disposition, notwithstanding the Financial Administration Act, of licence fees collected by licence issuers;

  • (g) prescribing the records to be kept and returns to be made by licence issuers; and

  • (h) prescribing a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or both to be imposed on summary conviction as punishment for contravention of a regulation made under this section.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 108

PART IICertification of Masters and Seamen

Marginal note:Definition of “ship”

  •  (1) In this Part, ship includes any description of vessel, boat or craft designed, used or capable of being used solely or partly for marine navigation, without regard to method or lack of propulsion, but excludes

    • (a) pleasure craft of less than twenty metres in length; and

    • (b) any vessel, boat or craft, of any length, propelled manually by oars or paddles.

  • Marginal note:Application of regulations

    (2) Regulations made under subsection 110(1) do not apply in respect of ships capable of engaging in the drilling for, or the production, conservation or processing of, oil or gas unless the regulation so states and was made on the joint recommendation of the Minister and the Minister of Natural Resources.

  • Marginal note:Meaning of “oil” and “gas”

    (3) For the purposes of subsection (2), the words oil and gas have the same meanings as in the Oil and Gas Production and Conservation Act.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 109
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 9
  • 1994, c. 41, s. 37
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 23

Masters and Seamen

Marginal note:Regulations

  •  (1) Subject to subsection 109(2), the Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the certification of masters and seamen and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, may make regulations

    • (a) prescribing the types and classes of certificates that may be granted to masters and seamen and the grade that each such type or class bears in relation to every other type or class;

    • (b) prescribing classes of ships in respect of which a certificate is not valid in the absence of an endorsement on that certificate stating that the certificate is valid for service on that class of ship;

    • (c) respecting the qualifications, including medical fitness, degree of knowledge, skill, training and experience, that an applicant for any type or class of certificate must meet;

    • (d) respecting the information to be furnished by an applicant for any type or class of certificate and the manner of determining whether such an applicant meets the qualifications required under paragraph (c) for the type or class of certificate that he has applied for;

    • (e) respecting examinations relating to the granting of certificates;

    • (f) prescribing the fee to be paid for taking any examination relating to the granting of a certificate, the fee to be paid for granting a certificate and the terms and conditions of payment of those fees;

    • (g) prescribing the form of certificates;

    • (h) prescribing the terms and conditions of certificates;

    • (i) prescribing, except where section 120 applies, the grounds and procedures for the suspension or cancellation of certificates granted under this Part other than certificates of master, mate or engineer;

    • (j) prescribing the Canadian ships, or classes of Canadian ships, that are required to have on board and employ persons holding the certificates specified in the regulations and the number of such persons or the proportion of the crew consisting of such persons that each of those ships, or each ship of any such class, shall have on board and employ; and

    • (k) prescribing, with respect to each type or class of certificate, the duties on any ship or ship of any class prescribed by any regulation made under paragraph (j) that are to be performed by persons holding certificates of that type or class.

  • Marginal note:Endorsements

    (2) The provisions of this Part respecting certificates apply, with such modifications as the circumstances require, to endorsements referred to in paragraph (1)(b).

  • Marginal note:Prohibition

    (3) No person shall perform any duty on a ship that is prescribed by any regulation made under paragraph (1)(k) as being a duty on that ship that is to be performed by a holder of a certificate of the type or class specified in the regulation unless the person holds a valid certificate of that type or class or the ship is exempt from the requirements of that regulation pursuant to section 132.

  • Marginal note:Offence

    (4) Any person who contravenes

    • (a) a regulation made under subsection (1) that is applicable to that person or to a ship of which that person is the owner or master, or

    • (b) subsection (3)

    is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 110
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 9

Marginal note:Publication of proposed regulations

  •  (1) Subject to subsection (2), a copy of each regulation that the Governor in Council proposes to make under subsection 110(1) shall be published in the Canada Gazette at least ninety days before the proposed effective date thereof, and a reasonable opportunity within those ninety days shall be afforded to ship owners, masters, seamen and other interested persons to make representations to the Minister with respect thereto.

  • Marginal note:Exceptions

    (2) Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of a proposed regulation that

    • (a) has previously been published pursuant to that subsection, whether or not it has been changed as a result of representations made pursuant to that subsection, or

    • (b) makes no substantive change to an existing regulation,

    nor does subsection (1) apply where the Governor in Council is satisfied that an emergency situation exists and that compliance with subsection (1) would therefore be prejudicial to the public interest.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 111
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 9

Marginal note:Application of regulations

 Subject to subsection 109(2), the Governor in Council may extend the application of any regulation made under subsection 110(1) to or in respect of ships, other than Canadian ships, that are in Canadian waters.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 112
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 9

 [Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 9]

  •  (1) [Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 10]

  • Marginal note:Newfoundland certificates may be accepted in lieu of certificates under this Part

    (2) Subject to such conditions as the Minister may impose, a certificate granted under the laws of Newfoundland as master or mate of a foreign-going or home-trade ship may be accepted in lieu of a certificate as master or mate granted under this Part and may be suspended or cancelled by the Minister under like conditions as in the case of a certificate issued under this Part.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 117
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), ss. 10, 87(F)

 [Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 11]

Marginal note:Medical incapacity of certificate holder

  •  (1) Where the Minister believes on reasonable grounds that the holder of a certificate granted under this Part is incapacitated in respect of the performance of his duties as a certificated master or seaman by reason of his not meeting the medical fitness standards prescribed under paragraph 110(1)(c), the Minister may cause an inquiry to be held.

  • Marginal note:Mode of inquiry

    (2) Subsections 504(2) to (4) apply, with such modifications as the circumstances require, in respect of an inquiry under this section.

  • Marginal note:Suspension of certificate

    (3) Where, after an inquiry under this section, the Minister is satisfied that the certificated master or seaman is incapacitated in respect of the performance of his duties as such by reason of his not meeting the medical fitness standards prescribed under paragraph 110(1)(c), the Minister may suspend the certificate until such time as the Minister is satisfied that the holder thereof is no longer so incapacitated.

  • Marginal note:Minister to notify certificate holder

    (4) The Minister shall forthwith notify in writing the holder of a certificate of his decision under subsection (3) and the reasons therefor.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 120
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 11

Marginal note:Certificates to remain in force

 Subject to the provisions of this Act or the regulations respecting the suspension, cancellation or invalidation of certificates, certificates issued to masters and mates before the coming into force of this section remain in force for the class of ship and voyage for which they were issued.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 121
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 11

Engineers

  •  (1) to (3) [Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 12]

  • Marginal note:No person to act in dual capacity

    (4) No person shall act in the dual capacity of master and engineer in any ship, except that, subject to such regulations as the Governor in Council may make, this section does not apply to any ship, not exceeding sixty-five feet registered length, propelled by an internal combustion or motor engine, or other mechanical power deemed by the Minister to be equivalent to an internal combustion engine in the circumstances.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 122
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 12

Marginal note:Certificates to remain in force

 Subject to the provisions of this Act or the regulations respecting the suspension, cancellation or invalidation of certificates, certificates issued to engineers before the coming into force of this section remain in force for the grades for which they were issued.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 123
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 13

Examinations and Certificates

Marginal note:Examiners

  •  (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Minister may appoint any person to act as an examiner for the purposes of this Part or any regulations made thereunder.

  • Marginal note:Examination of examiners

    (2) No person shall be appointed as an examiner unless he has himself satisfactorily completed an examination before two or more examiners as to his fitness and competency to act as an examiner.

  • Marginal note:Oath

    (3) Where an examiner is of the opinion that any statement made by an applicant for a certificate under this Part should be confirmed under oath, the examiner may administer the oath.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 124
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 13

Marginal note:Grant of certificate

  •  (1) Where the Minister is satisfied, on the basis of the report of the examiners, that an applicant for a certificate under this Part

    • (a) meets the requirements prescribed under subsection 110(1) in respect of the certificate, and

    • (b) has given satisfactory evidence of his sobriety, experience, ability and general good conduct on board ship,

    the Minister may grant the certificate.

  • Marginal note:Citizenship of applicants

    (2) A certificate shall not be granted under this Part to an applicant who is not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident within the meaning of subsection 2(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

  • Marginal note:Re-examination or further inquiry

    (3) The Minister, in every case in which a report of examiners appears to him to have been unfair or improper, may remit the case either to the same or to any other examiner and may require a re-examination of the applicant or a further inquiry into his testimonials and character.

  • Marginal note:Cancellation because of fraud or error

    (4) Where the Minister believes on reasonable grounds that the certificate of any master or seaman was obtained on a false statement or on erroneous information, the Minister may, with respect to either a certificate granted under this Part or a certificate granted in any other country, in so far only as concerns the validity of the latter certificate in Canada, suspend or cancel the certificate.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 125
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 13
  • 2001, c. 27, s. 217

Marginal note:Provision for instruction

 The Minister may, from time to time, take such measures as he deems fit to provide facilities to enable applicants for certificates under this Part to receive such instruction or information as may enable them to meet the qualifications prescribed by this Part and any regulations made thereunder in respect of those certificates.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 126
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 13

 [Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 13]

Reciprocal Arrangements Concerning Certificates

Marginal note:Recognition of certificates

  •  (1) The Governor in Council may direct, subject to such conditions as he may impose, that any certificate of a master or seaman granted by any authority competent to issue those certificates under the laws of another country may be accepted in lieu of a certificate granted under this Part, if he is satisfied that examinations for the issue of those certificates are conducted as efficiently as the examinations for the same purpose provided for in this Part, and that the certificates are granted on such principles as to show the like qualifications and competency as those granted under this Part.

  • Marginal note:Suspension or cancellation

    (2) Any certificate may, in so far only as concerns its validity in Canada, be suspended or cancelled by the Minister under like conditions to those that attach to a certificate issued under this Part, and any certificate so suspended or cancelled shall be delivered up by the owner to the Minister, who shall thereupon return it to the authority by which it was issued.

  • Marginal note:Application restricted

    (3) This section applies only to certificates issued by the government of a country that has entered into a reciprocal arrangement with the Government of Canada to accept in lieu of certificates of that country certificates issued under this Part.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 128
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), ss. 14, 87(F)

Offences Relating to Certificates

Marginal note:Forgery and fraud

 Every person who

  • (a) makes, procures to be made or assists in making any false representation for the purpose of obtaining for himself or for any other person any certificate granted under this Part;

  • (b) forges, assists in forging or procures to be forged, or fraudulently alters, assists in fraudulently altering or procures to be fraudulently altered, any certificate described in paragraph (a) or any official copy thereof,

  • (c) fraudulently makes use of any certificate described in paragraph (a) that is forged, altered, cancelled or suspended, or to which he is not justly entitled, or

  • (d) fraudulently lends a certificate described in paragraph (a) to or allows the certificate to be used by any other person,

is guilty of an indictable offence.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 129
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), ss. 15, 87(F)

Production of Certificates

Marginal note:Certificates to be produced to customs

  •  (1) Where a ship is required by the regulations under this Part to have on board a master holding a master’s certificate, such master shall produce to every officer of customs in Canada to whom he applies for a clearance of that ship on any voyage the certificates that, under this Act or the regulations, the master and the mates and engineers of the ship are required to hold.

  • Marginal note:No clearance without certificate

    (2) No officer of customs at any port in Canada shall clear the ship on any voyage unless the proper certificates are first produced to him, and the ship may be detained until those certificates are produced.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (3) If the master of the ship proceeds to sea without previous compliance with this section, he is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 130
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 16

 [Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 17]

Marginal note:Exemptions by Minister

  •  (1) The Minister may, on such conditions as he deems fit, exempt any ship from any requirement contained in regulations made under subsection 110(1) or from any requirement contained in section 130, or dispense with the observance of any such requirement in the case of any ship, if he is satisfied that the requirement has been substantially complied with in the case of that ship, or that compliance with the requirement is unnecessary in the circumstances of the case, and that the action taken or provision made with respect to the subject-matter of the requirement in the case of the ship is as effective as actual compliance with the requirement.

  • Marginal note:Report to Parliament

    (2) The Minister shall annually lay before Parliament a special report stating the cases in which he has exercised his power under this section during the preceding year and the grounds on which he has acted in each case.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 132
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 18

Marginal note:Offence

  •  (1) Where the master of a ship produces to the chief officer of customs in Canada to whom he applies for a clearance the certificates that under this Act or the regulations the mates and engineers of the ship are required to hold, and the master obtains a clearance by representing that any person holding such a certificate is engaged as a mate or engineer of the ship for the voyage for which the clearance is obtained, and afterwards the master proceeds from any place in Canada without having on board that person or some other mate or engineer holding a certificate of the proper grade, type or class to act in his stead, the master is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars.

  • Marginal note:Idem

    (2) Where a person knowingly allows his certificate as mate or engineer to be produced by the master of a ship to the chief officer of customs in Canada to whom the master applies for a clearance, and the person does not, without satisfactory excuse, proceed with the ship, as mate or engineer, on the voyage for which the clearance is obtained, that person is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars.

  • Marginal note:Suspension of certificate

    (3) The Minister may, with respect to either a certificate granted under this Part or a certificate granted in another country, in so far only as concerns the validity of the latter certificate in Canada, suspend, for any period not exceeding twelve months, the certificate of any person convicted of an offence under subsection (1) or (2).

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 133
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 19

Marginal note:Tug or other ship

 The master of any tug or other ship required to have a certificated master, but so employed as not to require a clearance, shall, whenever required by any officer of customs, produce the master’s certificate as master and the certificate of the engineer on board to that officer, and for each contravention of this section the master is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 134
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 19
  • 1992, c. 31, s. 25

Miscellaneous

Marginal note:Record

 A record of all certificates granted under this Part shall be kept in the Department.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 135
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 19

Marginal note:Entry of cancellation, etc.

 Whenever notice of the cancelling, suspending or altering or otherwise affecting, by competent authority, of any certificate is received by the Department, there shall thereupon be made a corresponding entry in the record of certificates.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 136
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Marginal note:Certificates to be delivered up

  •  (1) Where a certificate granted under this Part is suspended, cancelled or invalidated by or pursuant to this Act or the regulations, the holder of the certificate shall, as soon as possible, deliver it up to the Minister.

  • Marginal note:Restoration of certificate

    (2) The Minister may, if he thinks that the justice of the case requires it, reissue and return any certificate granted under this Part that has been suspended, cancelled or invalidated by or pursuant to this Act or the regulations, shorten the time for which such certificate is suspended or grant in place thereof a certificate of the same or any lower grade.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 137
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 20

Marginal note:Loss of certificate or document

  •  (1) Where a master or seaman has lost or been deprived of

    • (a) any certificate granted under this Part, or

    • (b) any document attesting the result of an examination relating to the granting of a certificate under this Part,

    the Minister shall, subject to subsection (2), cause a replacement of the original certificate or document to be made out, certified and delivered to that master or seaman.

  • Marginal note:Where master or seaman at fault

    (2) Where the Minister is satisfied that the loss or deprivation referred to in subsection (1) was due to fault on the part of the master or seaman in question, a replacement of the original certificate or document shall not be provided except on payment of a fee fixed by the Minister.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 138
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 20

Marginal note:Certificates as evidence

  •  (1) All documents purporting to be certificates granted by the Minister under this Part, and to be signed by him, shall be admitted in evidence, and shall be deemed to be valid certificates, without further proof, unless the contrary is shown.

  • Marginal note:Certified copies

    (2) A copy of any certificate, purporting to be certified by the Minister or the Deputy Minister, is evidence of that certificate, and a copy, purporting to be so certified, of any entry made in respect of any certificate is evidence of the entry and of the truth of the matter stated therein.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 139
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Marginal note:Application of fees

 All fees received under this Part shall be paid to the Receiver General and form part of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 142

PART IIISeamen

Shipping Offices and Shipping Masters

Marginal note:Shipping offices

 The Governor in Council may establish a shipping office at any port in Canada.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 143

Marginal note:Shipping masters

  •  (1) The Governor in Council may, subject to this Part, appoint for any shipping office a shipping master, who may with the approval of the Minister appoint any necessary deputies, clerks and servants, and shall, subject to this Part, have complete control over and be responsible for every act done by those deputies, clerks and servants.

  • Marginal note:Deputies

    (2) All acts done by or before those deputies have the same effect as if done by or before a shipping master.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 144

Marginal note:Remuneration by fees

  •  (1) Shipping masters shall be remunerated for their services under this Act pursuant to a scale of fees payable to them for defined services, and neither they nor their deputies, clerks or servants shall, directly or indirectly, charge, demand, collect or receive, even by agreement, from any person any higher fees or any other remuneration, whether for the defined services or for other services performed by them as shipping masters, and the Minister shall establish, and may amend or vary in any respect, the scale of fees.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) Every shipping master, deputy shipping master or clerk or servant in any shipping office who acts in contravention of this section is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding fifty dollars, and the Minister may dismiss him from office.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 145

Marginal note:Appointment of shipping masters at ports designated

  •  (1) The Governor in Council may designate ports in Canada at which shipping masters, deputy shipping masters and such clerks and servants as are necessary for the proper conduct of the shipping office may be appointed in the manner authorized by law, all of whom hold office during pleasure.

  • Marginal note:Deputies

    (2) All acts done by or before deputy shipping masters have the same effect as if done by or before a shipping master.

  • Marginal note:Fees

    (3) The Minister shall establish a scale of fees payable for the defined services performed by shipping masters, and the scale of fees may be amended or varied in any respect.

  • Marginal note:Fees paid to Receiver General

    (4) All fees received under this Part by shipping masters appointed under this section shall be paid to the Receiver General and form part of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

  • Marginal note:Remuneration

    (5) A shipping master or deputy shipping master appointed under this section may be appointed to any other office under this Act and in such case, in addition to his salary as shipping master or deputy shipping master, shall be remunerated for his services in the other office in the manner provided under this Act for that office.

  • Marginal note:Exceptions

    (6) Sections 142, 143, 145, 148, 149, 150 and 156 do not apply to shipping masters, deputy shipping masters, clerks or servants appointed under this section.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 146

Marginal note:Ineligible persons

 No person who sells any spirituous liquors and no tavern keeper or boarding-house keeper shall be appointed a shipping master or deputy shipping master.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 147

Marginal note:Business of shipping office

  •  (1) At any place in which no shipping office is established, the business of the shipping office shall be conducted at the custom-house.

  • Marginal note:Deemed to be shipping office

    (2) In respect of any business described in subsection (1), that custom-house shall, for all purposes, be deemed to be a shipping office, and the chief officer of customs at that custom-house, if no other shipping master has been appointed, shall, for all purposes, be a shipping master, and shall be held to have been appointed as such within the meaning of this Part.

  • Marginal note:Fees to be first charge

    (3) Any shipping master or the deputy, clerk or servant of any shipping master may refuse to proceed with any engagement or discharge of a seaman unless the fee payable thereon is first paid.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 148

Marginal note:Control by Minister

 All business transacted at any shipping office shall be under the control and supervision of the Minister.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 149

Marginal note:Shipping master to give security

 Every shipping master shall, before entering on his duties, give such security for the due performance thereof as the Minister requires.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 150

Marginal note:Investigations and dismissals

 Where, in any case, the Minister believes on reasonable grounds that any person appointed by any shipping master does not properly discharge his duties, he may cause an investigation to be made and may direct the dismissal or suspension of that person.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 151

Marginal note:Oath of office of shipping master and subordinates

  •  (1) Every shipping master, deputy, clerk and servant so appointed shall, before entering on his duties, take and subscribe before any person qualified to administer oaths, an oath in the following form:

    I, .........., do swear that I will faithfully perform the duties of shipping master (or deputy shipping master, or as the case may be) according to the true intent and meaning of Part III of the Canada Shipping Act, that I will not, either directly or indirectly, personally, or by means of any other person or persons on my behalf, receive any fee, reward or gratuity by reason of any function of my office as shipping master (or deputy shipping master, or as the case may be), except such as are authorized by the Minister and allowed to me under that Part, and that I will act without partiality, favour or affection, and to the best of my knowledge. So help me God.

  • Marginal note:Forwarded to Minister

    (2) The oath shall be forwarded to the Minister by the shipping master immediately after it is taken.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 152

Marginal note:Duties of shipping master

 Every shipping master shall

  • (a) afford facilities for engaging seamen, by keeping registers of the names of seamen who apply to him for engagement, and registers of all seamen shipped or discharged by him, which registers shall be open for public inspection;

  • (b) superintend and facilitate the engagement and discharge of seamen in the manner hereinafter provided;

  • (c) provide means for securing the presence on board at the proper times of men who are engaged, when requested to do so, the expense of that service to be defrayed by the master, owner or agent of the ship requiring the presence of men on board;

  • (d) facilitate the making of apprenticeships to the sea service; and

  • (e) perform such other duties relating to seamen, apprentices and merchant ships as are committed to him by this Act.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 153

Marginal note:Who may engage or supply seamen in Canada

  •  (1) No person shall engage or supply, or employ any other person to engage or supply, any seaman or apprentice to be entered on board any ship in Canada unless the person first mentioned is a shipping master, the deputy of a shipping master, the owner, master or mate of the ship or bona fide the servant and in the constant employment of that owner.

  • Marginal note:Knowingly harbouring illegally engaged seamen

    (2) No person shall receive, or accept to be entered, on board any ship, or permit to remain on board any ship, any seaman or apprentice who, to the knowledge of that person, has been engaged or supplied in contravention of subsection (1) for the ship or has been engaged or supplied for any other ship.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (3) Any owner, part owner, master, person in charge of any ship, ship’s husband, consignee or other person who acts in contravention of this section is guilty of an offence and is, for each seaman or apprentice in respect of whom an offence is committed, and notwithstanding that several seamen or apprentices are included in the same contract, or are received or permitted to remain on board any ship at the same time, liable to a fine not exceeding forty dollars.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 152
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Marginal note:Illegal demand

  •  (1) No person, other than a shipping master or the deputy of a shipping master, shall demand or receive, directly or indirectly, from any master of a ship, any seaman or apprentice to the sea service, any person seeking employment as a seaman or apprentice to the sea service or any person on behalf of any of those persons, any remuneration of any kind for procuring any seaman to serve on board any ship or for providing any seaman or apprentice with employment.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) Any person who acts in contravention of this section is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars and not less than twenty-five dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 155

Marginal note:Duty of shipping master in case of suspected deserter

 Every shipping master and deputy shipping master shall, before engaging or supplying any seaman to be entered on board any ship, require that seaman to produce his certificate of discharge from his last ship, or other satisfactory proof that he was lawfully discharged from or lawfully quitted his last ship, and shall by all lawful means in his power prevent, in so far as he can, the effecting before him of the engagement of a seaman whom he has any reason to suspect of having deserted from his last ship.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 156

Marginal note:Masters to pay fees

 Every owner or master of a ship engaging or discharging any seaman in a shipping office, or before a shipping master or a deputy shipping master, shall pay to the shipping master or deputy shipping master the whole of the fees payable in respect of that engagement or discharge.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 157

Marginal note:Returns to Minister

  •  (1) Every shipping master shall make, sign and transmit to the Minister on, or as soon as possible after, the last day of March and the last day of September in each year a return of all the fees and moneys received by him under this Part during the half year ending on that day.

  • Marginal note:Particulars in returns

    (2) The return shall show the number of seamen engaged and the number of seamen discharged during the same period.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 158

Marginal note:Dispensing with shipping master’s superintendence

 The Governor in Council may, from time to time, dispense with the transaction before a shipping master or in a shipping office of any matters required by this Part to be so transacted, and thereupon those matters, if otherwise duly transacted, are as valid as if transacted before a shipping master or in a shipping office.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 159

Apprenticeship to the Sea Service

Marginal note:Apprenticeship

 Every shipping master shall give to persons desirous of apprenticing boys to, or requiring apprentices for, the sea service such assistance as may be in his power.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 160

Marginal note:Indenture

 The apprenticeship of any boy to the sea service shall be by indenture between the apprentice and the master or owner of the ship requiring the apprentice.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 161

Marginal note:Record of indentures

  •  (1) Every person to whom an apprentice is bound shall, within seven days after the execution of the indenture, transmit the indenture and a copy thereof to the shipping master nearest to the residence of that person, and that shipping master shall keep the copy in his office, which shall be open to public inspection free of any charge, and shall endorse on the indenture that it has been so recorded and shall re-deliver the indenture to the master of the apprentice.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) Every person who fails to comply with any requirement of this section is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding fifty dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 162

Marginal note:Notice of assignment, etc.

  •  (1) Whenever any indenture is assigned or cancelled, or whenever any apprentice dies or deserts, the master of the apprentice shall, within thirty days after the assignment, cancellation, death or desertion, if it happens within Canada, or, if it happens elsewhere, so soon afterwards as circumstances permit, notify the shipping master, who shall record the information.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) Every person who fails to comply with any requirement of this section is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding fifty dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 163

Marginal note:Production of indenture

  •  (1) The master of every foreign-going or home-trade Canadian ship who, pursuant to this Act, makes an agreement with the crew in the presence of a shipping master, shall, before carrying any apprentice to sea from any place in Canada, cause that apprentice to appear before the shipping master before whom the crew is engaged, and shall produce to the shipping master the indenture by which the apprentice is bound and every assignment thereof.

  • Marginal note:Entries

    (2) The name of the apprentice, with the date of the indenture and of the assignments, if any, and the names of the ports at which they have been registered, shall be entered on the agreement with the crew.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (3) If the master fails, without reasonable cause, to comply with any requirements of this section, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 164

Engagement of Seamen

Marginal note:Agreement with crew

  •  (1) The master of every Canadian ship, other than home-trade ships, inland waters ships and minor waters ships of less than fifty register tons, shall enter into an agreement, in this Act called the “agreement with the crew”, in accordance with this Act, with every seaman whom he engages in Canada and carries as one of his crew.

  • Marginal note:Carrying seamen without agreement

    (2) If the master of a ship in respect of which an agreement with the crew is required fails to enter into an agreement or carries any seaman from any port in Canada without entering into an agreement with him in accordance with this Act, the master in the case of a sea-going ship, and the master or owner in the case of any other ship, is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding twenty dollars.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 163
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 22

Marginal note:Form and contents outside of Canada

 When agreements with seamen in respect of Canadian ships are first opened in any Commonwealth country outside of Canada, their form and contents shall be those prescribed by the law of that Commonwealth country and if opened elsewhere than within a Commonwealth country shall be those prescribed by the law of Canada.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 166

Marginal note:Form of agreement

  •  (1) An agreement with the crew shall be in a form approved by the Minister, shall be dated at the time of the first signature thereof and shall be signed by the master before a seaman signs it.

  • Marginal note:Particulars

    (2) The agreement with the crew shall show the surname and other names of the seaman, his birthplace and age or date of birth, shall state clearly the respective rights and obligations of each of the parties and shall contain as terms thereof the following particulars:

    • (a) the name of the vessel or vessels on board which the seaman undertakes to serve;

    • (b) either the nature, and, as far as practicable, the duration of the intended voyage or engagement, or the maximum period of the voyage or engagement and the places or parts of the world, if any, to which the voyage or engagement is not to extend;

    • (c) the number and description of the crew, specifying how many are engaged as sailors;

    • (d) if possible the place and date at which each seaman is to be on board or to begin work;

    • (e) the capacity in which each seaman is to serve;

    • (f) the amount of wages that each seaman is to receive;

    • (g) a scale of the provisions that are to be furnished to each seaman;

    • (h) the time agreed on, if any, that is to expire after arrival before the seaman is discharged;

    • (i) any regulations respecting conduct on board, fines, short allowance of provisions or other lawful punishment for misconduct that have been approved by the Minister as proper regulations to be adopted and that the parties agree to adopt; and

    • (j) the particulars respecting the position of the deck line and the load lines specified in the ship’s Load Line Certificate.

  • Marginal note:Optional terms

    (3) The agreement with the crew shall be so framed as to admit of such stipulations, to be adopted at the will of the master and seaman in each case, whether respecting the advance and allotment of wages or otherwise, as are not contrary to law or to the Seamen’s Articles Convention, and it shall state the place at, and the date on, which it was completed.

  • Marginal note:Foreign agreements

    (4) If the master of a ship registered at a port outside Canada has an agreement with the crew made in due form according to the law of that port or of the port in which the ship’s crew was engaged, and engages single seamen in Canada, those seamen may sign the agreement, and it is not necessary for them to sign an agreement in the form approved by the Minister.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 165
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Marginal note:Agreements with crew of foreign-going ships

 The following provisions have effect with respect to the agreements with the crew made in Canada in the case of foreign-going ships registered either within or outside Canada:

  • (a) the agreement shall, subject to this Act with respect to substitutes, be signed by each seaman in the presence of a shipping master;

  • (b) the shipping master shall give reasonable facilities to the seaman and his adviser, if any, to examine the agreement and shall cause the agreement to be read over and explained to each seaman, or otherwise ascertain that each seaman understands the agreement before he signs it, and shall attest each signature;

  • (c) when the crew is first engaged, the agreement shall be signed in duplicate, and one part shall be retained by the shipping master and the other shall be delivered to the master, and shall contain a special place or form for the descriptions and signatures of substitutes or persons engaged subsequent to the first departure of the ship;

  • (d) where a substitute is engaged in the place of a seaman who signed the agreement and whose services are within twenty-four hours of the ship’s putting to sea lost by death, desertion or other unforeseen cause, the engagement shall, when practicable, be made before a shipping master, and, when not practicable, the master shall, before the ship puts to sea, if practicable, and if not, as soon after as possible cause the agreement to be read over and explained to the substitute, and the substitute shall thereupon sign the agreement in the presence of a witness, and the witness shall attest the signature;

  • (e) the agreements may be made for a voyage, or if the voyages of the ship average less than six months in duration may be made to extend over two or more voyages, and agreements made to extend over two or more voyages are in this Act referred to as running agreements;

  • (f) running agreements shall not extend beyond the six month period of time next following the date of the making thereof, or the first arrival of the ship at its port of destination in Canada after the termination of that period, or the discharge of cargo consequent on that arrival;

  • (g) on every return to a port in Canada before the final termination of a running agreement, the master shall make on the agreement an endorsement respecting the engagement or discharge of seamen, either that no engagements or discharges have been made or are intended to be made before the ship leaves port, or that all those made have been made as required by law, and if a master wilfully makes a false statement in any endorsement he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars;

  • (h) the master shall deliver the running agreement as endorsed to the shipping master, and the shipping master shall, if the provisions of this Act relating to agreements have been complied with, sign the endorsement and return the agreement to the master; and

  • (i) the duplicate running agreement retained by the shipping master on the first engagement of the crew shall be kept by the shipping master until the expiration of the agreement.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 168

Marginal note:Agreements with crew of home-trade ships

 The following provisions have effect with respect to the agreements with the crew made in Canada in the case of home-trade ships for which an agreement with the crew is required under this Act:

  • (a) agreements may be made either for service in a particular ship or for a service in two or more ships belonging to the same owner, but in the latter case the names of the ships and the nature of the service shall be specified in the agreement;

  • (b) crews or single seamen may, if the master thinks fit, be engaged before a shipping master in the same manner as they are required to be engaged for foreign-going ships, but if the engagement is not so made, the master shall, before the ship puts to sea, if practicable, and if not, as soon after as possible, cause the agreement to be read and explained to each seaman, and the seaman shall thereupon sign the agreement in the presence of a witness, and the witness shall attest the signature;

  • (c) an agreement for service in two or more ships belonging to the same owner may be made by the owner instead of by the master and the provisions of this Act with respect to the making of the agreement apply accordingly;

  • (d) in the case of a ship making short voyages, running agreements with the crew may be made to extend over two or more voyages or for a specified time, but no agreement shall extend beyond the six month period of time next following the date of the making thereof, the first arrival of the ship at its final port of destination in Canada after that period or the discharge of cargo consequent on that arrival, and the owner or his agent may enter into time agreements in forms sanctioned by the Minister with individual seamen to serve in any one or more ships belonging to that owner, which agreements need not be limited to six months, and a duplicate of every agreement shall be forwarded to the Minister within forty-eight hours after it has been entered into;

  • (e) on every return to a port in Canada before the final termination of a running agreement, the master shall make on the agreement an endorsement respecting the engagement or discharge of seamen, either that no engagements or discharges have been made or are intended to be made before the ship leaves port, or that all those made have been made as required by law;

  • (f) the master shall deliver the running agreement as endorsed to the shipping master, and the shipping master shall, if the provisions of this Act relating to agreements have been complied with, sign the endorsement and return the agreement to the master, and if a master wilfully makes a false statement in any endorsement he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars; and

  • (g) the duplicate running agreement retained by the shipping master on the first engagement of the crew shall be kept by the shipping master until the expiration of the agreement.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 169

Marginal note:Agreements with crew of inland waters ships

 The following provisions have effect with respect to the agreement with the crew in the case of inland waters ships and minor waters ships for which an agreement with the crew is required under this Act:

  • (a) agreements may be made either for service in a particular ship or for service in two or more ships belonging to the same owner, but in the latter case the names of the ships and the nature of the service shall be specified in the agreement;

  • (b) crews or single seamen shall in the case of ships of over eighty tons register tonnage and may if the master thinks fit in the case of ships of lesser tonnage be engaged in the same manner as they are required to be engaged for home-trade ships;

  • (c) an agreement for service in two or more ships belonging to the same owner may be made by the owner instead of by the master and the provisions of this Act with respect to the making of the agreement shall apply accordingly; and

  • (d) in the case of a ship making short voyages, running agreements with the crew may be made to extend over two or more voyages or for a specified time, but no agreement shall extend beyond nine months from the date of the agreement, the first arrival of the ship at its port of destination after the termination of the agreement or the discharge of cargo consequent on that arrival, and the owner or his agent may enter into time agreements in forms sanctioned by the Minister with individual seamen to serve in any one or more ships belonging to that owner, which agreements need not be limited to nine months, and a duplicate of every agreement shall be forwarded to the Minister within forty-eight hours after it has been entered into.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 170

Marginal note:Master to produce certificates

 The master of every foreign-going ship, on signing the agreement with the crew, shall produce to the shipping master before whom the agreement is signed the certificates that the master and seamen on the ship are required by law to hold.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 169
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 21

Certificate from Shipping Master

Marginal note:Certificate from shipping master

 A shipping master shall, in the case of any ship, on all the requirements of this Part being complied with to his satisfaction, give to the master of the ship a certificate to that effect or to the effect that the agreement with the crew is in his office partially signed, waiting the engagement of a portion of the crew, as the case may be, and shall specify in the certificate the class of ship to which the ship belongs, whether it is a steamship or sailing ship, the ship’s gross and register tonnage and particulars of its employment.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 172

Marginal note:No clearance without certificate

 No officer of customs shall clear any foreign-going ship until the shipping master’s certificate is produced to him.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 173

Marginal note:Changes in crew to be reported

  •  (1) The master of every foreign-going or home-trade ship whose crew has been engaged before a shipping master shall, before finally leaving Canada, sign and send to the nearest shipping master a full and accurate statement, in a form approved by the Minister, of every change that takes place in his crew before finally leaving Canada, and that statement is admissible in evidence in the manner provided by this Act.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) If the master fails without reasonable cause to comply with this section, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 174

Marginal note:Certificate with respect to agreement with crew of foreign-going ship

  •  (1) In the case of a foreign-going ship, on the due execution of an agreement with the crew in accordance with this Act, and, where the agreement is a running agreement, on compliance by the master, before the second and every subsequent voyage made after the first commencement of the agreement, with the provisions of this Act respecting that agreement, a shipping master shall grant the master of the ship a certificate to that effect.

  • Marginal note:To be produced

    (2) The master of every foreign-going ship shall, before proceeding to sea, produce to the officer of customs the certificate referred to in subsection (1), and any such ship may be detained until the certificate is produced.

  • Marginal note:Delivery to shipping master

    (3) The master of every foreign-going ship shall, within forty-eight hours after the ship’s arrival at its final port of destination in Canada or on the discharge of its crew, whichever first happens, deliver his agreement with the crew to the shipping master at that port, who shall give the master a certificate of that delivery, and an officer of customs shall not clear the ship inward until the certificate of delivery is produced.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (4) If the master fails without reasonable cause to deliver the agreement with the crew in accordance with subsection (3), he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 175

Marginal note:Agreement of home-trade ship delivered

  •  (1) The master or owner of a home-trade ship of fifty tons register tonnage or more shall, within twenty-one days after the termination of every agreement with the crew made for the ship, deliver or transmit the agreement to a shipping master in Canada.

  • Marginal note:Certificate

    (2) The shipping master on receiving the agreement shall give the master or owner of the ship a certificate of that delivery, and the ship shall be detained unless the certificate is produced to the proper officer of customs.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (3) If the master or owner fails, without reasonable cause, to comply with this section, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 176

Marginal note:Master to deliver agreement

  •  (1) The master or owner of every inland waters ship or minor waters ship of or over fifty tons register tonnage shall within twenty-one days after the termination of every agreement with the crew deliver the agreement to the nearest shipping master and the shipping master shall give the master a certificate of that delivery.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) If the master or owner fails, without reasonable cause, to comply with this section, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 177

Marginal note:Copy for crew

  •  (1) The master shall at the commencement of every foreign voyage or engagement cause a legible copy of the agreement with the crew, omitting the signatures, to be posted up in some part of the ship that is accessible to the crew.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) If the master fails, without reasonable cause, to comply with this section, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 178

Marginal note:Alterations in agreements with crew

  •  (1) Every erasure, interlineation or alteration in any agreement with the crew, except additions made for the purpose of shipping substitutes or persons engaged after the first departure of the ship, is wholly inoperative, unless proved to have been made with the consent of all the persons interested in the erasure, interlineation or alteration by the written attestation, if in a Commonwealth country, of a shipping master, justice of the peace, officer of customs or other public functionary, or elsewhere outside Canada, of a consular officer, or where there is no consular officer, of two respectable Canadian merchants.

  • Marginal note:Forgery, etc., in respect of agreements with crew

    (2) Every person who fraudulently alters, makes any false entry in, or delivers a false copy of any agreement with the crew is guilty of an indictable offence, and if any person assists in committing or procures to be committed any such offence, he is likewise guilty of an indictable offence.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 177
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 22

Marginal note:Seaman not bound to produce agreement

 In any legal or other proceeding, a seaman may bring forward evidence to prove the contents of any agreement with the crew or otherwise to support his case, without producing or giving notice to produce the agreement or any copy thereof.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 180

Marginal note:Engagement of seamen outside Canada

  •  (1) With respect to the engagement of seamen outside Canada, where the master of a Canadian ship engages a seaman in a Commonwealth country or at a port in which there is a consular officer, the provisions of this Act respecting agreements with the crew made in Canada apply subject to the following modifications:

    • (a) in any Commonwealth country, the master shall engage the seaman before some officer being either a superintendent or, if there is no superintendent, an officer of customs;

    • (b) at any port having a consular officer, the master shall, before carrying the seaman to sea, procure the sanction of the consular officer, and shall, if not contrary to the law of the port, engage the seaman before that officer; and

    • (c) the master shall request the officer to endorse on the agreement an attestation to the effect that the agreement has been signed in his presence and otherwise made as required by this Act, and also, if the officer is a consular officer, that it has his sanction, and if the attestation is not made the burden of proving that the engagement was made as required by this Act lies on the master.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) If a master fails to comply with this section, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 181

Discharge of Seamen

Marginal note:Discharges before shipping master

  •  (1) When a seaman serving in a foreign-going ship, or in a home-trade ship of or over fifty tons register tonnage, whether registered within or outside Canada, is on the termination of his engagement discharged in Canada, he shall, whether the agreement with the crew is an agreement for the voyage or a running agreement, be discharged in the presence of a shipping master.

  • Marginal note:Home-trade ships

    (2) If the master or owner of a home-trade ship of less than fifty tons register tonnage or an inland waters or minor waters ship so desires, the seamen of that ship may be discharged in the same manner as seamen discharged from a foreign-going ship.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (3) If the master or owner of a ship acts in contravention of this section, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding fifty dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 182

Marginal note:Certificate of discharge

  •  (1) The master shall sign and give to a seaman discharged from his ship, either on his discharge or on payment of his wages, a certificate of his discharge in a continuous discharge book in a form approved by the Minister, or any form approved by the proper authority in that Commonwealth country in which the ship is registered, specifying the period of his service and the time and place of his discharge, but not containing any statement respecting his wages or the quality of his work unless requested by the seaman.

  • Marginal note:Certificates returned

    (2) The master shall, on the discharge of every seaman whose certificate has been delivered to and retained by him, return the certificate to the seaman.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (3) If the master fails to comply with subsection (1), he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding fifty dollars, and if he, without reasonable cause, fails to comply with subsection (2) he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 181
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 22

Marginal note:Report of seaman’s character

  •  (1) Where a seaman is discharged before a shipping master, the master shall make and sign, in a form approved by the Minister, or in any form approved by the proper authority in that Commonwealth country in which the ship is registered, a report of the conduct, character, and qualifications of the seaman discharged, or may state in the form that he declines to give any opinion on those particulars, or on any of them, and the shipping master shall, if the seaman desires, give to him a copy of the report, in this Act referred to as the “report of character”.

  • Marginal note:Returns to Minister

    (2) The shipping master shall transmit the reports to the Minister, or to such other person as the Minister may direct, to be recorded.

  • Marginal note:False reports of forged certificates

    (3) Every person who

    • (a) makes a false report of character under this Act, knowing the report to be false,

    • (b) forges or fraudulently alters any certificate of discharge or report of character or copy of a report of character,

    • (c) assists in committing, or procures to be committed, any of the acts referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b), or

    • (d) fraudulently uses any certificate of discharge or report of character or copy of a report of character that is forged or altered or does not belong to him,

    is guilty of an indictable offence.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 184

Payment of Wages

Marginal note:Time within which wages must be paid

  •  (1) Except in a case in which the seaman by the agreement is paid by a share of the profits of the adventure, the master or owner of every foreign-going Canadian ship shall pay to each seaman belonging to that ship his wages, if demanded, within three days after the delivery of the cargo, or on the seaman’s discharge, whichever happens first.

  • Marginal note:Payment of wages

    (2) Where a seaman is discharged before a shipping master in Canada, he shall receive his wages through or in the presence of the shipping master, unless a competent court otherwise directs.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (3) If the master or owner of a sea-going ship or of a home-trade ship of over eighty tons register tonnage pays wages to a seaman where he is discharged before a shipping master otherwise than through or in the presence of the shipping master, unless a competent court otherwise directs, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding fifty dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 185

Marginal note:Master to deliver account of wages

  •  (1) The master of every ship shall before discharging or paying off a seaman deliver, at the time and in the manner provided by this Act, a full and true account, in a form approved by the Minister, of the seaman’s wages and of all deductions to be made therefrom on any account whatever.

  • Marginal note:To whom delivery made

    (2) The account referred to in subsection (1) shall be delivered

    • (a) where the seaman is not to be discharged before a shipping master, to the seaman himself not less than twenty-four hours before his discharge or the payment of his wages; and

    • (b) where the seaman is to be discharged before a shipping master, either to the seaman himself at or before the time of his leaving the ship, or to the shipping master not less than twenty-four hours before his discharge or the payment of his wages.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (3) If the master of a ship fails, without reasonable cause, to comply with this section, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 186

Marginal note:Deductions

  •  (1) A deduction from the wages of a seaman shall not be allowed unless it is included in the account delivered pursuant to section 184, or is in respect of a matter happening after the delivery.

  • Marginal note:Record of deductions

    (2) The master shall during a voyage enter the various matters in respect of which the deductions are made, with the amounts of the respective deductions, as they occur, in a book to be kept for that purpose, and shall, if required, produce the book at the time of the payment of wages, and on the hearing before any competent authority of any complaint or question relating to that payment.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 187

Marginal note:Disrating of seamen

  •  (1) Where the master of a ship disrates a seaman, he shall forthwith enter or cause to be entered in the official log-book of the ship a statement of the disrating and furnish the seaman with a copy of the entry, and any reduction of wages consequent on the disrating shall not take effect until the entry has been made and the copy furnished.

  • Marginal note:Reduction

    (2) Any reduction of wages consequent on the disrating of a seaman shall be deemed to be a deduction from wages within the meaning of sections 184 and 185.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 188

Marginal note:Decision of questions by shipping master

  •  (1) Where in the case of a foreign-going ship a question respecting wages is raised before a shipping master between the master or owner of the ship and a seaman or apprentice, and the amount in question does not exceed twenty-five dollars, the shipping master may, on the application of either party, adjudicate, and the decision of the shipping master in the matter is final, but if the shipping master is of opinion that the question is one that ought to be decided by a court of law, he may refuse to decide it.

  • Marginal note:Hearing of any question by agreement

    (2) Where any question, of whatever nature and whatever the amount in dispute, between a master or owner and any of his crew is raised before a shipping master, and both parties agree in writing to submit the question to him, the shipping master shall hear and decide the question so submitted, and an award made by him on the submission is conclusive with respect to the rights of the parties, and a document purporting to be the submission or award is admissible as evidence thereof.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 189

Marginal note:Shipping master may require ships’ papers

  •  (1) In any proceeding under this Act before a shipping master relating to the wages, claims or discharge of a seaman, the shipping master may require the owner, his agent or the master or any mate or other member of the crew to produce any log-books, papers or other documents in his possession or power relating to a matter in question in the proceeding, and may require the attendance of and examine any of those persons, being then at or near the place, on the matter.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) Every person so required who fails, without reasonable cause, to comply with the requisition is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 188
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Marginal note:Exchange on payment of seamen abroad

 Where a seaman has agreed with the master of a Canadian ship for payment of his wages in Canadian dollars or any other money, any payment of, or on account of, his wages if made in any other currency than that stated in the agreement shall, notwithstanding anything in the agreement, be made at the rate of exchange for the money stated in the agreement, for the time being current at the place where the payment is made.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 189
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 22

Advance and Allotment of Wages

Marginal note:Advance notes restricted

  •  (1) Where an agreement with the crew is required to be made in a form approved by the Minister, the agreement may contain a stipulation for payment to or on behalf of the seaman, conditionally on his going to sea in pursuance of the agreement, of a sum not exceeding the amount of one month’s wages payable to the seaman under the agreement, and stipulations for the allotment of a seaman’s wages may be made in accordance with this Act.

  • Marginal note:Other agreements void

    (2) Except as provided in subsection (1), an agreement by or on behalf of the employer of a seaman for the payment of money to or on behalf of the seaman conditionally on his going to sea from any port in Canada is void, and any money paid in satisfaction or in respect of that agreement shall not be deducted from the seaman’s wages, and a person does not have any right of action, suit or set-off against the seaman or his assignee in respect of any money so paid or purporting to have been so paid.

  • Marginal note:Provision as to failure to join ship and desertion

    (3) Where a seaman who has been lawfully engaged and has received under his agreement an advance note, after negotiating his advance note, wilfully or through misconduct fails to join his ship or deserts therefrom before the note becomes payable, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars, or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twenty-one days, but nothing in this section takes away or limits any remedy by action or other procedure that any person would otherwise have in respect of the negotiation of the advance note, or that an owner or master would otherwise have for breach of contract.

  • Marginal note:Provisions as to failure to join ship

    (4) Where it is shown to the satisfaction of a shipping master that a seaman lawfully engaged has wilfully or through misconduct failed to join his ship, the shipping master shall report the matter to the Minister, and the Minister may direct that any of the seaman’s certificates of discharge shall be withheld for such period as he may think fit, and, while a seaman’s certificate of discharge is so withheld, the Minister, and any other person having the custody of the necessary documents, may, notwithstanding anything in this Act, refuse to furnish copies of any of his certificates of discharge or certified extracts of any particulars of service or character.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 192

Marginal note:Allotment of wages

  •  (1) Any stipulation made by a seaman at the commencement of a voyage for the allotment of any part of his wages during his absence shall be inserted in the agreement with the crew, and shall state the amounts and times of the payments to be made.

  • Marginal note:Allotment notes

    (2) Where the agreement with the crew is required to be made in a form approved by the Minister, the seaman may require that a stipulation be inserted in the agreement for the allotment by means of an allotment note, of any part, not exceeding one-half, of the seaman’s wages in favour either of a near relative or of a bank.

  • Marginal note:Form

    (3) Allotment notes shall be in a form approved by the Minister.

  • Marginal note:Definitions

    (4) For the purposes of the provisions of this Act with respect to allotment notes,

    bank

    banque

    bank means a bank or an authorized foreign bank within the meaning of section 2 of the Bank Act; (banque)

    near relative

    proche parent

    near relative means one of the following persons, namely, the spouse, father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, child, grandchild, brother or sister of the seaman; (proche parent)

    savings bank

    savings bank[Repealed, 1999, c. 28, s. 174]

  • Marginal note:Obligation to offer allotment notes

    (5) Every shipping master or other officer before whom the seaman is engaged shall, after the seaman has signed the agreement with the crew, inquire of the seaman whether he requires a stipulation for the allotment of his wages by means of an allotment note, and, if the seaman requires such a stipulation, shall insert the stipulation in the agreement with the crew, and the stipulation shall be deemed to have been agreed to by the master.

  • Marginal note:Time for payment of allotment note

    (6) A payment under an allotment note shall begin at the expiration of one month from the date of the agreement with the crew and shall be paid at the expiration of every subsequent month after the first month, and only in respect of wages earned before the date of payment.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 191
  • R.S., 1985, c. 31 (1st Supp.), s. 90
  • 1999, c. 28, s. 174

Marginal note:Allotments through banks

  •  (1) An allotment in favour of a bank shall be made in favour of the persons and carried into effect in the manner that may be prescribed by regulations of the Minister.

  • Marginal note:Payment

    (2) The sum received by a bank in pursuance of an allotment may be paid out only on an application made, through a shipping master or the Minister, by the seaman or, in case of the seaman’s death, by some person to whom the seaman’s property may be paid under this Act.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 192
  • 1999, c. 28, s. 175

Marginal note:Master to give facilities to seamen for remitting wages

  •  (1) Where the balance of wages due to a seaman is more than fifty dollars, and a seaman expresses to the master of the ship a desire to have facilities afforded for remitting all or any part of the balance to a bank or to a near relative in whose favour an allotment note may be made, the master shall give to the seaman all reasonable facilities for so doing with respect to the portion of the balance that is in excess of fifty dollars, but is under no obligation to give those facilities while the ship is in port if the sum will become payable before the ship leaves port, or otherwise than conditionally on the seaman going to sea in the ship.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) If the master of a ship fails to comply with the provisions of this section, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 193
  • 1999, c. 28, s. 176

Marginal note:Right of suing on allotment notes

  •  (1) The person in whose favour an allotment note under this Act is made may, unless the seaman is shown, in the manner specified in this Act, to have forfeited or ceased to be entitled to the wages out of which the allotment is to be paid, recover the sums allotted when they are payable, with costs, from the owner of the ship with respect to which the engagement was made, or from any agent of the owner who has authorized the allotment, in the same court and manner in which wages of seamen not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars may be recovered under this Act.

  • (2) [Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 31 (1st Supp.), s. 91]

  • Marginal note:Proof

    (3) In any proceedings for recovery on an allotment note, it is sufficient for the claimant to prove that he is the person mentioned in the note, and that the note was given by the owner or by the master or some authorized agent, and the seaman shall be presumed to be duly earning his wages, unless the contrary is shown to the satisfaction of the court by

    • (a) the official statement of the change in the crew caused by his absence, made and signed by the master, as by this Act is required;

    • (b) a certified copy of some entry in the official log-book of the ship to the effect that he has left the ship;

    • (c) a credible letter from the master of the ship to the same effect; or

    • (d) such other evidence as the court in its absolute discretion considers sufficient to show satisfactorily that the seaman has ceased to be entitled to the wages out of which the allotment is to be paid.

  • Marginal note:False statements in letter as to allotment

    (4) If a master wilfully makes a false statement in any credible letter intended for use in any proceeding on an allotment note for the recovery of a seaman’s wages, to the effect that a seaman has left his ship and has ceased to be entitled to the wages out of which any allotment is to be paid, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 194
  • R.S., 1985, c. 31 (1st Supp.), s. 91

Rights of Seamen in Respect of Wages

Marginal note:Right to wages, etc., when to begin

 A seaman’s right to wages and provisions shall be taken to begin either at the time at which he commences work or at the time specified in the agreement for his commencement of work or presence on board, whichever happens first.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 197

Marginal note:Right to recover wages and salvage not to be forfeited

  •  (1) A seaman does not by any agreement forfeit his lien on the ship to which he belongs, nor is he deprived of any remedy for the recovery of his wages to which, in the absence of the agreement, he would be entitled, and does not by any agreement abandon his right to wages in case of the loss of the ship, or abandon any right that he may have or obtain in the nature of salvage, and every stipulation in any agreement inconsistent with any provision of this Act is void.

  • Marginal note:Exception when employed on salvage service

    (2) Nothing in this section applies to a stipulation made by the seamen belonging to any ship that, according to the terms of the agreement, is to be employed on salvage service, with respect to the remuneration to be paid to them for salvage services to be rendered by that ship to any other ship.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 198

Marginal note:Wages not to depend on freight

  •  (1) The right of wages does not depend on the earning of freight, and every seaman and apprentice who would be entitled to demand and recover any wages, if the ship in which he has served had earned freight, is, subject to all other rules of law and conditions applicable to the case, entitled to demand and recover the wages, notwithstanding that freight has not been earned, but in all cases of wreck or loss of the ship, proof that the seaman has not exerted himself to the utmost to save the ship, cargo and stores bars his claim for wages.

  • Marginal note:Payment of wages in case of death

    (2) Where a seaman or apprentice who would, but for death, be entitled by virtue of this section to demand and recover any wages dies before the wages are paid, they shall be paid and applied in the manner provided by this Act with respect to the wages of a seaman who dies during a voyage.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 199

Marginal note:Wages when termination of service by reason of unfitness

  •  (1) Where the service of any seaman belonging to any foreign-going or home-trade Canadian ship terminates before the date contemplated in the agreement, by reason of his being left on shore at any place abroad under a certificate of his unfitness or inability to proceed on the voyage granted as mentioned in Part IV, the seaman is entitled to wages for the time of service prior to that termination but not for any further period.

  • Marginal note:By reason of loss or foundering

    (2) Where by reason of the loss or foundering of any ship on which a seaman is employed his service terminates before the date contemplated in the agreement, he is entitled in respect of each day on which he is in fact unemployed during a period of two months from the date of the termination of the service to receive wages at the rate to which he was entitled at that date.

  • Marginal note:If unemployment not due to loss or foundering

    (3) A seaman is not entitled to receive wages under this section if the owner shows that the unemployment was not due to the loss or foundering of the ship and is not entitled to receive wages under this section in respect of any day if the owner shows that the seaman was able to obtain suitable employment on that day.

  • Marginal note:Definition of “seaman”

    (4) In subsections (2) and (3), seaman includes every person employed or engaged in any capacity on board a ship.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 200

Marginal note:No wages for refusal to work

 A seaman or apprentice is not entitled to wages for any time during which he unlawfully refuses or neglects to work, when required, whether before or after the time fixed by the agreement for his commencement of that work, nor, unless the court hearing the case otherwise directs, for any period during which he is lawfully imprisoned for any offence committed by him.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 201

Marginal note:Forfeiture if illness caused by default

 Where a seaman is by reason of illness incapable of performing his duty and it is proved that the illness has been caused by his own wilful act or default, he is not entitled to wages for the time during which he is by reason of the illness incapable of performing his duty.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 202

Marginal note:Costs of procuring conviction deducted

 Whenever in any proceeding relating to seamen’s wages it is shown that a seaman or apprentice has in the course of the voyage been convicted of an offence by a competent tribunal, and rightfully punished for that offence by imprisonment or otherwise, the court hearing the case may direct any part of the wages due to the seaman, not exceeding fifteen dollars, to be applied in reimbursing any costs properly incurred by the master in procuring the conviction and punishment.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 203

Marginal note:Compensation where improperly discharged

 Where a seaman, having signed an agreement, is discharged otherwise than in accordance with the terms thereof before the commencement of the voyage, or before one month’s wages are earned, without fault on his part justifying that discharge, and without his consent, he is entitled to receive from the master or owner, in addition to any wages he may have earned, due compensation for the damage caused to him by the discharge, not exceeding one month’s wages, and may recover that compensation as if it were wages duly earned.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 204

Marginal note:Attachment or sale of wages

  •  (1) With respect to wages due or accruing to a seaman or apprentice, the following provisions apply:

    • (a) they are not subject to attachment or arrestment from any court, unless the attachment or arrestment is in respect of the garnishment or attachment of wages for the purpose of enforcing a support provision as defined in section 2 of the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act;

    • (b) an assignment or sale thereof made prior to the accruing thereof does not bind the person making the same;

    • (c) a power of attorney or authority for the receipt thereof is not irrevocable; and

    • (d) a payment of wages to the seaman or apprentice is valid in law, notwithstanding any previous sale or assignment of those wages, or any attachment, encumbrance or arrestment thereof.

  • Marginal note:Allotment notes not affected

    (2) Nothing in this section affects the provisions of this Act with respect to allotment notes.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 203
  • 1997, c. 1, s. 41

Marginal note:Wages payable on termination of service by consent

 Whenever the service of any seaman belonging to a Canadian ship terminates, by the mutual consent of the seaman and the master of the ship, at any port within or outside Canada before the date contemplated in any agreement with the seaman or with the crew of the ship, the seaman is entitled to be paid off before he leaves the ship and his wages are payable up to the time when he leaves the ship.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 206

Mode of Recovering Wages

Marginal note:Seaman may sue for wages in summary manner

  •  (1) A seaman or apprentice or a person duly authorized on his behalf may, as soon as any wages due to him not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars become payable, sue for them, in a summary manner before any judge of the Court of Quebec or Superior Court of the Province of Quebec, any judge of the Superior Court of Justice in and for the Province of Ontario, any judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia or British Columbia, any judge of the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland, any judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench of New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatchewan or Alberta, any provincial court judge, or any two justices of the peace acting in or near the place at which his service has terminated, or at which he has been discharged, or at which any master or owner or other person on whom the claim is made is or resides, and the order made by the court in the matter is final.

  • Marginal note:Summons for master or owner

    (2) The judge, provincial court judge or justices to whom a complaint on oath is made by a seaman or apprentice, or on his behalf, may summon the master or owner or other person to appear before him or them to answer the complaint.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 205
  • R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203, c. 27 (2nd Supp.), s. 10, c. 40 (4th Supp.), s. 2
  • 1990, c. 16, s. 19, c. 17, ss. 37, 47
  • 1992, c. 51, s. 62
  • 1998, c. 30, s. 12

Marginal note:Order for payment

  •  (1) On appearance of the master or owner or other person on whom a claim is made, the judge, provincial court judge or justices may examine on oath the parties and their respective witnesses concerning the complaint and the amount of wages due, and may make such order for the payment of any wages found due as appears reasonable and just.

  • Marginal note:Non-appearance of master or owner

    (2) Where the master, owner or other person does not appear, then, on due proof of the master or owner or other person having been duly summoned, the judge, provincial court judge or justices may examine on oath the complainant and his witnesses concerning the complaint and the amount of wages due, and may make such order for the payment of any wages found due as appears reasonable and just.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 206
  • R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203

Marginal note:Warrant for distress

  •  (1) Where an order made pursuant to section 206 is not obeyed within twenty-four hours after the making thereof, the judge, provincial court judge or justices may issue a warrant to levy the amount of the wages awarded by distress and sale of the goods and chattels of the person on whom the order is made, together with all the charges and expenses incurred by the seaman or apprentice in the making and hearing of the complaint, and all costs, charges and expenses incurred in connection with the distress and levy, and the enforcement of the order.

  • Marginal note:Surplus

    (2) Any surplus, after the amount of the wages awarded and all the costs, charges and expenses are deducted, shall be paid to the person on whom the order is made.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 207
  • R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203

Marginal note:Levy on ship

  •  (1) Where sufficient distress cannot be found, the judge, provincial court judge or justices may cause the amount of the wages and costs, charges and expenses to be levied on the ship in respect of which the wages were earned, or on the tackle and apparel thereof.

  • Marginal note:Person may be committed

    (2) Where the ship is not within the jurisdiction of the judge, provincial court judge or justices, they may cause the person on whom the order for payment is made to be apprehended and committed to the common jail of the locality or, if there is no jail in the locality, to the jail that is nearest to the locality, for a term not exceeding three months and not less than one month.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 208
  • R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203

Marginal note:Restrictions on suits for wages

  •  (1) The Admiralty Court does not have jurisdiction to hear or determine any action, suit or proceeding instituted by or on behalf of any seaman or apprentice for the recovery of wages not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars, except in the following cases:

    • (a) where the owner of the ship is insolvent within the meaning of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act;

    • (b) where the ship is under arrest or is sold by the authority of the Admiralty Court;

    • (c) where any judge, provincial court judge or justices, acting under the authority of this Act, refers the claim to the court; or

    • (d) where neither the owner nor the master is or resides within twenty miles of the place where the seaman or apprentice is discharged or put ashore.

  • Marginal note:Limitation of jurisdiction

    (2) Subject to this Part, no other court in Canada has jurisdiction to hear or determine any action, suit or proceeding instituted by or on behalf of any seaman or apprentice for the recovery of wages in any amount.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 209
  • R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203
  • 1992, c. 27, s. 90

Marginal note:No costs where suit brought unnecessarily

 Where any suit for the recovery of a seaman’s wages is instituted against any ship or the master or owner thereof in the Admiralty Court, and it appears to the Court, in the course of the suit, that the plaintiff might have had as effectual a remedy for the recovery of his wages by complaint to a judge, provincial court judge or two justices of the peace under this Part, the judge shall certify to that effect, and thereupon no costs shall be awarded to the plaintiff.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 210
  • R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203

Marginal note:Suits for wages abroad

  •  (1) Where a seaman is engaged on a Canadian ship for a voyage or engagement that is to terminate in Canada, he is not entitled to sue in any court abroad for wages unless he is discharged with such sanction as is required by this Act and with the written consent of the master, or proves such ill-usage on the part or by authority of the master as to warrant reasonable apprehension of danger to his life if he were to remain on board.

  • Marginal note:Compensation where master in default

    (2) Where a seaman on his return to Canada proves that the master or owner has been guilty of any conduct or default that but for this section would have entitled the seaman to sue for wages before the termination of the voyage or engagement, he is entitled to recover in addition to his wages such compensation not exceeding one hundred dollars as the court hearing the case thinks reasonable.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 213

Marginal note:Master’s remedy for wages

  •  (1) The master of a ship, in so far as the case permits, has the same rights, liens and remedies for the recovery of his wages as a seaman has under this Act or by any law or custom.

  • Marginal note:Recovery of disbursements

    (2) The master of a ship, and every person lawfully acting as master of a ship by reason of the decease or incapacity from illness of the master of the ship, in so far as the case permits, has the same rights, liens and remedies for the recovery of disbursements or liabilities properly made or incurred by him on account of the ship as a master has for the recovery of his wages.

  • Marginal note:Court to settle accounts

    (3) Where, in any proceeding in the Admiralty Court concerning the claim of a master in respect of wages or of the disbursements or liabilities described in subsection (2), any right of set-off or counterclaim is set up, the court may enter into and adjudicate on all questions, and settle all accounts then arising or outstanding and unsettled between the parties to the proceeding, and may direct payment of any balance found to be due.

  • Marginal note:Damages for delay in paying master’s wages

    (4) In any action or other legal proceeding by the master of a ship for the recovery of any sum due to him on account of wages, the court may, if it appears to it that the payment of the sum due has been delayed otherwise than owing to the act or default of the master, or to any reasonable dispute respecting liability, or to any other cause not being the wrongful act or default of the person liable to make the payment, order that person to pay in addition to any sum due on account of wages, such sum as the court thinks just as damages in respect of the delay, without prejudice to any claim that may be made by the master on that account.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 214

Power of Courts to Rescind Contracts

Marginal note:Power of courts to rescind contracts

 Where a proceeding is instituted in or before any court in relation to any dispute between the owner or master of a Canadian ship and a seaman or apprentice, arising out of or incidental to their relation as such, or is instituted for the purpose of this section, the court if, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, it thinks it just to do so, may rescind any contract between the owner or master and the seaman or apprentice or any contract of apprenticeship, on such terms as the court thinks just, and this power is in addition to any other jurisdiction that the court may exercise independently of this section.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 215

Property of Deceased Seamen

Marginal note:Property of deceased seamen

  •  (1) Where a seaman or apprentice belonging to a British ship, whether a foreign-going or a home-trade ship, the voyage of which is to terminate in Canada, dies outside Canada during that voyage, the master of the ship shall take charge of any money or effects belonging to the seaman or apprentice that are on board the ship.

  • Marginal note:Auction

    (2) The master may, if he thinks fit, cause any of the effects to be sold by auction at the mast or otherwise by public auction.

  • Marginal note:Entries

    (3) The master shall enter in the official log-book the following particulars:

    • (a) a statement of the amount of the money and a description of the effects;

    • (b) in case of a sale, a description of each article sold and the sum received for each; and

    • (c) a statement of the sum due to the deceased for wages and of the amount of deductions, if any, to be made from the wages.

  • Marginal note:Attestation

    (4) The entry shall be signed by the master and attested by a mate and some other member of the crew.

  • Marginal note:Property

    (5) The money, effects, proceeds of sale of effects and balance of wages described in this section are in this Act referred to as the property of the seaman or apprentice.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 214
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Marginal note:Report of death to foreign officers

  •  (1) Where a seaman or apprentice described in subsection 214(1) dies and the ship before coming to a port in Canada touches and remains for forty-eight hours at a port outside Canada, the master shall report the death to the consular officer at that port or, if the port is in a Commonwealth country, to the Superintendent of a Mercantile Marine Office or the chief officer of customs there, and shall give to the officer any information he requires as to the destination of the ship and probable length of the voyage.

  • Marginal note:Property delivered

    (2) The officer to whom a report is made pursuant to subsection (1) may, if he thinks it expedient, require the property of the deceased to be delivered and paid to him, and shall thereupon give to the master a receipt thereof, and endorse under his hand on the agreement with the crew such particulars with respect thereto as the Minister requires.

  • Marginal note:Receipt

    (3) The receipt shall be produced by the master to a shipping master within forty-eight hours after his arrival at his port of destination in Canada.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 217

Marginal note:Delivery to shipping master in Canada

 Where a seaman or apprentice described in subsection 214(1) dies and the ship proceeds at once to a port in Canada without touching and remaining at a port outside Canada, or the consular officer, superintendent or chief officer of customs does not require the delivery and payment of the property of the deceased to him, the master shall, within forty-eight hours after his arrival at his port of destination in Canada, deliver and pay the property to the shipping master at that port.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 217

Marginal note:Account

  •  (1) Where a seaman or apprentice dies during the progress of the voyage or engagement, the master shall give to the superintendent or the chief officer of customs in a Commonwealth country, or to the consular officer abroad, or to the shipping master or officer to whom delivery and payment is made an account in such form as they respectively require of the property of the deceased.

  • Marginal note:Deductions

    (2) A deduction claimed by the master in an account given under subsection 215(1) shall not be allowed unless verified, if an official log-book is required to be kept, by an entry in that book made and attested as required by this Act, and also by such other vouchers, if any, as may reasonably be required by the chief officer of customs or consular officer or by the shipping master or officer to whom the account is given.

  • Marginal note:Certificate

    (3) A shipping master in Canada shall grant to a master, on due compliance with those provisions of this section and sections 215 and 216 that relate to acts to be done at the port of destination, a certificate to that effect, and an officer of customs shall not enter a sea-going ship inward without the production of that certificate.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 217

Marginal note:Master accountable to Minister

  •  (1) If the master of a ship fails to comply with the provisions of this Act with respect to taking charge of the property of a deceased seaman or apprentice, to making in the official log-book the proper entries relating thereto, to procuring the proper attestation of those entries as required by this Act or to the payment or delivery of the property, he is accountable for the property to the Minister, and shall pay and deliver the property accordingly, and in addition, the master is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding three times the value of the property not accounted for or, if its value is not ascertained, to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars.

  • Marginal note:Owner liable

    (2) Where any property of a deceased seaman or apprentice is not duly paid, delivered or accounted for by the master, the owner of the ship shall pay, deliver and account for the property, and it is recoverable from him accordingly, and if he fails to account for and deliver or pay the property, he is in addition to his liability for the property guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding three times the value of the property not accounted for, delivered or paid over or, if its value is not ascertained, to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars.

  • Marginal note:Recovery

    (3) The property may be recovered in the same court and in the same manner in which the wages of seamen are recoverable under this Act.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 218

Marginal note:Property left abroad but not on board ship

 Where any seaman or apprentice belonging to a Canadian ship the voyage of which is to terminate in Canada, or who has within six months preceding his death belonged to any such ship, dies at any place outside Canada leaving any money or effects not on board the ship to which he belonged at the time of his death or to which he last belonged before his death, the Superintendent of a Mercantile Marine Office or the chief officer of customs in a Commonwealth country, and in other cases the consular officer at or near the place, is authorized to claim and take charge of the money and effects, subject to performance of the provisions of this Part and with the rights thereby conferred, and the money and effects shall be deemed to be property of a deceased seaman or apprentice within the meaning of this Part.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 219

Marginal note:Dealing with property by officers abroad

  •  (1) A Superintendent of a Mercantile Marine Office or a chief officer of customs in a Commonwealth country or a consular officer may, as he thinks fit, sell any of the property of a deceased seaman or apprentice delivered to him or of which he takes charge under this Act, and the proceeds of the sale shall be deemed to form part of that property.

  • Marginal note:Accounts

    (2) Every officer referred to in subsection (1) shall quarterly, or at such times as the Minister requires, remit the property in such manner, and shall render such accounts in respect thereof, as the Minister may require.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 220

Marginal note:Recovery of wages of seamen lost with ship

  •  (1) Where a seaman or apprentice is lost with the ship to which he belongs, the Minister may recover the wages due to him from the owner of the ship in the same court and in the same manner in which seamen’s wages are recoverable, and shall deal with those wages in the same manner as with the wages of other deceased seamen and apprentices under this Act.

  • Marginal note:When ship deemed lost

    (2) Where in any proceeding for the recovery of the wages it is shown by some official return produced out of the proper custody, or by other evidence, that the ship has twelve months or more before the institution of the proceeding left a port of departure, the ship shall, unless it is shown that it has been heard of within twelve months after that departure, be deemed to have been lost with all hands on board, either immediately after the time the ship was last heard of, or at such later time as the court hearing the case may think probable.

  • Marginal note:Proof of loss

    (3) Any duplicate agreement or list of the crew made, or statement of a change of the crew delivered, under this Act at the time of the last departure of the ship from Canada, or a certificate purporting to be a certificate from a consular or other public officer at any port outside Canada, stating that certain seamen and apprentices were shipped in the ship from that port, is, if produced out of the proper custody, in the absence of proof to the contrary, sufficient proof that the seamen and apprentices therein named as belonging to the ship were on board at the time of the loss.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 221

Marginal note:Property of seamen dying in Canada

 Where a seaman or apprentice dies in Canada and is at the time of his death entitled to claim from the master or owner of a ship in which he has served any effects or unpaid wages, the master or owner shall pay and deliver or account for that property to the shipping master at the port where the seaman or apprentice was discharged or was to have been discharged, or to the Minister or as the Minister directs.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 222

Marginal note:Property forwarded to Canada

  •  (1) Where any property of a deceased seaman or apprentice on a Canadian ship or the proceeds thereof comes into the hands of any consular officer, superintendent or officer of customs under section 215, 219 or 220, that officer shall forward such property to the Minister.

  • Marginal note:Payment over of property of deceased seamen

    (2) Where any property of a deceased master, seaman or apprentice comes into the hands of the Minister under this Act, the Minister, after deducting any expenses incurred in respect of that master, seaman or apprentice, or of his property, shall pay and deliver the residue to the executor, administrator or other personal representative of the deceased or, if there is no personal representative of the deceased, the Minister shall dispose of the residue in accordance with the law of the province in which the deceased was last resident for determining the distribution or succession of personal property of deceased persons or in accordance with the order of such court as has jurisdiction to determine the distribution or succession of the property of the deceased.

  • Marginal note:Where property not in excess of $500

    (3) Where the value of the property of a deceased master, seaman or apprentice does not exceed the sum of five hundred dollars, the Minister may, if the Minister thinks fit, pay or deliver the residue to any claimant who is proved to the Minister’s satisfaction to be the widow, widower or a child of the deceased or to be entitled to that property under the will, if any, of the deceased or under any law providing for the distribution or succession of personal property of deceased persons or otherwise.

  • Marginal note:Discharge of Minister’s liability

    (4) On making payment or delivery of the residue under this section, the Minister is discharged from all further liability in respect of the residue so paid or delivered.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 223
  • R.S., 1985, c. 31 (1st Supp.), s. 92

Marginal note:Forgery of documents to obtain property of deceased seaman

 Every person who, for the purpose of obtaining, either for himself or for any other person, any property of any deceased seaman or apprentice,

  • (a) forges or fraudulently alters, or assists in forging or fraudulently altering, or procures to be forged or fraudulently altered, any document purporting to show or assist in showing any right to that property,

  • (b) makes use of any document that has been forged or fraudulently altered as described in paragraph (a),

  • (c) gives or assists in giving, or procures to be given, any false evidence, knowing the evidence to be false,

  • (d) makes or assists in making, or procures to be made, any false representation, knowing the representation to be false, or

  • (e) assists in procuring any false evidence or representation to be given or made, knowing the evidence or representation to be false,

is guilty of an indictable offence.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 224

Provisions, Health and Accommodation

Marginal note:Complaints as to provisions or water

  •  (1) Where three or more of the crew of a Canadian ship consider that the provisions or water for the use of the crew is at any time of bad quality, unfit for use or deficient in quantity, they may complain about it to any of the following officers, namely, an officer in command of one of Her Majesty’s ships, a consular officer, a shipping master or a chief officer of customs, and the officer may either examine the provisions or water complained of or cause it to be examined.

  • Marginal note:Report to master

    (2) Where the officer, or person making the examination, finds that the provisions or water is of bad quality and unfit for use, or deficient in quantity, he may signify it in writing to the master of the ship.

  • Marginal note:Entry and report to Minister

    (3) The master of the ship shall enter a statement, which may be signed by the officer or person making the examination, of the result of the examination in the official log-book of the ship, and send a report thereof to the Minister, and that report is admissible in evidence in the manner provided by this Act.

  • Marginal note:Forfeitures

    (4) If the master and the officer or person making the examination certify in that statement that there was no reasonable ground for the complaint, each of the complainants is liable to forfeit to the owner out of his wages a sum not exceeding one week’s wages.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 225

Marginal note:Neglecting to provide proper provisions

 When, in the case of a Canadian ship that is in a Canadian port, the officer or person who has made an examination of the provisions or water for the use of the crew, as provided by this Act, has signified in writing to the master of the ship that he has found the provisions or water to be of bad quality and unfit for use, or deficient in quantity, if the master of the ship does not thereupon provide other proper provisions or water in lieu of any signified to be of bad quality and unfit for use, does not procure the requisite quantity of any provisions or water signified to be deficient in quantity, or uses any provisions or water signified to be of bad quality and unfit for use, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 226

Marginal note:Allowance for short or bad provisions

  •  (1) Where

    • (a) during a voyage the allowance of any of the provisions for which a seaman has by his agreement stipulated is reduced, except in accordance with any regulations for reduction by way of punishment contained in the agreement with the crew, or for any time during which the seaman wilfully and without sufficient cause refuses or neglects to perform his duty, or is lawfully under confinement for misconduct either on board or on shore, or

    • (b) it is shown that any of those provisions are or have during the voyage been bad in quality and unfit for use,

    the seaman shall receive, by way of compensation for that reduction or bad quality, according to the time of its continuance, the following sums to be paid to him in addition to, and to be recoverable as wages:

    • (c) if his allowance is reduced by not more than one-third of the quantity specified in the agreement, a sum not exceeding eight cents a day,

    • (d) if his allowance is reduced by more than one-third of that quantity, sixteen cents a day, or

    • (e) in respect of bad quality, a sum not exceeding twenty-four cents a day.

  • Marginal note:Circumstances to be considered by the court

    (2) Where it is shown to the satisfaction of the court before which the case is tried that any provisions, the allowance of which has been reduced, could not be procured or supplied in proper quantities, and that proper and equivalent substitutes were supplied in lieu thereof, the court shall take those circumstances into consideration, and shall modify or refuse compensation as the justice of the case requires.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 227

Marginal note:Weights and measures on board

  •  (1) The master of a Canadian ship shall keep on board proper weights and measures for determining the quantities of the several provisions and articles served, and shall allow the weights and measures to be used at the time of serving the provisions and articles in the presence of a witness whenever any dispute arises about the quantities.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) If the master of the ship fails, without reasonable cause, to comply with this section, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding fifty dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 228

 [Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 23]

Marginal note:Regulations respecting crew accommodation

  •  (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the crew accommodation to be provided in Canadian ships, and, without restricting the generality of the foregoing, may make regulations

    • (a) respecting the space and equipment to be provided for the sleeping rooms, wash rooms, mess rooms and galleys;

    • (b) providing for the protection of the crew against injury, condensation, heat, cold and noise on a ship;

    • (c) prescribing the water, heating, lighting, ventilation and sanitary facilities to be supplied on a ship; and

    • (d) respecting the inspection, measuring and marking of crew accommodations on a ship and its certification for the purpose of ascertaining register tonnage and prescribing the fees to be charged therefor.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) Every owner of a Canadian ship that contravenes any regulation made under subsection (1) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars.

  • R.S., S-9, s. 231

International Labour Conventions

Marginal note:Regulations giving effect to Conventions

  •  (1) The Governor in Council may, subject to this Act, make such regulations as may appear to him to be necessary to give effect to the provisions of any of the following Conventions, and such regulations shall conform in all respects to the requirements of those Conventions:

    • (a) Medical Examination (Seafarers) Convention, 1946;

    • (b) Certification of Able Seamen Convention, 1946;

    • (c) Food and Catering (Ships’ Crews) Convention, 1946;

    • (d) Certification of Ships’ Cooks Convention, 1946; and

    • (e) Seafarers Identity Documents Convention, 1958.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) The Governor in Council may prescribe a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months or both, to be imposed on summary conviction, as a punishment for contravention of a regulation made under subsection (1).

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 232
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 24

Facilities for Making Complaints

Marginal note:Facilities for making complaint

  •  (1) Where a seaman or apprentice while on board ship states to the master of the ship his desire to make a complaint to a justice of the peace, consular officer or officer in command of one of Her Majesty’s ships or one of Her Majesty’s Canadian ships against the master or any of the crew, the master shall, as soon as the service of the ship will permit,

    • (a) if the ship is at a place where there is a justice or officer referred to in this subsection, after the statement, and

    • (b) if the ship is not at a place described in paragraph (a), after its first arrival at such a place,

    allow the complainant to go ashore or send him ashore in proper custody, or, in the case of complaint to a naval officer, to the ship of that officer, so that he may make his complaint.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) If the master of the ship fails, without reasonable cause, to comply with this section, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding fifty dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 233

Protection of Seamen from Imposition

Marginal note:Assignment or sale of salvage invalid

 Subject to this Act, an assignment or sale of salvage payable to a seaman or apprentice made prior to the accruing thereof does not bind the person making the assignment or sale, and a power of attorney or authority for the receipt of any salvage is not irrevocable.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 234

 [Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 25]

Marginal note:Right to board ship

  •  (1) No person other than an owner, agent of an owner, consignee of the ship or cargo, a person in the employment of any of them, an officer or person in Her Majesty’s service or employment, or a harbour master, deputy harbour master, health officer, customs officer, pilot, shipping master or deputy shipping master shall, without the permission or against the orders of the master or person in charge of the ship, go on board any ship.

  • Marginal note:Going on board without permission

    (2) Any person, other than a person excepted by subsection (1), who goes on board a ship without the permission or against the orders of the master or person in charge of the ship is guilty of an offence and liable,

    • (a) if unarmed at the time, to imprisonment for a term of not more than three years and not less than six months; and

    • (b) if armed at the time with, or carrying about his person, any pistol, gun or other firearm or offensive weapon, to imprisonment for any term of not more than five years and not less than two years.

  • Marginal note:Arrest of offender

    (3) The master or person in charge of the ship may take any person so offending into custody and deliver him up forthwith to any constable or peace officer, to be taken before any judge of the Court of Quebec or Superior Court of the Province of Quebec, judge of the Superior Court of Justice in and for the Province of Ontario, judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia or British Columbia, judge of the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland, judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench of New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatchewan or Alberta, or provincial court judge, to be dealt with according to this Part.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 237
  • R.S., 1985, c. 27 (2nd Supp.), s. 10, c. 40 (4th Supp.), s. 2
  • 1990, c. 16, s. 20, c. 17, ss. 38, 47
  • 1992, c. 51, s. 63
  • 1998, c. 30, s. 12

Marginal note:Punishment when drunk, etc.

 Every person is guilty of an offence and, without prejudice to the right of recovery from him of any amount payable by him as fare, liable to a fine not exceeding ten dollars, who

  • (a) being drunk or disorderly, has been on that account refused admission to board a steamship by the owner or any person in his employment, and persists in attempting to board the steamship;

  • (b) being drunk or disorderly on board a steamship, is requested by the owner or any person in his employment to leave the steamship at any place in Canada that is a reasonably convenient place to leave the steamship, and does not comply with that request;

  • (c) after warning by the master or other officer of the steamship, molests or continues to molest any passenger;

  • (d) after having been refused admission to board a steamship by the owner or any person in his employment on account of the steamship being full, and having had the amount of his fare, if he has paid it, returned or tendered to him, persists in attempting to board the steamship; or

  • (e) without reasonable excuse, proof whereof lies on him, fails, when requested by the master or other officer of a steamship, either to pay his fare or exhibit a ticket or other receipt, if any, showing the payment of his fare, as is usually given to persons travelling by and paying their fare on steamships.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 238

Marginal note:Injuring or obstructing machinery, crew, etc., of steamer

 Every person on board a steamship who, without reasonable excuse, proof whereof lies on him, does or causes to be done, anything in such manner as to obstruct or injure any part of the machinery or tackle of the steamship, or to obstruct, impede or molest the crew, or any of them in the navigation or management of the steamship or otherwise in the execution of their duty on or about the steamship, is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 239

Marginal note:Master may detain offender and take before justice

  •  (1) The master or other officer of any steamship, and all persons called by him to his assistance, may detain any offender under any of the provisions of sections 238 and 239, whose name and address are unknown to that master or officer, and may convey the offender with all convenient dispatch before any justice or justices of the peace, and any offender conveyed before any justice or justices under this section shall be dealt with as if arrested, and brought before them on his or their warrant under the provisions of the Criminal Code relating to summary convictions.

  • Marginal note:Jurisdiction of justice of the peace

    (2) Any justice of the peace has jurisdiction under sections 238 and 239, either in the place where the offence was committed or, if committed while the steamship is under way, in the place where it next stops.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 240

Provisions as to Discipline

Marginal note:Misconduct endangering life or ship

 A master, seaman or apprentice belonging to a Canadian ship who, by wilful breach of duty, by neglect of duty or by reason of drunkenness,

  • (a) does any act tending to the immediate loss, destruction or serious damage of the ship, or tending immediately to endanger the life or limb of a person belonging to or on board the ship, or

  • (b) refuses or omits to do any lawful act proper and requisite to be done by him for preserving the ship from immediate loss, destruction or serious damage or for preserving any person belonging to or on board the ship from immediate danger to life or limb,

is guilty of an indictable offence.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 241

Marginal note:Offences

  •  (1) A seaman or apprentice belonging to a Canadian ship who deserts the ship is guilty of the offence of desertion and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars.

  • Marginal note:Idem

    (2) A seaman or apprentice belonging to a Canadian ship who

    • (a) neglects or refuses without reasonable cause to join the ship or to proceed to sea in the ship,

    • (b) is absent without leave at any time within twenty-four hours of the sailing of the ship from a port, either at the commencement or during the progress of a voyage, or

    • (c) is absent at any time without leave and without sufficient reason from the ship or from his duty, is, if the offence

    does not amount to desertion or is not treated as such by the master, guilty of the offence of absence without leave and liable to forfeit out of his wages a sum not exceeding two days pay and in addition, for every twenty-four hours of absence, either a sum not exceeding six days pay or any expenses properly incurred in hiring a substitute.

  • Marginal note:Lawful strikes excepted

    (3) A seaman is not guilty of an offence under this section by reason only of his taking part in a lawful strike after his ship and cargo have been placed in security to the satisfaction of the harbour master or the master of the ship where no harbour master is available, at the terminal port in Canada of the voyage in which the ship is engaged.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 242
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 26

 [Repealed, 1992, c. 1, s. 146]

Marginal note:General offences against discipline

  •  (1) Where a seaman or an apprentice commits any of the following offences in respect of a Canadian ship, in this Act referred to as “offences against discipline”, he is liable, on summary conviction, to be punished as follows:

    • (a) if he quits the ship without leave after the ship’s arrival at the port of delivery and before the ship is placed in security, he is liable to forfeit out of his wages a sum not exceeding one month’s pay;

    • (b) if he is guilty of wilful disobedience to any lawful command, he is liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one month and, at the discretion of the court, to forfeit out of his wages a sum not exceeding two days pay;

    • (c) if he is guilty of continued wilful disobedience to lawful commands or continued wilful neglect of duty, he is liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months and, at the discretion of the court, to forfeit for every twenty-four hours continuance of that disobedience or neglect, a sum not exceeding six days pay or any expenses properly incurred in hiring a substitute;

    • (d) if he assaults the master or any mate or certificated engineer of the ship, he is liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months;

    • (e) if he combines with any of the crew to disobey lawful commands to neglect duty or to impede the navigation of the ship or the progress of the voyage, he is liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months;

    • (f) if he wilfully damages the ship or steals or wilfully damages any of the ship’s stores or cargo, he is liable to forfeit out of his wages a sum equal to the loss thereby sustained, and also, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months;

    • (g) if he is convicted of any act of smuggling, whereby loss or damage is occasioned to the master or owner of the ship, he is liable to pay to that master or owner a sum sufficient to reimburse the loss or damage, and the whole or a proportionate part of his wages may be retained in satisfaction or on account of that liability, without prejudice to any further remedy; and

    • (h) if he aids or procures a person to stow away on the ship, for which that person is afterwards convicted, he is liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months and to pay to the master or owner of the ship a sum sufficient to reimburse any expenses occasioned to that master or owner in respect of that stowaway, and the whole or a proportionate part of his wages may be retained in satisfaction or on account of that liability, without prejudice to any further remedy.

  • Marginal note:Discharge

    (2) Where a seaman is sentenced to a term of imprisonment under subsection (1), the court may discharge the seaman from his ship.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 247
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), ss. 27, 87(F)

Marginal note:Summary remedies not to affect other remedies

 Nothing in section 247, or in the sections relating to the offences of desertion or absence without leave, takes away or limits any remedy by action or by summary procedure before justices that an owner or master would but for those provisions have for any breach of contract in respect of the matters constituting an offence under those provisions, but an owner or master shall not be compensated more than once in respect of the same damage.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 248

Marginal note:False statement respecting last ship or name

  •  (1) A seaman who, on or before being engaged, wilfully and fraudulently makes a false statement of the name of his last ship or alleged last ship, or wilfully and fraudulently makes a false statement of his own name, is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars.

  • Marginal note:Fine deducted

    (2) The fine imposed under subsection (1) may be deducted from any wages the seaman may earn by virtue of his engagement, and shall, subject to reimbursement of the loss and expenses, if any, occasioned by any desertion prior to the engagement, be paid and applied in the same manner as other fines under this Act.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 249

Marginal note:Entry of offences in official log

  •  (1) Where any offence, within the meaning of this Act, of desertion or absence without leave or against discipline is committed, or where any act of misconduct is committed for which the offender’s agreement imposes a fine and it is intended to enforce the fine,

    • (a) an entry of the offence or act shall be made in the official log-book of the ship, and signed by the master and by the mate or one of the crew;

    • (b) the offender, if on board the ship, shall before the next arrival of the ship at any port, or, if the ship is at the time in port, before its departure therefrom, either be furnished with a copy of the entry or have it read over distinctly and audibly to him, and may thereupon make such reply thereto as he thinks fit; and

    • (c) a statement of a copy of the entry having been so furnished, or of the entry having been so read over, and, in either case, the reply, if any, made by the offender, shall be entered in the official log-book and signed in the manner referred to in paragraph (a).

  • Marginal note:Subsequent legal proceedings

    (2) In any subsequent legal proceeding, the entries required by this section shall, if practicable, be produced or proved, and in default of that production or proof, the court hearing the case may, in its discretion, refuse to receive evidence of the offence or act of misconduct.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 250
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Marginal note:Entries and certificate of desertion abroad

  •  (1) In every case of desertion from a ship in any port out of Canada, the master shall produce the entry of the desertion in the official log-book of the ship to the person by this Act authorized to grant certificates for leaving seamen behind abroad, and request that person to make and certify a copy of the entry.

  • Marginal note:Copy transmitted

    (2) The copy shall be forthwith transmitted by the master to the Minister, and is admissible in evidence in the manner provided by this Act.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 251

Marginal note:Register of deserters

 A shipping master shall keep at his or her office a list of the seamen who, to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, have deserted or failed to join their ships after signing an agreement to proceed to sea in them, and shall on request show the list to a master of a ship, but the shipping master is not liable in respect of any entry made in good faith in the list.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 252
  • 1999, c. 31, s. 191(E)

Marginal note:Proof of desertion in proceedings for forfeiture of wages

  •  (1) Whenever a question arises as to whether the wages of any seaman or apprentice are forfeited for desertion from a ship, it is sufficient for the person insisting on the forfeiture to show that the seaman or apprentice was duly engaged in or belonged to the ship, and either that he left the ship before the completion of the voyage or engagement, or, if the voyage was to terminate in Canada and the ship has not returned, that he is absent from the ship, and that an entry of his desertion has been duly made in the official log-book of the ship.

  • Marginal note:Rebuttal

    (2) The desertion shall thereupon, in so far as it relates to any forfeiture of wages under this Part, be deemed to be proved, unless the seaman or apprentice can produce a proper certificate of discharge, or can otherwise show to the satisfaction of the court before which the case is heard that he had sufficient reasons for leaving his ship.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 253

Marginal note:Application of forfeitures

  •  (1) Where any wages or effects of a seaman or apprentice are under this Act forfeited for desertion from a ship, those effects may be converted into money, and those wages and effects, or the money arising from the conversion of the effects, shall be applied toward reimbursing the expenses caused to the master or owner of the ship by the deserter, and the remainder, if any, shall be paid to the Receiver General and form part of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

  • Marginal note:Recovery

    (2) For the purpose of the reimbursement described in subsection (1), the master or the owner or his agent may, if the wages are earned subsequent to the desertion, recover them in the same manner as the deserter could have recovered them if they had not been forfeited, and a court in any legal proceeding relating to those wages may order them to be paid accordingly.

  • Marginal note:Other cases than desertion

    (3) Where wages are forfeited under this Act in any case other than for desertion, the forfeiture shall, in the absence of any specific provision to the contrary, be for the benefit of the master or owner by whom the wages are payable.

  • Marginal note:Sale of effects

    (4) Where any effects of a seaman or apprentice who has deserted a ship and has been entered as a deserter in the official log-book of the ship come into the hands of a shipping master, the effects may be sold or otherwise disposed of as the shipping master may see fit, and, if sold, the proceeds of the sale after deducting the expenses thereof shall be applied as provided in subsection (1).

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 254

Marginal note:Questions of forfeiture decided in suits for wages

 Any question concerning the forfeiture of or deductions from the wages of a seaman or apprentice may be determined in any proceeding lawfully instituted with respect to those wages, notwithstanding that the offence in respect of which the question arises, though by this Act made punishable by imprisonment as well as forfeiture, has not been made the subject of any criminal proceeding.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 255

Marginal note:Amount of forfeiture out of wages ascertained

 Where a seaman contracts for wages by the voyage, by the run or by the share, and not by the month or other stated period of time, the amount of forfeiture to be incurred under this Act shall be an amount bearing the same proportion to the whole wages or share, as a month or any other period hereinbefore mentioned in fixing the amount of the forfeiture, as the case may be, bears to the whole time spent in the voyage or run, and if the whole time spent in the voyage or run does not exceed the period for which the pay is to be forfeited, the forfeiture shall extend to the whole wages or share.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 256

Marginal note:Stowaways

  •  (1) A person who stows away on a Canadian ship is guilty of an offence and liable

    • (a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both; or

    • (b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.

  • Marginal note:Status on board ship of stowaways and seafaring persons carried under compulsion

    (2) Every seafaring person whom the master of a ship is, under the authority of this or any other Act, compelled to take on board and convey, and every person who stows away on a Canadian ship, shall, as long as he remains on board the ship, be deemed to belong to the ship, and be subject to the same laws and regulations for preserving discipline, and to the same fines and punishments for offences constituting or tending to a breach of discipline, as if he were a member of, and had signed the agreement with, the crew.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 257
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 28

Marginal note:Deduction from wages

  •  (1) Every fine imposed on a seaman for any act of misconduct for which his agreement imposes a fine shall be deducted as follows:

    • (a) if the offender is discharged in Canada, and the offence, and the entry in the log-book of the ship required by this Act in respect thereof, are proved to the satisfaction, in the case of a foreign-going ship, of the shipping master before whom the offender is discharged, and in the case of a home-trade ship, of the shipping master at the port at which the crew are discharged, the master or owner shall deduct the fine from the wages of the offender; and

    • (b) if the offender is discharged abroad, and the offence is proved to the satisfaction of the proper authority by whose sanction the offender is discharged, the fine shall be deducted as described in paragraph (a) and an entry made in the official log-book of the ship and signed by the authority to whose satisfaction the offence is proved.

  • Marginal note:Paid to shipping master or proper authority

    (2) Every fine deducted under subsection (1) shall be paid to the shipping master if the offender is discharged in Canada, or, if the offender is discharged abroad, to the proper authority, who will remit any amounts received under this section at such times and in such manner, and render such accounts in respect thereof, as the Minister shall request.

  • Marginal note:If master fails to pay fines

    (3) Every master or owner who fails without reasonable cause to pay any fine as required by this section is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding six times the amount of the fine not so paid.

  • Marginal note:Misconduct not otherwise punished

    (4) An act of misconduct for which any fine has been inflicted and paid by or deducted from the wages of the seaman shall not be otherwise punished under this Act.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 258

Enticing to Desert and Harbouring Deserters

Marginal note:Enticing to desert

  •  (1) Every person who persuades or attempts to persuade a seaman or apprentice belonging to any ship unlawfully to neglect or refuse to join or proceed to sea in or to desert the ship, or otherwise to absent himself from his duty, is guilty of an offence and liable, for the first offence, to a fine not exceeding fifty dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, and for any subsequent offence to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding nine months.

  • Marginal note:Harbouring deserters

    (2) Every person who wilfully harbours or secretes a seaman or apprentice belonging to a ship who has wilfully neglected or refused to join or has deserted the ship, knowing or having reason to believe the seaman or apprentice to have done so, is guilty of an offence and liable, for every seaman or apprentice so harboured or secreted, to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, and for any subsequent offence to a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months.

  • (3) [Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 29]

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 259
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 29

Marginal note:Search warrant if seaman concealed or secreted

 Any justice of the peace at any port or place in Canada, on complaint before him on oath that any seaman or apprentice is concealed or secreted in any dwelling-house or outhouse, or on board any ship or elsewhere, shall grant a warrant, under his hand and seal, addressed to a constable or constables at that port or place, commanding him or them to make diligent and immediate search, in or about that dwelling-house or outhouse, or on board that ship, or in such other place or places as are specified in the warrant and to bring before him every seaman or apprentice found concealed, whether named in the warrant or not.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 260

Official Logs

Marginal note:Official logs

  •  (1) An official log shall be kept in every foreign-going ship and every home-trade ship of or over fifty tons register tonnage registered in Canada in the appropriate form for that ship approved by the Minister.

  • Marginal note:Form

    (2) The Minister shall approve forms of official log-books, which may be different for different classes of ships, so that each such form shall contain proper spaces for the entries required by this Act.

  • Marginal note:How kept

    (3) The official log of a ship may, at the discretion of the master or owner, be kept distinct from, or united with, the ordinary ship’s log, so that in all cases the spaces in the official log-book will be duly filled up.

  • Marginal note:Entries made directly

    (4) An entry required by this Act in an official log-book shall be made as soon as possible after the occurrence to which it relates, and if not made on the same day as that occurrence shall be made and dated so as to show the date of the occurrence and of the entry respecting it, and if made in respect of an occurrence happening before the arrival of the ship at its final port of discharge shall not be made more than twenty-four hours after that arrival.

  • Marginal note:Signing of entries

    (5) Every entry in the official log-book shall be signed by the master, and by the mate or some other member of the crew, and also,

    • (a) if it is an entry of illness, injury or death, by the surgeon or medical practitioner on board, if any;

    • (b) if it is an entry of wages due to, or of the sale of the effects of, a seaman or apprentice who dies, by the mate and by some member of the crew besides the master; and

    • (c) if it is an entry of wages due to a seaman who enters Her Majesty’s naval service, by the seaman, or by the officer authorized to receive the seaman into that service.

  • Marginal note:As evidence

    (6) Every entry made in an official log-book in the manner provided by this Act is admissible in evidence.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 261
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Marginal note:Entries in official log

 The master of a ship for which an official log is required shall enter or cause to be entered in the official log-book the following matters:

  • (a) every conviction by a legal tribunal of a member of the crew and the punishment inflicted;

  • (b) every offence committed by a member of the crew for which it is intended to prosecute, to enforce a forfeiture or to exact a fine, together with such statement concerning the copy or reading over of that entry, and concerning the reply, if any, made to the charge, as required by this Act;

  • (c) every offence for which punishment is inflicted on board and the punishment inflicted;

  • (d) a statement of the conduct, character and qualifications of each member of the crew or a statement that he declines to give an opinion on those particulars;

  • (e) every case of illness or injury happening to a member of the crew, with the nature thereof, and the medical treatment adopted, if any;

  • (f) every birth of a child and death of a person happening on board the ship, and the particulars required by Schedule II;

  • (g) every marriage taking place on board the ship with the name and ages of the parties;

  • (h) the name of every seaman or apprentice who ceases to be a member of the crew, otherwise than by death, with the place, time, manner and cause thereof;

  • (i) the wages due to any seaman who enters Her Majesty’s naval service during the voyage;

  • (j) the wages due to any seaman or apprentice who dies during a voyage, and the gross amount of all deductions to be made therefrom;

  • (k) the sale of the effects of any seaman or apprentice who dies during a voyage, including a statement of each article sold and the sum received for it;

  • (l) every collision with any other ship and the circumstances under which the collision occurred;

  • (m) the date and time of posting up in the ship of a notice containing particulars of the ship’s draught and freeboard; and

  • (n) any other matter directed by this Act to be entered.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 262

Marginal note:Additional entries

 In addition to the entries in the official log-book required by section 262, the masters of all Canadian ships that are engaged in international voyages shall enter or cause to be entered in that book the following matters:

  • (a) the positions of the deck line and load line;

  • (b) a record of boat and fire drills and examination of life-saving appliances and fire-extinguishing equipment;

  • (c) a record of practices of opening and closing watertight doors;

  • (d) a record of the time of opening and closing watertight doors; and

  • (e) a daily record of radio conditions and of the state of the ship’s radio equipment.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 263
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), ss. 30, 87(F)

Marginal note:Delivery of official logs to shipping master

  •  (1) The master of every foreign-going Canadian ship shall, within forty-eight hours after the ship’s arrival at its final port of destination in Canada or on the discharge of the crew, whichever first happens, deliver the ship’s official log-book of the voyage to the shipping master before whom the crew is discharged.

  • Marginal note:Home-trade ships

    (2) The master or owner of every home-trade Canadian ship for which an official log is required to be kept shall, within twenty-one days after June 30 and December 31 in every year, transmit or deliver the official log-book for the preceding half year to a shipping master in Canada.

  • Marginal note:Consequences and liabilities

    (3) If the master or owner of a ship fails without reasonable cause to comply with this section he is subject to the same consequences and liabilities to which he is subject for the non-delivery of the list of the crew required to be delivered under this Part.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 264

Marginal note:Official log sent home in case of transfer

  •  (1) Where, by reason of transfer of ownership or change of employment of a Canadian ship, the official log ceases to be required in respect of the ship or to be required at the same date, the master or owner of the ship shall, if the ship is then in Canada, within one month, and if it is elsewhere, within six months, after the cessation, deliver or transmit to the shipping master at the port to which the ship belonged the official log-book of the ship, if any, duly made out to the time of the cessation.

  • Marginal note:In case of loss or abandonment of ship

    (2) Where a ship is lost or abandoned, the master or owner thereof shall, if practicable, and as soon as possible, deliver or transmit to the shipping master at the port to which the ship belonged the official log-book, if any, duly made out to the time of the loss or abandonment.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (3) If the master or owner of a ship fails, without reasonable cause, to comply with this section, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding fifty dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 265

Marginal note:Log-book not kept

  •  (1) Where an official log-book of a ship is not kept in the manner required by this Act, or if an entry directed by this Act to be made therein is not made at the time and in the manner directed by this Act, the master is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars.

  • Marginal note:Deferred entries

    (2) Every person who makes, procures to be made or assists in making any entry in an official log-book in respect of any occurrence at a time prior to the arrival of the ship at its final port of discharge more than twenty-four hours after that arrival, is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred and fifty dollars.

  • Marginal note:Damaging log-book

    (3) Every person who wilfully destroys or mutilates or renders illegible any entry in an official log-book of a ship, or wilfully makes or procures to be made or assists in making a false or fraudulent entry in or omission from an official log-book, is guilty of an indictable offence.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 266

Return of Lists of Crew

Marginal note:Lists of crew and particulars

 The master

  • (a) of a foreign-going British ship registered in any Commonwealth country whose crew is discharged in Canada, and

  • (b) of a home-trade ship,

shall make out and sign a list, in this Act referred to as the “list of the crew”, in a form approved by the Minister and containing the following particulars:

  • (c) the number and date of the ship’s register and its register tonnage,

  • (d) the length and general nature of its voyage or employment,

  • (e) the names, ages and places of birth of all the crew, including the master and apprentices, their ratings on board, their last ships or other employments and the dates and places of their joining the ship,

  • (f) the names of any members of the crew who have ceased to belong to the ship, with the times, places, causes and circumstances thereof,

  • (g) the names of any members of the crew who have been maimed or hurt, with the time, place, cause and circumstances thereof,

  • (h) the wages due at the time of death to any members of the crew who have died,

  • (i) the property belonging to any members of the crew who have died, with a statement of the manner in which it has been dealt with, and the money for which any part of it has been sold, and

  • (j) any marriage that takes place on board, with the date thereof, and the names and ages of the parties.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 267

Marginal note:Time of delivery of lists

  •  (1) The list of the crew

    • (a) in the case of a foreign-going ship, shall be delivered by the master within forty-eight hours after the arrival of the ship at its final port of destination in Canada, or on the discharge of the crew, whichever first happens, to the shipping master before whom the crew is discharged, and

    • (b) in the case of a home-trade ship, shall be delivered or transmitted by the master or owner to a shipping master in Canada on or within twenty-one days after June 30 and December 31 in each year,

    and the shipping master shall give to the master or owner a certificate of that delivery or transmission, and the ship may be detained until the certificate is produced, and an officer of customs shall not clear inward any foreign-going ship until the certificate is produced.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) If the master in the case of a foreign-going ship, or the master or owner in the case of a home-trade ship, fails without reasonable cause to deliver or transmit the list of the crew as required by this section, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 267

Marginal note:Transfer of ownership or change of employment of ship

  •  (1) Where by reason of the transfer of ownership or change of employment of a ship the list of the crew ceases to be required in respect of the ship, or to be required at the same date, the master or owner of the ship shall, if the ship is in Canada, within one month, and, if it is elsewhere, within six months, after that cessation deliver or transmit to the shipping master at the port to which the ship belonged the list of the crew, duly made up to the time of the cessation.

  • Marginal note:Where ship lost or abandoned

    (2) Where a ship is lost or abandoned, the master or owner thereof shall, if practicable, and as soon as possible, deliver or transmit to the shipping master at the port to which the ship belonged the list of the crew, duly made up to the time of the loss or abandonment.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (3) If the master or owner of a ship fails, without reasonable cause, to comply with this section, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding fifty dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 268

Marginal note:Delivery of ship’s documents by master

  •  (1) Whenever a Canadian ship arrives at a port in a Commonwealth country or at a port elsewhere at which there is a consular officer, and remains there for forty-eight hours, the master shall, within forty-eight hours after the ship’s arrival, deliver to the chief officer of customs or to the consular officer, as the case may be, the agreement with the crew, and also all indentures and assignments of apprenticeships, or such of those documents as the ship carries.

  • Marginal note:Duties of officer having custody of documents

    (2) The officer to whom the documents referred to in subsection (1) are delivered shall keep them during the ship’s stay in the port and on the application of the master or a person on his behalf shall return the documents to him within a reasonable time prior to the expected time of departure of the ship, with a certificate endorsed on the agreement with the crew indicating the times each of the documents was delivered to him and returned by him.

  • Marginal note:Endorsement on agreement with crew

    (3) Where it appears to the officer to whom the documents referred to in subsection (1) are delivered that this Act has been contravened, the officer shall make an endorsement to that effect on the agreement with the crew and forthwith shall send to the Minister a copy of the endorsement with all the information in his possession relating to the alleged contravention.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (4) A master to whom this section applies who, without reasonable cause, fails to comply with this section is guilty of an offence and liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.

  • Marginal note:Burden of proof

    (5) In a prosecution under this section against a master, the burden of proof that this section has not been contravened is on the master.

  • Marginal note:Where not applicable

    (6) This section does not apply to United States ports on the Great Lakes or St. Lawrence River.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 269

Return of Births and Deaths

Marginal note:Return of births and deaths

  •  (1) The master of every Canadian ship on its arrival at a port in Canada, or at such other time and place as the Governor in Council may by regulation or otherwise, with respect to any ship or class of ships, direct, shall deliver or transmit in such form as the Minister directs, a return of the facts recorded by him in respect of the birth of a child or the death of a person on board the ship, to the chief officer of customs if in Canada and to the Superintendent of a Mercantile Marine Office or chief officer of customs if in any other Commonwealth country and to a consular officer if elsewhere.

  • Marginal note:Copies to Minister

    (2) The officers of customs, Superintendent of a Mercantile Marine Office or consular officer shall send a certified copy of the return relating to births and deaths on board a ship to the Minister who shall cause the information contained therein to be sent to the government of the province where the port of registry of the ship is located.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (3) If the master of any ship fails to comply with any requirement of this section, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 270

Delivery of Documents on Change of Master

Marginal note:Documents handed over on change of master

  •  (1) Where, during the progress of a voyage, the master of any Canadian ship is removed or superseded, or, for any other reason, quits the ship and is succeeded in the command by some other person, he shall deliver to his successor the certificate of registry and the various documents that relate to the navigation of the ship and to the crew thereof and that are in his custody, and his successor shall immediately on assuming the command of the ship enter in the log-book of the ship a list of the documents so delivered to him.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) If a master fails, without reasonable cause, to comply with this section, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 271

Employment of Children and Young Persons

Marginal note:Employment of children on board ship

  •  (1) Subject to this section, no person under fifteen years of age shall be employed in any vessel.

  • Marginal note:Application of section

    (2) This section does not apply to a vessel in which only members of one family are employed.

  • Marginal note:Special purpose personnel

    (2.1) Subsection (1) does not apply to special purpose personnel on board a special purpose ship.

  • Marginal note:Employment of young persons as trimmers or stokers

    (3) No person under eighteen years of age shall be employed or work as a trimmer or stoker in any vessel except

    • (a) in a school ship or training ship where the work is of a kind approved by the Minister, and is carried on subject to such supervision as the Minister may approve; or

    • (b) in a vessel that is mainly propelled otherwise than by means of steam.

  • Marginal note:Special circumstances

    (4) Where in any port a trimmer or stoker is required for any vessel and no person of or over the age of eighteen years is available to fill the place, a person over the age of sixteen years may be employed as trimmer or stoker, but in any such case two persons over the age of sixteen years shall be employed to do the work that would otherwise have been performed by one person of or over the age of eighteen years.

  • Marginal note:Summary of subsections (3) and (4)

    (5) There shall be included in every agreement with the crew a short summary of subsections (3) and (4).

  • Marginal note:Medical examination

    (6) No person under eighteen years of age shall be employed in any capacity in any vessel unless there has been delivered to the master of the vessel a certificate granted by a duly qualified medical practitioner certifying that the person is fit to be employed in that capacity.

  • Marginal note:In case of urgency

    (7) A shipping master or consular officer may on the ground of urgency authorize a person under eighteen years of age to be employed on board a vessel notwithstanding that a certificate granted under subsection (6) has not been delivered to the master of the vessel, but the person in whose case an authorization is given under this subsection shall not be employed beyond the first port at which the vessel calls after that person has embarked thereon, unless subsection (6) has been complied with.

  • Marginal note:Duration of certificate

    (8) A certificate granted under subsection (6) remains in force for a period of twelve months from the date on which it is granted, and no longer, but if the period of twelve months expires at some time during the course of the voyage of the vessel in which the person under eighteen years of age is employed, the certificate remains in force until the end of the voyage.

  • Marginal note:List of young persons under eighteen

    (9) There shall be included in every agreement with the crew of a sea-going Canadian ship entered into under this Act a list of the persons under eighteen years of age who are members of the crew, together with particulars of the dates of their birth, and, in the case of a ship in which there is no agreement with the crew the master of the ship shall, if persons under eighteen years of age are employed thereon, keep a register of those persons with particulars of the dates of their birth and of the dates on which they become or ceased to be members of the crew, and the register so kept shall at all times be open to inspection.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (10) Every person who contravenes this section is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 273
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 4

Leaving Port in Default

Marginal note:Infraction of Part

 If the master of any ship attempts to take the ship from any port in Canada without previous compliance on his part with all the requirements of this Part, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 273

Conflict of Laws

Marginal note:Law of port of registry

 Where in any matter relating to a ship or to a person belonging to a ship there appears to be a conflict of laws, if there is in this Part any provision on the subject that is hereby expressly made to extend to that ship, the case shall be governed by that provision, but if there is no such provision, the case shall be governed by the law of the port at which the ship is registered.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 274

Records of Service

Marginal note:Records of service

 Records of service of seamen shall be kept in the Department and the Minister may establish a scale of fees to be charged for copies of such records, which fees shall be paid to the Receiver General and form part of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 275

Custody of Documents

Marginal note:Custody of documents

 All shipping masters and all officers of customs shall take charge of all documents that are delivered or transmitted to or retained by them in pursuance of this Act, and shall transmit them to the Minister who shall record and preserve them, and the documents are admissible in evidence and shall be open to the inspection of any person.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 276

PART IVProvisions for Relief and Repatriation of Distressed Seamen and Seamen Left Behind Abroad

Marginal note:Regulations

 The Governor in Council may make regulations to carry into effect any scheme proposed by the government of any part of the Commonwealth relating to

  • (a) the relief and repatriation of seamen;

  • (b) the payment of the expenses of medical attendance, maintenance, burial and repatriation in cases of injury or illness of seamen;

  • (c) the dealing with effects of deceased seamen and with wages of seamen left behind by ships; and

  • (d) the recovery of any expenses in connection with the matters described in paragraphs (a) to (c).

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 277

Marginal note:Wages and effects of seaman left behind

  •  (1) Where a seaman belonging to any Canadian ship is left behind outside Canada, the master of the ship shall, subject to this section,

    • (a) as soon as may be, enter in the official log-book of the ship a statement of the effects left on board by the seaman and of the amount due to the seaman on account of wages at the time when he was left behind; and

    • (b) on the termination of the voyage during which the seaman was left behind, furnish to the proper officer, within forty-eight hours after the arrival of the ship at the port at which the voyage terminates, accounts in a form approved by the Minister, one, in this section referred to as the “delivery account”, of the effects and wages of the seaman, and the other, in this section referred to as the “reimbursement account”, of any expenses caused to the master or owner of the ship by the absence of the seaman in cases where the absence is due to desertion, neglect to join his ship or any other conduct constituting an offence under section 242, and the master shall, if required by the proper officer, furnish such vouchers as may be reasonably required to verify the accounts.

  • Marginal note:Delivery of effects and amount of wages due

    (2) The master of the ship shall deliver to the proper officer, if he will receive them, the effects of the seaman as shown in the delivery account, and subject to any deductions allowed under this section, the amount due on account of wages as shown in that account, and the officer shall give to the master a receipt, in a form approved by the Minister, for any effects or amount so delivered.

  • Marginal note:Deductions

    (3) The master of the ship is entitled to be reimbursed out of the wages or effects of the seaman any sums shown in the reimbursement account that appear to the proper officer or, in case of an appeal under this section, to a court of summary jurisdiction to be properly chargeable, and for that purpose the officer, or, if necessary, in the case of an appeal, the Minister, shall allow those sums to be deducted from the amount due on account of wages shown in the delivery account, and, in so far as that amount is not sufficient, to be repaid to the master out of the effects of the seaman.

  • Marginal note:Evidence

    (4) The proper officer, before allowing any sums to be deducted or repaid under subsection (3), may require such evidence as he thinks fit respecting the sums being properly chargeable to be given by the master of the ship either by statutory declaration or otherwise.

  • Marginal note:Appeal

    (5) Where the master of the ship is aggrieved by the decision of the proper officer respecting the sums to be allowed as properly chargeable on his reimbursement account, and the amount in dispute exceeds fifty dollars, he may appeal from the decision of the proper officer to a court of summary jurisdiction.

  • Marginal note:Delivery of effects where several seamen left behind

    (6) Where during the voyage of a ship two or more seamen have been left behind, the delivery and reimbursement accounts furnished with respect to each seaman may at the option of the master of the ship be dealt with, as between him and the proper officer, collectively instead of individually, and in that case the master of the ship is entitled to be reimbursed out of the total amount of the wages and effects of the seamen left behind the total of the amounts allowed under this section as properly chargeable on the reimbursement accounts, and shall be required to deliver to the proper officer on account of wages only the sum by which the total of the amounts shown on the delivery accounts to be due on account of wages exceeds the total of the amounts allowed as properly chargeable on the reimbursement accounts.

  • Marginal note:Remission of effects and wages

    (7) The proper officer shall, subject to any repayment made under this section, remit the effects, and any amount received by him on account of wages under this section, at such time and in such manner as the Minister requires, and shall render such accounts in respect thereof as the Minister directs.

  • Marginal note:Definition of “effects”

    (8) In this section, the expression effects includes the proceeds of any sale of the effects if those effects are sold under this section.

  • Marginal note:Sale of effects

    (9) The effects of a seaman shall be sold by the proper officer in such manner as he thinks fit when they are delivered to him, unless the Minister directs to the contrary, and, if not so sold, shall be sold by the Minister as and when he thinks fit unless they are delivered to the seaman.

  • Marginal note:When master not liable

    (10) The master of the ship is under no liability for any loss of effects or for any damage to the effects if he proves to the proper officer that the loss or damage occurred without his neglect or privity after the seaman left the ship.

  • Marginal note:Exemption from liability

    (11) Subject to subsection (12), the Minister is not liable for anything done under this section.

  • Marginal note:Minister to comply with court order

    (12) If, after the wages or effects of a seaman have been dealt with under this section, any legal proceedings are taken in respect of those wages or effects, or involving the forfeiture of those wages or effects, or of any sum out of the wages, by the seaman against the master or owner of the ship, or by the master or owner of the ship against the seaman, the Minister shall, if notice is given to him of the proceedings, and a reasonable opportunity afforded him of appearing, comply with any order of the court made with respect to the wages or effects, in so far as

    • (a) he can do so out of the wages and effects remitted to him, in respect of the voyage of the ship; and

    • (b) those wages and effects are not required for reimbursing any expenses incurred by or on behalf of the Crown, or incurred by the government of a foreign country and repaid to that government by or on behalf of the Crown, as expenses of a distressed seaman on behalf of the seaman.

  • Marginal note:Appearance

    (13) The Minister is entitled to appear and be heard in any proceedings described in subsection (12) by any of his officers.

  • Marginal note:Minister may meet claim

    (14) The Minister may, if and in so far as he thinks fit, meet any claim made by a seaman against the master or owner of the ship in respect of any wages or effects dealt with under this section, although legal proceedings are not actually taken in respect thereof, if he has given notice to the master or owner of the ship, and the master or owner has not given written notice of objection within ten days of the notice being given.

  • Marginal note:When allotment note made

    (15) For the purpose of subsections (12) to (14), any legal proceedings taken or any claim made by a person in whose favour an allotment note has been made shall be treated as proceedings taken or a claim made by the seaman.

  • Marginal note:Receipts of and payments of money

    (16) Any sums remitted under this section, or arising from the sale of effects under this section, shall be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund, and any sums payable by the Minister under this section shall be paid out of moneys provided by Parliament for that purpose.

  • Marginal note:Punishment for master not complying

    (17) If the master of a ship fails without reasonable cause to comply with this section, he is, without prejudice to any other liability, guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars, and, if he delivers a false account or makes a false statement or representation for the purposes of this section, he is guilty of an indictable offence.

  • Marginal note:When section does not apply

    (18) This section does not apply in the case of an absent seaman,

    • (a) where the master of the ship satisfies the proper officer that none of the effects of the seaman have to his knowledge been left on board the ship, and that he has paid all wages due to the seaman;

    • (b) where the amount of wages earned by the seaman, after taking into account any deductions made in respect of allotments or advances for which provision is made by the agreement with the crew, appears from the agreement to be less than twenty-five dollars, and the master of the ship does not exercise his option to deal with the delivery and reimbursement accounts collectively;

    • (c) where the master of the ship satisfies the proper officer that the net amount due to the seaman on account of wages, after taking into account any deductions lawfully made in respect of allotments, advances or otherwise, is less than twenty dollars, and the master does not exercise his option to deal with the delivery and reimbursement accounts collectively; or

    • (d) where the question of the forfeiture of the wages and effects of the seaman has been dealt with in legal proceedings lawfully instituted before the termination of the voyage, or within forty-eight hours of the arrival of the ship at the port at which the voyage terminates.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 278

Marginal note:Sanction required for discharge of seamen outside Canada

  •  (1) The master of a Canadian ship shall not discharge a seaman at any place outside Canada, except at a port in the country in which he was shipped, unless he previously obtains, endorsed on the agreement with the crew, the sanction of the proper authority, but that sanction shall not be refused where the seaman is discharged on the termination of his service.

  • Marginal note:Investigation

    (2) The authority to whom an application is made for sanction under this section may, and, if not a merchant, shall, examine into the grounds on which a seaman is to be discharged at a place outside Canada, and for that purpose may, if he thinks fit, administer oaths, and may grant or refuse the sanction as he thinks just, but that sanction shall not be unreasonably withheld.

  • Marginal note:Punishment for master not complying

    (3) If the master of a ship fails to comply with this section, he is guilty of an indictable offence, and in any legal proceeding for the offence the onus lies on the master to prove that the sanction was obtained or could not be obtained or was unreasonably withheld.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 279

Marginal note:Certificate of discharge abroad

 Where the master of a Canadian ship discharges a seaman at any place outside Canada, he shall give that seaman a certificate of discharge in a form approved by the Minister and, in the case of any certificated officer whose certificate he has retained, shall return that certificate to him.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 280

Marginal note:Repatriation on termination of service at foreign port

  •  (1) Where the service of a seaman belonging to a Canadian ship terminates at a port outside Canada otherwise than by the consent of the seaman to be discharged during the currency of the agreement, the master of the ship shall, besides giving the seaman the certificate of discharge required under this Part and paying the wages to which the seaman is entitled, make adequate provision in accordance with this Act for his maintenance and for his return to a proper return port, and shall request the proper authority to endorse on the agreement with the crew of the ship that the seaman is leaving the particulars of any provision so made.

  • Marginal note:Master not complying

    (2) If the master fails, without reasonable cause, to comply with this section, the expenses of maintenance and of the journey to the proper return port,

    • (a) if defrayed by the seaman, are recoverable as wages due to him; and

    • (b) if defrayed by the proper authority or by any other person, unless the seaman has been guilty of barratry, are a charge on the ship to which the seaman belonged, and may also be recovered against the person who is the owner of the ship for the time being, or, where the ship has been lost, against the person who was the owner of the ship at the time of the loss, or, where the ship has been transferred to a person not being a British subject, either against the owner for the time being or against the person who was the owner of the ship at the time of the transfer, at the suit of the proper authority or other person defraying the expenses, or, where they have been allowed to the authority or person out of public money, as a debt to the Crown, either by ordinary process of law or in the court and in the manner in which wages may be recovered by seamen.

  • (3) [Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 31]

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 282
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 31

Marginal note:Discharge, etc., of seamen at a foreign port

  •  (1) Where a Canadian ship is transferred or disposed of at any port outside Canada, any seaman belonging to that ship shall be discharged unless the seaman consents in writing in the presence of the proper authority to complete the voyage of the ship if continued.

  • Marginal note:Application of this Part

    (2) Where a seaman is discharged pursuant to subsection (1), the provisions of this Part respecting the certificate of discharge, and the return of the seaman to a proper return port, apply as if the service of the seaman had terminated otherwise than by the consent of the seaman to be discharged during the currency of the agreement, and apply to foreign seamen whether they have been shipped at a port in Canada or not.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 282

Marginal note:Expenses of medical attendance in case of injury

  •  (1) Where the master of, or a seaman belonging to, a Canadian ship receives any hurt or injury in the service of the ship, or suffers from any illness, not being an illness due to his own wilful act or default or to his own misbehaviour, the expense of providing the necessary surgical and medical advice and attendance and medicine, the expenses of the maintenance of the master or seaman until he is cured, dies or is returned to a proper return port, and of his conveyance to the port, and in the case of death the expense, if any, of his burial, shall be defrayed by the owner of the ship, without any deduction on that account from his wages.

  • Marginal note:In case of illness

    (2) Where the master or a seaman is on account of any illness temporarily removed from his ship for the purpose of preventing infection, or otherwise for the convenience of the ship, and subsequently returns to his duty, the expense of the removal and of providing the necessary advice, attendance and medicine, and of his maintenance while away from the ship, shall be defrayed in the manner described in subsection (1).

  • Marginal note:Medicines on board ship

    (3) The expense of all medicines, surgical and medical advice, and attendance, given to a master or seaman while on board his ship shall be defrayed in the manner described in subsection (1).

  • Marginal note:Other cases

    (4) In all other cases, any reasonable expenses duly incurred by the owner for any seaman in respect of illness, and also any reasonable expenses duly incurred by the owner in respect of the burial of any seaman who dies while on service, shall, if duly proved, be deducted from the wages of the seaman.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 283

Marginal note:Medical expenses of foreign seamen

 The owner of every ship that is not a Canadian ship is liable for the cost of all medical and surgical treatment and hospital care provided in Canada to a person employed by him on that ship.

  • R.S., c. 38(1st Supp.), s. 1

Marginal note:Recovery of expenses from owner

  •  (1) Where any of the expenses attendant on the illness, hurt or injury of a seaman that are to be paid under this Act by the master or owner are paid by any authority on behalf of the Crown, or if any other expenses in respect of the illness, hurt or injury of any seaman whose wages are not accounted for under this Act to that authority are so paid, those expenses shall be repaid to the authority by the master or owner of the ship.

  • Marginal note:Recovery of amount where not paid

    (2) Where the expenses described in subsection (1) are not repaid, the amount thereof is, with costs, a charge on the ship, and is recoverable as a debt to the Crown, either by ordinary process of law or in the court and in the manner in which wages may be recovered by seaman from the master or owner of the ship for the time being or, where the ship has been lost, from the person who was the owner of the ship at the time of the loss, or, where the ship has been transferred to a person not being a British subject, either from the owner for the time being or from the person who was the owner of the ship at the time of the transfer.

  • Marginal note:Evidence

    (3) In any proceeding for recovery of expenses under subsection (2), a certificate of the facts, signed by the authority referred to in subsection (1), together with such vouchers, if any, as the case requires, is sufficient proof that the expenses were duly paid by that authority.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 284

Marginal note:Where seaman is left behind

  •  (1) The master of a Canadian ship shall not leave a seaman behind at any place outside Canada, ashore or at sea, except where the seaman is discharged in accordance with this Act, unless the master previously obtains, endorsed on the agreement with the crew, the certificate of the proper authority stating the cause of the seaman being left behind, whether the cause is unfitness or inability to proceed to sea, desertion, disappearance or otherwise.

  • Marginal note:Investigation

    (2) The authority to whom an application is made for a certificate under this section may examine into the grounds on which a seaman is to be left behind, and for that purpose may, if he thinks fit, administer oaths, and may grant or refuse the certificate as he thinks just, but the certificate shall not be unreasonably withheld.

  • Marginal note:Punishment for master not complying

    (3) If the master of a ship fails to comply with this section, he is, without prejudice to his liability under any other provision of this Act, guilty of an offence, and in any legal proceeding for the offence the onus lies on the master to prove that the certificate was obtained or could not be obtained without unreasonable delay to the ship or was unreasonably withheld.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 285

Marginal note:Account of wages in case where seaman left behind

  •  (1) Where a master of a Canadian ship leaves a seaman behind on shore in any place outside Canada on the ground of his unfitness or inability to proceed to sea, he shall deliver to the person signing the required certificate of the proper authority a full and true account of the wages due to the seaman and, if that person is a consular officer, shall deliver the account in duplicate.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) If a master fails, without reasonable cause, to deliver the account described in subsection (1), he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding fifty dollars, and, if he knowingly delivers a false account, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars, in addition in each case to the payment of the wages.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 286

Marginal note:Payment of wages of seaman left behind

  •  (1) The master shall pay the amount of wages due to a seaman left behind on the ground of his unfitness or inability to proceed to sea, if he is left in any Commonwealth country, to the seaman himself, and if he is left elsewhere, to the consular officer, if the consular officer will receive the payment.

  • Marginal note:Duplicate account

    (2) Where payment is so made to a consular officer, that officer shall retain one duplicate of the account delivered to him and, if satisfied with the account, endorse on the other duplicate a receipt for the payment, and return it to the master, who shall deliver the duplicate within forty-eight hours of his return to his port of destination to the proper authority.

  • Marginal note:Payments

    (3) The payment shall be made, whenever it is practicable, in money, and, when not so practicable, by bills drawn on the owner of the ship, but if payment is made by bill

    • (a) the person signing the required certificate of the proper authority shall certify by endorsement on the bill that the bill is drawn for seamen’s wages, and shall also endorse on the agreement with the crew the amount for which the bill is drawn, and such further particulars as the Minister requires; and

    • (b) if the bill is drawn by the master, the owner of the ship is liable to pay the amount to the holder or endorsee thereof, and it is not necessary in any proceeding against the owner on the bill to prove that the master had authority to draw it.

  • Marginal note:Evidence

    (4) A bill purporting to be drawn and endorsed under this section is, if produced out of the custody of the Minister, or of any shipping master, admissible in evidence, and any endorsement on any such bill purporting to be made in pursuance of this section is also admissible as evidence of the facts stated in the endorsement.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (5) If a master fails, without reasonable cause, to make a payment of wages as provided by this section, he is guilty of an offence and liable, in addition to the payment of the wages, to a fine not exceeding fifty dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 287

Marginal note:Application of payments

 Where the amount of wages due to a seaman left behind on the ground of his unfitness or inability to proceed to sea is paid to and accepted by a consular officer, that officer shall accept on condition that he deal with the sum paid to him in the following manner:

  • (a) if the seaman subsequently obtains employment at or quits the port at which the payment has been made, he shall deduct out of the sum any expenses incurred by him in respect of the maintenance of the seaman under this Act, except such expenses as the owner or master is required by this Act to defray, and shall pay the remainder to the seaman and deliver to him an account of the sums so received and expended on his behalf;

  • (b) if the seaman dies before his ship quits the port, he shall deal with the sum as part of the property of a deceased seaman; and

  • (c) if the seaman is sent to a proper return port at the public expense under this Act, he shall account for the sum to the Minister, and the sum, after deducting any expenses duly incurred in respect of the seaman, except such expenses as the master or owner is required by this Act to defray, shall be dealt with as wages of the seaman.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 288

Marginal note:Regulations

  •  (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations with respect to the relief, maintenance and return to a proper return port of shipwrecked or otherwise distressed Canadian seamen found at any place outside Canada, and may, by those regulations, in this Act referred to as the “distressed seamen regulations”, make such conditions as he thinks fit with regard to that relief, maintenance and return to a proper return port, and a seaman has no right to be relieved, maintained or returned to a proper return port, except in the cases and to the extent and on the conditions provided by those regulations.

  • Marginal note:Payment for work during voyage

    (2) When a seaman is repatriated as member of a crew, he is entitled to remuneration for work done during the voyage.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 289

Marginal note:Relief of distressed seamen

  •  (1) Where any seamen, whether subjects of Her Majesty or not, who have been resident in Canada for at least twelve months before the commencement of the voyage or engagement on which they are at the time employed, are found in any place outside Canada, and have been shipwrecked from any ship or by reason of having been discharged or left behind from any ship in any place outside Canada, are in distress in that place, the proper authority may, in accordance with and on the conditions prescribed by the distressed seamen regulations,

    • (a) provide in accordance with this Act for the return of those seamen, who are in this Act included in the term “distressed seamen”, at the expense of the Government of Canada, to a proper return port;

    • (b) provide for their necessary clothing and maintenance until their departure for a proper return port;

    • (c) in case of death, provide for burial expenses; and

    • (d) in the case of shipwrecked seamen, provide for the repayment of any expenses incurred in their conveyance to port after their shipwreck, and their maintenance while being so conveyed.

  • Marginal note:Distressed seamen in Canada

    (2) Where any seamen are found in any place in Canada as a result of being shipwrecked from a Canadian ship, the owner of the ship shall provide for their necessary clothing and maintenance in that place and shall pay the expenses of returning those seamen to the port where they were engaged.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 290

Marginal note:Repayment of expenses to proper authorities

  •  (1) Where any expenses, other than excepted expenses, are incurred by a proper authority on behalf of the Government of Canada pursuant to section 292, or are incurred by the government of a foreign country and are repaid to the foreign country by the Government of the United Kingdom, the Minister may pay to the proper authority or to the Government of the United Kingdom the amount of those expenses out of any moneys available for the purpose or out of any moneys voted by Parliament for that purpose.

  • Marginal note:Charge on ship

    (2) Any or all moneys paid by the Minister pursuant to subsection (1), together with the wages, if any, due to the seaman, are a charge on the ship to which the distressed seaman belonged, and are a debt to the Crown from the master of the ship or from the owner of the ship for the time being, or, where the ship has been lost, from the person who was owner of the ship at the time of the loss, or, where the ship has been transferred to a person who is not a British subject, either from the owner for the time being or from the person who was the owner of the ship at the time of the transfer, and, if the ship is a foreign ship, from the person, whether principal or agent, who engaged the seaman for service in the ship.

  • Marginal note:How recoverable

    (3) The debt, in addition to any fines that may have been incurred, may be recovered by the Minister, on behalf of the Crown, either by ordinary process of law or in the court in the manner in which wages may be recovered by seamen.

  • Marginal note:Evidence

    (4) In any proceeding for recovery under this section, the production of the account, if any, of the expenses furnished in accordance with this Act or the distressed seamen regulations, and proof of payment of the expenses by or on behalf of the Minister, is evidence that the expenses were incurred or repaid under this Act by or on behalf of the Crown.

  • Marginal note:Excepted expenses

    (5) For the purpose of this section, excepted expenses are expenses incurred in cases where the certificate of the proper authority obtained on leaving a seaman behind states, or the Minister is otherwise satisfied, that the cause of the seaman being left behind is desertion or disappearance or imprisonment for misconduct, or discharge from his ship by a naval court on the ground of misconduct, and expenses incurred on account of the return to a proper return port of a distressed seaman who has been discharged at the port at which he was shipped, or at some neighbouring port.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 291

Marginal note:Forcing ashore

 A person belonging to a Canadian ship shall not wrongfully force a seaman on shore and leave him behind or otherwise cause a seaman to be wrongfully left behind at any place, either on shore or at sea, in or out of any Commonwealth country, and if he does so he is guilty of an indictable offence.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 292

Marginal note:Deduction from wages of fines

  •  (1) Every fine imposed on a seaman of a Canadian ship for any act of misconduct for which his agreement imposes a fine shall be deducted as follows:

    • (a) if the offender is discharged in Canada and the offence, and the entry in the log-book required by this Act thereof, are proved to the satisfaction, in the case of a sea-going ship of the shipping master before whom the offender is discharged, and in the case of a home-trade ship of the shipping master at the port at which the crew are discharged, the master or owner shall deduct the fine from the wages of the offender; and

    • (b) if the offender is discharged abroad and the offence is proved to the satisfaction of the proper authority by whose sanction he is discharged, the fine shall be deducted in accordance with paragraph (a), and an entry made in the official log-book of the ship and signed by the authority to whose satisfaction the offence is proved.

  • Marginal note:Disposition of fines

    (2) Every fine deducted pursuant to subsection (1) shall be paid

    • (a) if the offender is discharged in Canada, to the shipping master; and

    • (b) if the offender is discharged at any place outside Canada, to the proper authority.

  • Marginal note:Amounts to be remitted

    (3) A proper authority shall remit any amounts received by it under this section at such times and in such manner, and render such accounts in respect thereof, as the Minister requires.

  • Marginal note:Punishment for not paying fine

    (4) If a master or owner fails without reasonable cause to pay any fine as required by this section, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding six times the amount of the fine not so paid.

  • Marginal note:Offence not otherwise punished

    (5) An act of misconduct for which any fine has been inflicted and paid by, or deducted from the wages of, a seaman shall not be otherwise punished under this Act.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 293

Marginal note:Proper return port

 For the purpose of this Part, either the port at which a seaman was shipped or a port in the country to which he belongs, or some other port agreed to by the seaman, in the case of a discharged seaman, at the time of his discharge, shall be deemed to be a proper return port, but in the case of a seaman shipped in Canada the return port shall be in the same province in which he was shipped unless otherwise agreed to by him.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 294

Marginal note:Proper port

  •  (1) A seaman may be sent to a proper return port by any reasonable route.

  • Marginal note:Provision for return

    (2) Provision shall be made for the return of a seaman to a proper return port if the whole of the route is by sea, or if any part of the route is by sea, by placing the seaman on board a British ship that is in need of men to make up its complement, or, if that is not practicable, by providing the seaman with a passage in any ship, British or foreign, or with the money for his passage, and, if any part of the route is by land, by paying the expenses of his journey and of his maintenance during the journey, or providing him with means to pay those expenses.

  • Marginal note:Master may deposit for expenses of return

    (3) Where the master of a ship is required under this Part to provide for the return of a discharged seaman to a proper return port, the master may, instead of providing the seaman’s passage, or the expenses of his journey, or of providing the seaman with means to pay his passage or those expenses, deposit with the proper authority such sum as that authority considers sufficient to defray the expenses of the return of the seaman to a proper return port.

  • Marginal note:Regulations

    (4) The Minister may, by the distressed seamen regulations, make such provision as may be necessary for enabling the proper authority, and in the case of expenses required to be incurred in Canada any officer named for the purpose by the Minister, to defray on behalf of the authority originally making arrangements for the return of a distressed seaman to a proper return port any expenses on account of that seaman that the authority originally acting in respect of him could defray, and any expenses so incurred shall for the purposes of this Part relating to distressed seamen be deemed to be expenses incurred on behalf of the distressed seaman.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 295

Marginal note:Decision of questions as to return by proper authority

  •  (1) When any question arises as to what return port a seaman is to be sent to in any case, or as to the route by which he should be sent, the question shall be decided by the proper authority.

  • Marginal note:Idem

    (2) In deciding any question under this section, the proper authority shall have regard both to the convenience of the seaman and to the expense involved, and also, where it is the case, to the fact that a British ship that is in need of men to make up its complement is about to proceed to a proper return port or to a port in the vicinity thereof.

  • Marginal note:Owner’s obligation

    (3) Nothing in this section relieves the owner from the obligation and expense of returning the seaman to his proper return port.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 296

Marginal note:Taking distressed seamen

  •  (1) Where a distressed seaman is, for the purpose of his return to a proper return port, placed on board a Canadian ship, the authority by whom the seaman is so placed shall endorse on the agreement with the crew of the ship the name of the seaman so placed on board, together with any particulars directed to be endorsed by the distressed seamen regulations.

  • Marginal note:Master to receive seamen

    (2) The master of every Canadian ship shall receive on board his ship, and afford a passage and maintenance to, all distressed seamen whom he is required under this Act to take on board his ship, not exceeding one for every fifty tons register tonnage, and shall during the passage provide each distressed seaman with a proper berth or sleeping place, effectually protected against sea and weather.

  • Marginal note:Payment to master

    (3) On the production of a certificate, signed by the authority by whose directions any distressed seaman was received on board, specifying the number and names of the distressed seamen and the time when each of them was received on board, and on a declaration made by the master before a justice of the peace, or any officer authorized to administer an oath, stating the number of days during which each distressed seaman has received maintenance, and stating the full complement of his crew and the actual number of seamen employed on board his ship, and every variation in that number while the distressed seamen received maintenance, the master is entitled to be paid, in respect of the maintenance and passage of every seaman so conveyed, maintained and provided for by him, exceeding the number, if any, wanted to make up the complement of his crew, such daily allowance as the Minister allows.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (4) If any master of a Canadian ship fails without reasonable cause to comply with this section in the case of any distressed seamen, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 299
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 22

Marginal note:Assistance to shipwrecked, destitute or distressed seamen

  •  (1) The Minister may, whenever he deems it necessary, out of any moneys appropriated by Parliament for the purpose, authorize the payment of such sums as he deems requisite for the temporary relief in Canada, in such manner as he deems advisable, of shipwrecked, destitute or otherwise distressed seamen not otherwise entitled to relief under this Act or under the laws of the country in which their ship is registered.

  • Marginal note:Recovery of such expenses

    (2) Any expenses incurred for shipwrecked, destitute or otherwise distressed seamen under this section are a debt due to the Crown from the master, owner or agent of the ship to which the distressed seamen belonged and may be recovered by the Minister on behalf of the Crown in the same manner as expenses incurred outside Canada for distressed seamen of sea-going vessels registered in Canada are recovered.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 298

PART VSafety

Steamship Inspection Service

Marginal note:Appointment of steamship inspectors

 The Governor in Council may appoint at such places in Canada as he deems advisable, persons to inspect

  • (a) the machinery of steamships,

  • (b) the hulls of steamships,

  • (c) the equipment of steamships, and

  • (d) the electrical installations in steamships,

and a person so appointed shall be referred to in this Act as a “steamship inspector”.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 366

Marginal note:Examination of steamship inspectors

 No person shall be appointed a steamship inspector unless he has passed a satisfactory examination before the Board of Steamship Inspection, and has obtained a certificate to that effect from the Chairman of the Board, and no person after appointment as a steamship inspector shall be financially interested in the construction or sale of steamships, their equipment or machinery.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 367

Marginal note:Oath of office

  •  (1) Before entering on his duties, a steamship inspector shall take and subscribe, before a person authorized to administer oaths, an oath to execute well, faithfully and impartially, the duties assigned to him by this Act, which oath shall be in the form or to the effect following:

    I, ........, do solemnly swear that I will well, faithfully and impartially, to the best of my judgment, skill and understanding, execute the duties assigned to the office of steamship inspector. So help me God.

  • Marginal note:Forwarded to the Minister

    (2) The oath taken by a steamship inspector shall be forwarded forthwith to the Minister.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 368

Marginal note:Board of Steamship Inspection

  •  (1) There shall be a Board of Steamship Inspection, composed of the steamship inspectors and such other persons as the Minister may appoint.

  • Marginal note:Chairman

    (2) The Governor in Council may appoint any member of the Board to be Chairman.

  • Marginal note:Quorum

    (3) Three members of the Board, one of whom shall be the Chairman, form a quorum.

  • Marginal note:Casting vote

    (4) The Chairman has the right to vote at meetings of the Board, and, in the case of an equal division, has also a casting vote.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 369

Marginal note:Sittings and records

  •  (1) The Board shall sit at the direction of the Chairman, and a record of the proceedings thereof shall be kept by the Chairman.

  • Marginal note:Duties

    (2) It shall be the duty of the Board

    • (a) to give decisions in respect of the structural strength and suitability from the point of view of the safety of hulls, machinery and equipment where unusual features are presented;

    • (b) to give decisions on such matters arising under this Part as may be referred to it by the Chairman; and

    • (c) to examine candidates for the position of steamship inspector.

  • Marginal note:Exemptions and equivalent standards

    (2.1) On application made in writing setting out the circumstances of the case, the Board may, in writing, for such period and on such conditions as it specifies,

    • (a) exempt any ship from complying with any provision of the regulations made under this Act relating to design, construction, equipment, radio equipment, machinery, inspection, manning or operation of ships, where the Board considers that the exemption is necessary or desirable; or

    • (b) permit the substitution, for any such provision of the regulations, of any other provision that, in the opinion of the Board, provides a level of safety at least equivalent to that provided by compliance with that provision of the regulations.

  • Marginal note:Failure to comply

    (2.2) Failure to comply with a provision substituted pursuant to paragraph (2.1)(b) shall be deemed to constitute failure to comply with the provision of the regulations for which it was substituted.

  • Marginal note:Rules and regulations

    (3) The Board may make rules and regulations for its own conduct, for the uniform inspection of steamships and for such other purposes as are necessary under this Part, and those rules and regulations after they are approved by the Governor in Council have force and effect as if enacted in this Part.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 305
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 32

Marginal note:Duties of Chairman

 The Chairman shall supervise the steamship inspectors, receive and examine all their reports and accounts and is responsible to the Minister for the administration of the law relating to steamship inspection.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 371

Marginal note:Matters in dispute

  •  (1) Any matter in dispute arising under this Act between the owner of a ship or any other interested party and a steamship inspector may be referred by either of them to the Chairman, who shall decide on the matter himself, or, if he considers that the circumstances warrant it, shall refer it to the Board for a decision.

  • Marginal note:Disputes with port wardens

    (1.1) This section also applies, with such modifications as the circumstances require, to matters in dispute referred to in section 551.

  • Marginal note:Idem

    (2) Where a matter in dispute involves the issue or withholding of a certificate of inspection, the decision of the Chairman or of the Board that a certificate be issued is sufficient authority to the inspector to issue it.

  • Marginal note:Appeal to Minister

    (3) Where the owner of a ship or any other interested party is dissatisfied with any decision given by the Chairman or by the Board under subsection (1), or where any matter in dispute arises under this Part between the owner of a ship or any other interested party and the Chairman or the Board, the owner or party may refer the matter to the Minister, who shall finally decide the matter.

  • Marginal note:In writing

    (4) Any reference of a matter in dispute and any decision given in respect thereof made under this section shall be in writing.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 307
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 33

Marginal note:Deputy Chairmen

  •  (1) From among the members of the Board the Minister may appoint one or two Deputy Chairmen and, in the latter case, the Minister shall designate one as the First Deputy Chairman and the other as the Second Deputy Chairman.

  • Marginal note:Powers and duties of Deputy Chairman

    (2) Where only one Deputy Chairman is appointed, the Deputy Chairman has all the powers and duties of the Chairman in the event of the absence or incapacity of the Chairman or if the office of Chairman is vacant.

  • Marginal note:Idem

    (3) Where two Deputy Chairmen are appointed, subsection (2) applies in turn, with such modifications as the circumstances require, to the First Deputy Chairman and the Second Deputy Chairman.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 308
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 34

Marginal note:Chairman may inspect steamships

 The Chairman may at any time inspect the hull, equipment or machinery of any ship, and if he suspects a steamship inspector of having neglected his duty in respect of that ship, or in any other respect, he may call a meeting of the Board to investigate the case, or he may investigate it himself, and the result of the investigation shall be communicated forthwith, in writing, to the Minister.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 374

Marginal note:Right of inspector to board ships

  •  (1) A steamship inspector, in the performance of his duties, may go on board any ship at all reasonable times and inspect the ship, or any of the machinery or equipment thereof, or any certificate of a master, mate or engineer, and if he considers the ship unsafe, or, if a passenger ship, unfit to carry passengers, or the machinery or equipment defective in any way so as to expose persons on board to serious danger, he shall detain that ship.

  • Marginal note:Right of inspector to detain ship

    (2) A steamship inspector may detain any ship in respect of which any of the provisions of this Act have not been complied with, if, in his opinion, detention is warranted in the circumstances.

  • Marginal note:Owners and officers of steamships to answer questions

    (3) When, under this section, a steamship inspector visits any ship, he may ask the owner or his agent, the master or chief engineer, or any other person on board and in charge or appearing to be in charge any pertinent question concerning the ship, or concerning any accident that has happened thereto, that he thinks fit, and every such person shall fully and truly answer every question.

  • Marginal note:Putting machinery in motion

    (4) A steamship inspector may require that the machinery of a ship be put in motion so that he may satisfy himself as to its condition.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 310
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Marginal note:Inspector to see that steamships have proper lights

  •  (1) When a steamship inspector inspects any steamship, he shall satisfy himself that the steamship has the navigation lights and other equipment required under the Collision Regulations and that it has the proper certificated officers, navigating and engineering, required under this Act, and a certificate shall not be given to any steamship unless it has the navigating equipment and certificated officers.

  • Marginal note:Production of certificate of registry

    (2) A steamship inspector shall demand of the owner or master of every steamship that he inspects the production of the certificate of registry or licence of the vessel, and the owner or master shall produce that certificate or licence on demand.

  • Marginal note:Reasonable assistance

    (3) A steamship inspector may demand all reasonable assistance from the owner or master of a ship for the purpose of making an inspection or obtaining information.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 311
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Marginal note:Record of inspections and certificates

 A steamship inspector shall keep a record of the inspections he makes and certificates he issues, in such form and with such particulars respecting them as the Chairman directs, and shall furnish copies thereof and any other information pertaining to the duties of his office that the Chairman may require.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 377

Marginal note:Owner to pay expenses of inspection

  •  (1) The expenses or any part of the expenses incurred by a steamship inspector in respect of any inspection he may make, or be requested to make, under this Part, shall be paid by the owner of a ship in such manner as the Minister may direct, if

    • (a) inspection is made at a place outside Canada; or

    • (b) the Minister decides in respect of any inspection made in Canada that, due to the fault, or default, of the owner of any ship, his agent, the master or any other servant of the owner, the expenses incurred by any steamship inspector were in whole or in part thrown away, wasted or unreasonably increased.

  • Marginal note:Detaining of vessel

    (2) Where the expenses referred to in subsection (1) are not paid forthwith, the ship in respect of which they were incurred is liable to be detained until they are paid.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 378

Marginal note:Regulations implementing Safety Convention and Load Line Convention

 The Governor in Council may make regulations to implement the Safety Convention and the Load Line Convention.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 314
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 35

Marginal note:Regulations for non-Safety Convention ships

 The Governor in Council may make regulations to implement, in whole or in part, the provisions of the International Safety Management Code of the Safety Convention adopted by the International Maritime Organization on November 4, 1993, as amended from time to time, in respect of ships other than Safety Convention ships.

  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 35
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 5

Marginal note:Countries to which Safety Convention applies

 The Governor in Council, if satisfied that the government of any country has ratified, acceded to or denounced the Safety Convention, may make a declaration to that effect.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 315
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 36

Marginal note:Inspection of Safety Convention passenger and nuclear ships

  •  (1) Every Canadian Safety Convention ship that is a passenger ship and every nuclear ship registered in Canada shall have its hull, machinery and equipment inspected by a steamship inspector in accordance with the regulations before the ship is first put into service and at least once in each year thereafter.

  • Marginal note:Inspection of Safety Convention cargo ships

    (2) Every Canadian Safety Convention ship that is a cargo ship of five hundred tons gross tonnage or more, other than a nuclear ship, shall have

    • (a) its equipment inspected by a steamship inspector in accordance with the regulations before the ship is first put into service and at least once every two years thereafter; and

    • (b) its hull and machinery inspected by a steamship inspector in accordance with the regulations before the ship is first put into service and at least once in each year thereafter or, if surveys or inspections referred to in subsection 319(4) are made, in such longer period, not exceeding twenty-five years, as may be prescribed by regulations made under paragraph 319(5)(f).

  • Marginal note:Inspection of Canadian steamships not Safety Convention ships

    (3) Subject to sections 405 to 407, every Canadian steamship that is not a ship described in subsection (1) or (2) shall have its hull, machinery and equipment inspected by a steamship inspector in accordance with the regulations before the ship is first put into service and at least once in each year thereafter or, if surveys or inspections referred to in subsection 319(4) are made, in such longer period, not exceeding twenty-five years, as may be prescribed by regulations made under paragraph 319(5)(f).

  • Marginal note:Other inspections

    (4) Notwithstanding subsections (2) and (3), where the hull, machinery and equipment of a ship described in those subsections are inspected at intervals less frequent than once a year, the ship shall, in addition, be inspected by a steamship inspector at least once in each year to the extent prescribed in the regulations.

  • Marginal note:Anchors and cables part of “hull”

    (4.1) Notwithstanding the definitions “equipment” and “hull” in section 2, anchors and cables shall, for the purposes of subsections (2), (3) and (4), be deemed to be part of the hull and not part of the equipment.

  • Marginal note:Steamship not to be used without certificate

    (5) It is the duty of the owner to have an inspection made under this section, and no steamship described in this section shall be used unless there is on board and in force a certificate or certificates issued under section 318 or 319, applicable to the voyage on which the steamship is about to proceed and to the trade in which it is engaged.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (6) The owner or person in charge for the time being of any steamship that makes any voyage contrary to this section is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of not more than one thousand dollars and not less than one hundred dollars.

  • Marginal note:Where fine and costs not paid forthwith

    (7) Where a fine imposed under subsection (6) and the costs of conviction are not paid forthwith, the steamship, subject to the direction of the Minister, is liable to be seized and sold by a chief officer of customs, or any person thereto directed by the Minister, and the fine, the costs of conviction and the costs of the seizure and sale shall be paid out of the proceeds of the sale, and the surplus, if any, shall be paid over to the owner of the steamship.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 316
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 37

Marginal note:Inspector’s report to the Chairman

 A steamship inspector, if satisfied on inspection of a steamship, that he can with propriety do so, shall forward a report to the Chairman, which shall contain statements showing

  • (a) that the hull and machinery are sufficient for the service intended and in good condition;

  • (b) that the hull and machinery are constructed, arranged and fitted in accordance with the regulations made under this Part;

  • (c) that the equipment that is required under the regulations is on board and in good condition;

  • (d) that the master, mates and engineers are persons duly certificated as required under this Act, and that the crew is sufficient and efficient;

  • (e) the class of voyage on which the steamship is fit to ply, and the time, if less than one year, for which the hull, equipment and machinery will be sufficient;

  • (f) if the steamship is a passenger steamship, the number of passengers that it may carry; and

  • (g) the steam pressure that may be carried on the boilers.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 317
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Inspections by Others

Marginal note:Inspections by others

 The Minister may authorize any person, classification society or other organization to conduct inspections under this Act, subject to this Act and the terms and conditions that are specified by the Minister in the instrument of authorization.

  • 1998, c. 16, s. 6

Marginal note:Powers

 A person, classification society or other organization authorized under section 317.1 to conduct inspections does not have the powers of a steamship inspector, but may issue any certificate that may be issued by a steamship inspector, other than an Exemption Certificate.

  • 1998, c. 16, s. 6

Marginal note:Delivery of report

  •  (1) A person, classification society or other organization referred to in section 317.2 who does not issue a certificate may deliver their report to a ship inspector.

  • Marginal note:Issuance of certificates

    (2) A ship inspector may act on the report and issue the appropriate inspection or Safety Inspection certificates.

  • Marginal note:Immunity

    (3) A ship inspector is not liable by reason only of issuing a certificate under subsection (2).

  • 1998, c. 16, s. 6

Safety and Inspection Certificates

Marginal note:Certificates to Safety Convention and nuclear ships

  •  (1) Where the Chairman has received a report of inspection described in section 317 and a report of a radio inspector described in section 346 in respect of a Canadian Safety Convention ship that is a passenger ship or a nuclear ship, and he is satisfied that all the relevant provisions of this Act and the regulations have been complied with, he shall issue for that ship an inspection certificate and the Safety Convention certificate that is described in section 321 and that is appropriate to the class and intended service of that ship.

  • Marginal note:Issue of certificates to Safety Convention cargo ships

    (2) Where, after an inspection of a Canadian Safety Convention ship that is a cargo ship of five hundred tons gross tonnage or more, other than a nuclear ship, covering all the particulars set forth in section 317, a steamship inspector is satisfied that all relevant provisions of this Act and the regulations have been complied with, he shall issue for that ship the Safety Convention certificates that are described in section 321 and that are appropriate to the class and intended service of that ship.

  • Marginal note:Issue of certificates to nuclear ships not Safety Convention ships

    (3) Where the Chairman has received a report of inspection described in section 317 in respect of a Canadian ship that is a nuclear ship not intended to be used on an international voyage, and he is satisfied that all the relevant provisions of this Act and the regulations have been complied with, he shall issue for that ship an inspection certificate that is appropriate to the class and intended service of that ship.

  • Marginal note:Register of certificates

    (4) The Chairman shall maintain a register of all Safety Convention certificates issued pursuant to this section and shall cause each certificate to be marked to show that it has been registered.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 383

Marginal note:Steamships that are not Safety Convention ships

  •  (1) Where a Canadian steamship is not a ship described in section 318, a steamship inspector shall issue for that ship an inspection certificate that is appropriate to the class and intended service of that ship if he

    • (a) has inspected the hull, equipment and machinery in accordance with any regulations that may be made in respect of inspection under this Part, or has had presented to him proper documentary evidence that such inspection has been made by another inspector;

    • (b) is satisfied that he can with propriety do so, having due regard to the sufficiency and condition of the hull, equipment and machinery; and

    • (c) is satisfied that all relevant provisions of this Act have been complied with.

  • Marginal note:Particulars as set out in section 317

    (2) The inspection required for the issue of a certificate under this section shall cover all the particulars set out in section 317 applicable in the case of any particular ship.

  • Marginal note:Inspection by exclusive surveyor or other inspector

    (3) For the purposes of this section and subsection 318(2), the Chairman may direct that a survey or inspection by

    • (a) an exclusive surveyor to a society or association for the classification and registry of ships, approved by the Minister, or

    • (b) a surveyor or inspector appointed by the government of a country other than Canada,

    if made at a place outside Canada may, subject to the regulations, be deemed to have been made by a steamship inspector, and the report of that surveyor or inspector may be delivered to a steamship inspector who is entitled to act on it and issue the appropriate inspection or Safety Convention certificates.

  • Marginal note:Survey or inspection by exclusive surveyor, where ship is in Canada

    (4) For the purposes of this section and of section 318, the Governor in Council may, by regulations made under subsection (5), provide that a survey or inspection of a ship by an exclusive surveyor to a society or association for the classification and registry of ships, if made at a place in Canada, may be deemed to have been made by a steamship inspector, and the report of that surveyor may be delivered to the Chairman or to a steamship inspector, as the case may be, who is entitled to act on it and issue the appropriate inspection or Safety Convention certificates.

  • Marginal note:Regulations relating to subsection (4)

    (5) The Governor in Council may make regulations prescribing

    • (a) the classes of ships to which subsection (4) applies;

    • (b) which societies or associations for the classification and registry of ships are recognized for the purposes of subsection (4);

    • (c) the scope of surveys or inspections referred to in subsection (4);

    • (d) the terms and conditions under which a report of a surveyor referred to in subsection (4) may be accepted by the Chairman or by a steamship inspector, including the submission to the Chairman or steamship inspector of information in addition to the report of the surveyor;

    • (e) the terms and conditions of the continued validity of a certificate issued by the Chairman or by a steamship inspector pursuant to subsection (4); and

    • (f) the longer period, not exceeding twenty-five years, referred to in paragraph 316(2)(b) and subsection 316(3).

  • Marginal note:Chairman or steamship inspector not liable

    (6) The Chairman or a steamship inspector is not liable to any person by reason only of having issued the appropriate certificate in reliance on a report of a surveyor or inspector referred to in subsection (3) or (4).

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 319
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), ss. 38, 87(F)

 [Repealed, 1998, c. 16, s. 7]

Marginal note:Form and particulars of inspection certificate

 The Governor in Council may make regulations providing for the form of and the particulars to be given in an inspection certificate to be issued in respect of a steamship pursuant to section 318 or 319, and that certificate shall, in addition to any particulars required to be shown under the regulations, state

  • (a) the limits, if any, beyond which the steamship is not fit to ply;

  • (b) the number of persons, including the master, composing the crew of the steamship; and

  • (c) the number of passengers that a passenger steamship is fit to carry, distinguishing, if necessary, the number to be carried in each part of the steamship, and any conditions and variations to which the number is subject.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 385

Marginal note:Safety Convention certificates

 The Safety Convention certificate to be issued pursuant to section 318 is, in the case of a ship

  • (a) that complies with all the provisions of this Part applicable to Safety Convention passenger ships, other than nuclear ships, a Passenger Ship Safety Certificate;

  • (b) that complies with all the provisions of this Part relating to construction that are applicable to Safety Convention cargo ships, other than nuclear ships, a Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate;

  • (c) that complies with all the provisions of this Part relating to safety equipment that are applicable to Safety Convention cargo ships, other than nuclear ships, a Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate;

  • (d) that is issued a certificate described in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) and is exempted from any of the provisions of this Part that would otherwise be applicable to it, an Exemption Certificate;

  • (e) that complies with all the provisions of this Part applicable to Safety Convention nuclear passenger ships, a Nuclear Passenger Ship Safety Certificate; and

  • (f) that complies with all the provisions of this Part applicable to Safety Convention nuclear cargo ships, a Nuclear Cargo Ship Safety Certificate.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 385

Marginal note:Modification of Safety Convention certificates

  •  (1) Where, in the course of a voyage, a Canadian ship for which a Passenger Ship Safety Certificate has been issued has on board a number of persons that is less than the number of persons stated in the certificate, the Chairman or a person authorized by him may issue a memorandum stating the number of persons carried on that voyage and the modifications that may be made with respect to the life-saving appliances carried on the ship on that voyage, and that memorandum shall be annexed to the certificate.

  • Marginal note:Memorandum to be returned

    (2) Every memorandum described in subsection (1) shall be returned to the Minister at the end of the voyage to which it relates, and, if it is not so returned, the master of the steamship is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 386

Marginal note:Posting of certificates

  •  (1) The owner or master of a ship, in respect of which a certificate has been issued pursuant to section 318 or 319, shall cause that certificate to be posted on the ship in a conspicuous place accessible to all persons on board and to remain so posted for so long as the certificate is in force and the ship is in use.

  • Marginal note:Duration of certificates

    (2) A certificate issued pursuant to section 318 or 319, other than an Exemption Certificate, shall be in force for a period not in excess of

    • (a) five years, in the case of a Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate,

    • (b) two years, in the case of a Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate,

    • (c) four years, in the case of an inspection certificate issued in respect of a ship to which section 407 applies, and

    • (d) one year, in the case of any other certificate,

    or until such earlier date that notice that the certificate is cancelled is given by the Chairman to the owner or master.

  • Marginal note:Duration of Exemption Certificate

    (3) No Exemption Certificate shall be in force for a longer period than the certificate to which it relates.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 323
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 40

Marginal note:Extension may be granted

  •  (1) Where a Canadian ship in respect of which a certificate, other than a Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate, has been issued under section 318 or 319, is absent from Canada at the date when the certificate expires, the Minister or any person authorized by him for the purpose may, if it appears proper and reasonable to do so, grant such extension of the certificate as will allow the ship to return to Canada, but no such extension has effect for a period exceeding five months, and no such ship shall, after returning to a port in Canada, clear from that port until inspection has been made and a new certificate issued.

  • Marginal note:Extension of certificates

    (2) A certificate, other than a Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate, that has been issued pursuant to section 318 or 319 and that has not been extended under subsection (1) may be extended by the Minister or any person authorized by him for a period of not more than one month beyond the date when it would otherwise expire.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 324
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 41

Marginal note:Cancellation of certificates

  •  (1) A certificate may be cancelled by the Minister if

    • (a) there is reason to believe that it was obtained fraudulently, or on wrong information, or that, since it was issued, the hull, equipment, radio equipment or machinery has sustained any injury or is otherwise insufficient;

    • (b) any structural alterations have been made, in the steamship in respect of which it was issued, that would alter the essential conditions under which the certificate was issued; or

    • (c) the ship has not been inspected as and when required by subsections 316(1) to (4) and any regulations made thereunder.

  • Marginal note:Certificate delivered up

    (2) A certificate that has been cancelled shall be delivered up on demand to an inspector.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 325
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 42

Marginal note:Issue of certificates by other governments

 The Minister may request the government of a country to which the Safety Convention applies to issue in respect of a Canadian ship any certificate provided for by the Safety Convention, and a Certificate issued in pursuance of such a request and containing a statement that it has been so issued has effect for the purposes of this Act as if it had been issued under sections 318 and 348.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 388

Marginal note:Issue of certificates to ships that are not Canadian ships

  •  (1) The Minister may, at the request of the government of a country to which the Safety Convention applies, cause any certificate provided for by the Safety Convention to be issued in respect of a ship of that country if he is satisfied, in like manner as in the case of a Canadian ship, that such certificate may properly be issued, and, where a certificate is issued at such a request, it shall contain a statement that it has been so issued.

  • Marginal note:Effect of certificates

    (2) Where a valid Passenger Ship Safety Certificate is produced in respect of a Safety Convention ship that is not a Canadian ship and there is annexed to that certificate a memorandum that

    • (a) has been issued by or under the authority of the government of the country to which the steamship belongs, and

    • (b) modifies for the purpose of any particular voyage, in view of the number of persons actually carried on that voyage, the particulars stated in the certificate with respect to life-saving appliances,

    the certificate has effect for the purpose of that voyage as if it were modified in accordance with the memorandum.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 389

Marginal note:Application of Part to non-Canadian Safety Convention ships

  •  (1) Where a valid Passenger Ship Safety Certificate is produced in respect of a Safety Convention ship that is not a Canadian ship

    • (a) subsection 316(1) relating to inspection of machinery shall be deemed to have been complied with in the case of that ship;

    • (b) the inspection of the hull and equipment under subsection 316(1) shall be limited to ascertaining the number of passengers that the ship is fit to carry, and it is not necessary for the report of the inspector to contain a statement of any further particulars than those set out in paragraph 317(f); and

    • (c) on receipt of the report referred to in paragraph (b) there shall be issued a certificate indicating that this section has been complied with.

  • Marginal note:Dispensing with inspection of certain passenger ships

    (2) Where

    • (a) a valid Passenger Ship Safety Certificate is produced in respect of a Safety Convention ship that is not a Canadian ship, together with an inspection certificate issued by or under the authority of the government of the country to which the ship belongs showing the number of passengers the ship is fit to carry, and

    • (b) the Minister is satisfied that the number of passengers the inspection certificate shows the ship may carry with safety has been determined substantially in the same manner as is prescribed in this Act or the regulations with respect to a Canadian Safety Convention ship,

    the Minister may dispense with the inspection mentioned in paragraph (1)(b) in respect of that ship.

  • Marginal note:Dispensing with inspection of certain cargo ships

    (3) Where a valid Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate, a valid Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate and, if one has been issued, a valid Exemption Certificate relating to either of those certificates are produced in respect of a Safety Convention cargo ship of five hundred tons gross tonnage or more that is not a Canadian ship, the ship is not subject to inspection in respect of matters dealt with by such certificates, except in so far as may be necessary to determine that the condition of the ship and its equipment corresponds substantially with the particulars set out in the certificates.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 328
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 43

Marginal note:Miscellaneous privileges of ships holding Safety Convention certificates

  •  (1) Where a valid Safety Convention certificate is produced in respect of a Safety Convention ship that is not a Canadian ship,

    • (a) the ship is exempt from compliance with the regulations made under this Act with respect to life-saving appliances; and

    • (b) the ship shall not be deemed to be unsafe for the purposes of section 392 by reason of the defective condition of the hull, equipment or machinery, if it appears that the conditions correspond substantially with the particulars in the certificate, but if it appears to the chief officer of customs that the conditions do not correspond substantially with the particulars in the certificate and that the ship cannot proceed to sea without danger to the passengers or the crew, he shall detain the ship until he is satisfied that the ship can proceed safely to sea.

  • Marginal note:Informing authorities re detention

    (2) Where a ship is detained under paragraph (1)(b), the chief officer of customs shall forthwith inform the consular officer of the country in which the ship is registered of all the circumstances of the case and shall advise the Chairman of the action he has taken.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 329
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 44

Marginal note:No clearance until Safety Convention certificates produced

 A clearance shall not be granted for any Safety Convention ship until there has been produced to the officer of customs from whom clearance is requested

  • (a) if the ship is a passenger ship other than a nuclear ship, a valid Passenger Ship Safety Certificate and, if one has been issued, a valid Exemption Certificate;

  • (b) if the ship is a nuclear passenger ship, a valid Nuclear Passenger Ship Safety Certificate;

  • (c) if the ship is a nuclear cargo ship and there has not been produced a certificate mentioned in paragraph (b), a valid Nuclear Cargo Ship Safety Certificate; and

  • (d) if the ship is a cargo ship other than a nuclear ship and there has not been produced a certificate mentioned in paragraph (a),

    • (i) a valid Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate and a valid Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate, where the gross tonnage of the ship is five hundred tons or more, and

    • (ii) a valid Cargo Ship Safety Radio-telegraphy Certificate, where the gross tonnage of the ship is sixteen hundred tons or more, or a valid Cargo Ship Safety Radio-telegraphy Certificate or a valid Cargo Ship Safety Radio-telephony Certificate, where the gross tonnage of the ship is less than sixteen hundred tons,

    and any valid Exemption Certificate that has been issued in respect of the ship.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 392

Marginal note:International voyages from Canada

  •  (1) A ship registered in a country that is not a party to the Safety Convention and that is carrying more than twelve passengers, is of three hundred tons gross tonnage or more or is a nuclear ship shall not go on an international voyage from any place in Canada unless it complies with all the provisions of this Part and the regulations applicable to Canadian Safety Convention ships, but the Minister may authorize the clearance of the ship if he is satisfied that

    • (a) no passengers are carried;

    • (b) the amount of cargo carried is not more than is sufficient to enable the ship to make a voyage in safety;

    • (c) the hull, boilers, machinery and equipment of the ship are in good condition and sufficient for the voyage contemplated; and

    • (d) the radio installation is in good condition and sufficient for the voyage contemplated.

  • Marginal note:Contravention

    (2) Where this section is contravened in respect of any ship, the ship shall be detained by the chief officer of customs until this section has been complied with.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 331
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 45(F)

Limited and other Voyages

Marginal note:Voyages between two places

  •  (1) Where the inspection certificate issued in respect of any steamship shows that it is allowed to make voyages between any two places, and the certificate is qualified to show that the voyage is to be made with calls at one or more intermediate places specified, the certificate is only valid on a voyage where such calls are made.

  • Marginal note:Certificates not valid beyond limits

    (2) Where the owner of a steamship requests the issue of an inspection certificate that allows the steamship to make voyages between two places, the certificate is not valid if, in the course of any voyage, the ship is taken beyond the limits of voyages allowed by the certificate.

  • Marginal note:Voyage from Canada and return to same place

    (3) A steamship that makes a voyage from a place in Canada, and returns to the same place without calling at another place, shall be deemed

    • (a) to be making a foreign voyage, if, during the course of the voyage, the ship is, unless by deviation caused solely by stress of weather or other circumstances that the master or owner of the ship could not prevent or forestall, more than two hundred nautical miles from shore; and

    • (b) to be making a home-trade voyage if, during the course of the voyage, it is not more than two hundred nautical miles from shore, and the voyage is not an inland voyage.

  • Marginal note:Voyages similar to home-trade voyages

    (4) The Minister may direct that any voyage between places not in Canada that is similar in characteristics to a home-trade voyage as defined in this Act shall be deemed to be a home-trade voyage for the purpose of the granting of a certificate of inspection under this Act, if, during the course of the voyage, the ship does not, unless by deviation caused solely by stress of weather or other circumstances that the master or owner of the ship could not prevent or forestall, go more than two hundred nautical miles off shore.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 394

Overloading Passenger Ships

Marginal note:Carrying passengers in excess

  •  (1) No master or owner of any passenger steamship registered in Canada shall anywhere, and no master of any passenger steamship shall in Canada, permit passengers to be on board or on or in any part of a steamship in excess of the number allowed as stated in its inspection certificate.

  • Marginal note:Offence

    (2) A master or owner who contravenes this section is guilty of an offence and liable

    • (a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both; or

    • (b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 333
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 46

Marginal note:Steamships not to submerge load lines

  •  (1) Where

    • (a) a passenger steamship that is a Canadian ship has been marked with subdivision load lines, that is to say, load lines indicating the maximum depth to which the steamship may be loaded having regard to the extent to which it is subdivided and to the space for the time being allotted to passengers, and

    • (b) the appropriate subdivision load line, that is to say, the subdivision load line appropriate to the space for the time being allotted to passengers on the steamship, is lower than the load line indicating the maximum depth to which the steamship may for the time being under this Act and the regulations be loaded,

    the steamship shall not be loaded so that the appropriate subdivision load line is submerged.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) The owner or master of a passenger steamship that is loaded in contravention of subsection (1) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars and to an additional fine not exceeding five hundred dollars for each inch or fraction of an inch by which the appropriate subdivision load line of the steamship was submerged.

  • Marginal note:Steamships to be detained

    (3) Without prejudice to any proceedings under this section, a steamship that is loaded in contravention of this section shall be detained until it ceases to be so loaded.

  • Marginal note:Application

    (4) This section applies to passenger steamships not registered in Canada, while they are within any place in Canada, as it applies to passenger steamships registered in Canada.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 396

Safety Precautions

Marginal note:Crew to be sufficient and efficient

  •  (1) Every steamship registered in Canada shall be manned with a crew sufficient and efficient from the point of view of safety of life for the purpose of its intended voyage, and shall, during the voyage, be kept so manned.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) If any of the provisions of this section are not complied with in the case of any steamship, the owner, if in fault, is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, and the master, if in fault, is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 397

Marginal note:Signalling lamps

 No Canadian ship being a ship of over one hundred and fifty tons gross tonnage shall proceed to sea on an international voyage unless the ship is provided with a signalling lamp of a type approved by the Board, and if any ship proceeds or attempts to proceed to sea in contravention of this section, the owner or master thereof is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 398

Marginal note:Printed notices and diagrams

  •  (1) In every passenger steamship ample provision shall be made, to the satisfaction of a steamship inspector, by printed notices, and by diagrams where necessary, to acquaint the passengers with the location of life-boats, life-jackets and other life-saving apparatus and with the position of fire buckets, axes and fire-extinguishers, and there shall be exhibited in each stateroom, and throughout the ship to the satisfaction of a steamship inspector, notices showing the method of adjusting life-jackets to the body.

  • Marginal note:Copy of this Part

    (2) There shall be carried on board every passenger steamship registered in Canada, in some conspicuous place accessible to all the passengers, a printed copy of this Part.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 399

Marginal note:Regulations

  •  (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting

    • (a) the construction of hulls, including their subdivision into watertight compartments, and the fitting of double bottoms and fire-resisting bulkheads;

    • (b) the construction and installation of machinery;

    • (c) the construction of equipment and the class and quantity of various types of equipment to be carried in any vessel including the marking of boats, life-boats, life-rafts and buoyant apparatus so as to show the dimensions thereof and the number of persons authorized to be carried thereon;

    • (c.1) the construction, servicing and repair of life-saving equipment intended to carry more than one person, including buoyant apparatus, life-boats and life-rafts, to be carried on vessels, the performance standards for that equipment and the markings required to appear on them so as to show their dimensions and the number of persons authorized to be carried on them;

    • (c.2) the construction, servicing and repair of flotation devices intended for the use of only one person to be carried on vessels, and the performance standards for those devices;

    • (d) compasses, sounding apparatus, electronic equipment and other navigating appliances and equipment;

    • (e) propelling power, steering capability and position controlling arrangements;

    • (f) stability, and the data in regard thereto to be supplied to the master of a steamship;

    • (g) the marking of vessels to show the recommended safe limits for engine power and gross load capacity;

    • (h) the marking of subdivision load lines on passenger steamships;

    • (i) the provisions to be made for mustering the passengers and crew for abandoning ship, including the lighting of decks, passageways and similar parts of the ship, and the provision of proper means for escape from the various parts of the ship;

    • (j) passenger accommodation and the number of passengers allowed to be carried;

    • (k) the production of plans and documentary evidence showing the construction of hulls, machinery and equipment, the subdivision of hulls into watertight compartments, the arrangement of passenger accommodation and like information necessary to decide on the fitness of a steamship for any particular service;

    • (l) the inspection of the hulls, equipment and machinery of steamships and the extent to which inspection shall be carried out at intervals of twelve months, or at longer intervals, having due regard to the class of voyage on which a steamship is to be engaged, and the trade in which it is employed, and whether the ship is classed with a society or association for the classification and registry of shipping approved by the Minister;

    • (m) personal flotation devices to be carried and used on board vessels or classes of vessels, including regulations defining the expression “personal flotation device” and regulations specifying who must use those devices, and when they must be worn, while a vessel is in operation;

    • (n) the subdivision of home-trade voyages and inland voyages into classes, having regard to the degree of risk that may be encountered on any of those voyages;

    • (o) the manning of steamships, the number of certificated life-boat men to be carried and the qualifications for and the granting of certificates to life-boat men;

    • (p) the carrying of line-throwing apparatus;

    • (q) precautions against fire;

    • (r) the holding of periodic boat and fire drills;

    • (s) the provision of pilot ladders on ships;

    • (t) the construction of ships carrying hazardous cargoes, and their equipment and systems;

    • (u) the inspection and operation of equipment and systems on board ships carrying hazardous cargoes;

    • (v) the information to be provided regarding the nature and properties of hazardous cargoes to be carried on ships; and

    • (w) the safe use of pesticides in the fumigation of ships, including regulations prescribing what pesticides or classes of pesticides may or may not be used in the fumigation of ships.

  • Marginal note:Hazardous cargoes

    (2) The Governor in Council may make regulations prescribing hazardous cargoes for the purpose of paragraphs (1)(t), (u) and (v).

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 338
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 47
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 8

Marginal note:Regulations to implement Safety Convention

  •  (1) The regulations that the Governor in Council may make under section 338, in so far as they apply to Safety Convention ships, may include such requirements as appear to him to be necessary to implement the provisions of the Safety Convention.

  • Marginal note:Application of regulations

    (1.1) Regulations made under subsection 338(1) may extend, if they so state, to any ship as defined in Part XV, but in no case does a regulation made under subsection (1) apply to ships capable of engaging in the drilling for, or the production, conservation or processing of, oil or gas unless the regulation so states and was made on the joint recommendation of the Minister and the Minister of Natural Resources.

  • Marginal note:Meaning of “oil” and “gas”

    (1.2) For the purposes of subsection (1.1), the words oil and gas have the same meanings as in the Oil and Gas Production and Conservation Act.

  • Marginal note:Subdivision of steamships

    (2) The regulations that the Governor in Council may make under section 338 in respect of the subdivision of passenger steamships into watertight compartments shall be such that, if it appears to the Minister

    • (a) that any such ship plying on any international voyage, and carrying more than twelve passengers incurs exceptional risks owing to weather and traffic conditions, and

    • (b) that owing to the small proportion of space allotted to cargo in any of those ships constructed after the coming into force of the Safety Convention, or converted to passenger service after that date, the ship can be subdivided to a greater extent than is required by the Safety Convention,

    he may direct that the ship be subdivided to such greater extent as appears to him to be practicable and expedient in the interests of safety.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 339
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 48
  • 1994, c. 41, s. 37

Marginal note:Regulations relating to certain international Codes

  •  (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations to implement, in whole or in part, the following Codes adopted by the International Maritime Organization, as those Codes may be amended from time to time:

    • (a) Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (1975),

    • (b) Code for Existing Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (1975),

    • (c) Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (1971), and

    • (d) Code for the Construction and Equipment of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (1979),

    but such regulations may impose stricter standards than those set out in the relevant Code.

  • Marginal note:Regulations re production of plans

    (2) The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the production of plans of the construction and equipment of ships to which regulations made under this section apply, for the purpose of ascertaining whether any such ship complies with the relevant regulations.

  • Marginal note:Application of regulations

    (3) Regulations made under this section may apply, if they so state, to any ship as defined in Part XV but no regulation made under paragraph (1)(d) shall apply to ships capable of engaging in the drilling for, or the production, conservation or processing of, oil or gas unless that regulation so states and was made on the joint recommendation of the Minister and the Minister of Natural Resources.

  • Marginal note:Meaning of “oil” and “gas”

    (4) For the purposes of subsection (3), the words oil and gas have the same meanings as in the Oil and Gas Production and Conservation Act.

  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 49
  • 1994, c. 41, s. 37

Marginal note:Publication of proposed regulations

  •  (1) Subject to subsection (2), a copy of each regulation that the Governor in Council proposes to make under section 339.1 shall be published in the Canada Gazette at least ninety days before the proposed effective date thereof, and a reasonable opportunity within those ninety days shall be afforded to ship owners, masters, seamen and other interested persons to make representations to the Minister with respect thereto.

  • Marginal note:Exceptions

    (2) Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of a proposed regulation that

    • (a) has previously been published pursuant to that subsection, whether or not it has been changed as a result of representations made pursuant to that subsection, or

    • (b) makes no substantive change to an existing regulation,

    nor does subsection (1) apply where the Governor in Council is satisfied that an emergency situation exists and that compliance with subsection (1) would therefore be prejudicial to the public interest.

  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 49

Radio Equipment

Marginal note:Prohibition against navigation without ship stations and operators

 No person shall navigate

  • (a) in Canadian waters any ship, and

  • (b) in any waters a Canadian ship,

unless that ship is fitted with a ship station that complies with the requirements prescribed by the regulations for that class of ship and has on board operators in such number and having such qualifications as are prescribed by the regulations.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 401

Marginal note:Prohibition against proceeding to sea

  •  (1) No Canadian Safety Convention ship that is a cargo ship, other than a nuclear ship, shall proceed on an international voyage unless there is in force in respect of that ship

    • (a) a Cargo Ship Safety Radio-telegraphy Certificate or a Cargo Ship Safety Radio-telephony Certificate; and

    • (b) if the ship has been exempted from any of the provisions of this Act or the regulations relating to radio, an Exemption Certificate that by the terms thereof is applicable to the voyage on which the ship is about to proceed.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) Every person who contravenes subsection (1) or section 340 is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 402

Marginal note:Regulations

 The Governor in Council may make regulations in respect of the following matters:

  • (a) for the delaying of the application of the Safety Convention where delay is permitted under the Convention, but the delay shall be for periods not exceeding those permitted under the Safety Convention;

  • (b) prescribing the ship stations to be fitted on Canadian ships and on ships other than Canadian ships while navigating in Canadian waters;

  • (c) to authorize the imposition of a fine not exceeding fifty dollars and costs or three months imprisonment for the contravention of any regulation made under this section and the recovery of the fine on summary conviction; and

  • (d) for the imposition of fines not exceeding fifty dollars and costs on persons found guilty of any breach of any regulation made by the Minister under this Part.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 403

Marginal note:By Minister

 For the purpose of safety or navigation, the Minister may make regulations in respect of the following matters:

  • (a) classifying ship stations and prescribing the type, characteristics, manner of installation and the conditions to be observed in the operation of regular and emergency radio installations, including radar, direction-finding apparatus and associated equipment to be installed in ship stations;

  • (b) prescribing the watches to be kept at the different classes of ship stations and the number and qualifications of operators to be carried on those stations;

  • (c) making provision with respect to the certificates to be held by and the duties of operators;

  • (d) providing for the inspection of ship stations;

  • (e) providing how radio equipment installed on any foreign or British ship shall be operated while such ship is within Canadian jurisdiction;

  • (f) compelling all ship stations to receive, accept, exchange and transmit signals and messages with other radio stations and in such manner as he may prescribe;

  • (g) requiring the master of a ship to enter in the official log-book of the ship such particulars relating to the operation of the radio installation and to the maintenance of the radio service as may be specified in the regulations;

  • (h) requiring the operator on a ship station to keep a radio log and to enter therein such particulars as may be prescribed in the regulations; and

  • (i) for the effective carrying out of the provisions of this Act relating to radio.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 343
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 50

Marginal note:Radio rules to implement Safety Convention

 The regulations to be made by the Governor in Council pursuant to this Act applicable to ships plying on international voyages shall include such requirements as appear to him to be necessary to implement the provisions of the Safety Convention that relate to radio, except in so far as those provisions are otherwise implemented by this Act.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 405

Inspection of Radio Equipment

Marginal note:Radio inspections

 Radio inspections shall be carried out by radio inspectors authorized by the Minister for that purpose.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 406

Marginal note:Annual inspection to include radio inspection

  •  (1) The annual inspection required by section 316 of a passenger or nuclear ship in respect of which a Safety Convention Certificate is issued shall include an inspection by a radio inspector.

  • Marginal note:Report

    (2) The report of the radio inspector shall contain statements of the following particulars:

    • (a) the voyages or class of voyages on which, as regards radio, the steamship is fit to ply;

    • (b) that, having regard to the number of persons carried or certified to be carried, the tonnage of the ship and the voyages on which it is declared to be fit to ply, the ship complies with the provisions of this Act and the regulations relating to radio; and

    • (c) that the certificates of the radio operators are such as are required by this Act and the regulations.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 407

Marginal note:Inspection of certain Convention cargo ships by radio inspectors

 The owner of every Canadian Safety Convention ship that is a cargo ship, other than a nuclear ship or a ship exempted by this Act from the requirement of being fitted with radio, shall, before the ship first proceeds on an international voyage and at least once in each year thereafter, cause the ship to be inspected by a radio inspector.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 408

Radio Certificates

Marginal note:Issue of Cargo Ship Radio-telegraphy and Radio-telephony Certificate

  •  (1) Where a radio inspector has inspected a Canadian Safety Convention ship that is a cargo ship, other than a nuclear ship, and he is satisfied that it complies with the provisions of this Act and the regulations relating to radio, he shall issue in respect of the ship a Cargo Ship Safety Radio-telegraphy Certificate or a Cargo Ship Safety Radio-telephony Certificate.

  • Marginal note:Issue of Exemption Certificate

    (2) Where a ship described in subsection (1) is partially or wholly exempted pursuant to this Act from the obligations of being fitted with a radio installation, on the application of the owner of the ship an exemption certificate shall be issued by a radio inspector stating that the ship is exempted from the requirements of the Safety Convention relating to radio and specifying the voyages and conditions, if any, on which the ship is so exempted and any certificate issued under this subsection is in this Part referred to as an “Exemption Certificate”.

  • Marginal note:Issue of Radio Inspection Certificate

    (3) Inspection of the radio installations of a ship that does not ply on international voyages shall be in accordance with regulations made under section 343, and a certificate issued in respect of that inspection shall be referred to as a “Radio Inspection Certificate”.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 409

Marginal note:Radio certificates required by certain Convention ships that are not Canadian ships

  •  (1) Where a valid Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, Nuclear Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, Nuclear Cargo Ship Safety Certificate, Cargo Ship Safety Radio-telegraphy Certificate or a Cargo Ship Safety Radio-telephony Certificate is produced in respect of a Safety Convention ship that is not a Canadian ship

    • (a) if the certificate shows that the ship is wholly exempt from the provisions of the Safety Convention relating to radio-telegraphy or radio-telephony, the ship is exempt from the provisions of this Act relating to radio-telegraphy or radio-telephony; and

    • (b) if the certificate shows that the ship is not wholly exempt from the provisions of the Safety Convention, the following provisions of this section apply to the ship in lieu of the other provisions of this Act relating to radio-telegraphy or radio-telephony.

  • Marginal note:Inspection of ship

    (2) A radio inspector may inspect the ship for the purpose of seeing that the radio installation and the number of certified operators carried on the ship correspond substantially with the particulars stated in the certificate.

  • Marginal note:Notice of deficiency

    (3) Where it appears to the radio inspector that the ship cannot proceed to sea without danger to the passengers or crew owing to the fact that the radio installation or the number of operators does not correspond substantially with the particulars stated in the certificate, the inspector shall give to the master notice in writing pointing out the deficiency and also pointing out what, in his opinion, is required to remedy the deficiency.

  • Marginal note:Notice to chief officer of customs

    (4) Every notice given under subsection (3) shall be communicated in the manner directed by the Minister to the chief officer of customs of any port at which the ship may seek to obtain a clearance and to the consular officer for the country to which the ship belongs at or nearest to the port where the ship is for the time being, and a clearance shall not be granted to the ship, and the ship shall be detained, until a certificate under the hand of a radio inspector of ships is produced to the effect that the deficiency has been remedied.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 410

Marginal note:Duration of Cargo Ship Radio-telegraphy and Radio-telephony Certificate

  •  (1) A Cargo Ship Safety Radio-telegraphy Certificate or a Cargo Ship Radio-telephony Certificate shall not be in force for more than one year from the date of its issue nor after notice is given by the Minister, or a person authorized by him, to the owner, agent or master of the ship in respect of which it has been issued that he has cancelled it, and no Exemption Certificate shall be in force for a longer period than the certificate to which it relates.

  • Marginal note:Issue of new certificate

    (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), where the inspection of a Canadian Safety Convention ship that is a cargo ship of three hundred tons gross tonnage or more but less than five hundred tons gross tonnage, and in respect of which a certificate described in subsection (1) has been issued, takes place within two months after the end of the period for which the certificate was issued, a new certificate may be issued for a period ending one year after the date the former certificate expires if the ship meets the requirements of this Act and the regulations.

  • Marginal note:Posting of certificates

    (3) The owner or master of a ship in respect of which a certificate described in subsection (1) has been issued shall cause that certificate to be posted on the ship in a conspicuous place accessible to all persons on board and to remain so posted for so long as the certificate is in force and the ship is in use.

  • Marginal note:Extension not exceeding five months

    (4) Where a Canadian ship in respect of which any certificate described in subsection (1) has been issued is absent from Canada at the date when the certificate expires, the Minister or any person authorized by him for the purpose may, if it appears proper and reasonable to do so, grant such an extension of the certificate as will allow the ship to return to Canada, but no extension has effect for a period exceeding five months from that date.

  • Marginal note:Extension not exceeding one month

    (5) A certificate that has not been extended under subsection (4) may be extended by the Minister or any person authorized by him for the purpose for a period not exceeding one month after the date on which it would otherwise expire.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 411

Marginal note:Control of station

  •  (1) The operation of the radio station on any vessel shall be under the control of the master of the vessel.

  • Marginal note:Right of master to censor messages

    (2) The master of a vessel has the right to censor all messages addressed to or transmitted by a radio station on board his vessel, but he shall not divulge to any person, other than the properly authorized officials of the Government of Canada or a competent legal tribunal, or make any use whatever of any message coming to his knowledge through the exercise of that censorship, nor shall the master or any operator divulge to any person, other than the properly authorized officials of the Government of Canada or a competent legal tribunal, or make any use whatever of any message, other than a message of distress, urgency or safety, coming to his knowledge and not intended for the radio station.

  • Marginal note:Secrecy of messages

    (3) No message shall be delivered, or its contents divulged, to any person except the addressee, his accredited agent or such properly authorized persons as are essential for the forwarding of the message to its destination.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (4) Every person who makes use of any message or the contents thereof that has been delivered or divulged to him in contravention of subsection (3) is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 412

Load Lines and Loading

Marginal note:Countries to which the Load Line Convention applies

 The Governor in Council if satisfied

  • (a) that the government of any country has ratified, acceded to or denounced the Load Line Convention, or

  • (b) that the Load Line Convention has been applied or has ceased to apply to any country in pursuance of Article 21 thereof,

may by order in council make a declaration to that effect.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 413

Marginal note:Load Line ships

  •  (1) For the purposes of this Part, ships of one hundred and fifty tons gross tonnage and more that carry cargo or passengers between any place in Canada and any place not in Canada, or between any places not in Canada, that are not by subsection (2) or (3) exempted from the provisions of this Part relating to load lines, are hereafter referred to as “Load Line ships”, and Load Line ships that belong to countries to which the Load Line Convention applies are hereafter referred to as “Load Line Convention ships”.

  • Marginal note:Fishing ships

    (2) The provisions of this Part relating to load lines do not apply to ships engaged solely in fishing or, subject to section 354, to ships making voyages between Canada and the United States on any lakes or rivers.

  • Marginal note:Other ships may be exempted

    (3) The Governor in Council may, on such conditions as he thinks fit, exempt from the provisions of this Part relating to load lines,

    • (a) any ship plying on international voyages between the near neighbouring places of two or more countries, if the Governor in Council and the governments of those countries are satisfied that the sheltered nature and conditions of the voyages make it unreasonable or impracticable to apply the provisions of this Part relating to load lines to that ship; and

    • (b) any ship plying on any voyage not described in paragraph (a) between near neighbouring places if the Governor in Council is satisfied as to the matters described in that paragraph.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 414

Marginal note:Application of load line provisions

  •  (1) Subject to this section, sections 353 and 355 to 374, in so far as they are applicable, have effect in respect of ships of one hundred and fifty tons gross tonnage and more that carry cargo or passengers on voyages from any place in Canada to any other place in Canada or between Canada and the United States on any lakes or rivers.

  • Marginal note:Idem

    (2) Subsections 356(1) and (2) apply to ships described in subsection (1) and constructed before July 1, 1936.

  • Marginal note:Exemption

    (3) The Governor in Council may on such conditions as he thinks fit exempt from the provisions of this section ships that ply on voyages described in subsection (1) if he is satisfied that the sheltered nature and conditions of the voyages make it unreasonable or impracticable to apply the provisions of this section to those ships.

  • Marginal note:Regulations

    (4) The Governor in Council may, in respect of ships employed in making voyages on lakes or rivers, by regulation,

    • (a) make applicable to those ships in lieu of the Load Line Rules such rules as in his opinion may be safe having due regard to all the circumstances; and

    • (b) make special provision for ships that are not registered in Canada and are not marked with load lines.

  • Marginal note:Definition of “proceed to sea”

    (5) For the purposes of this section, the expression, proceed to sea, in respect of ships employed solely in making voyages on lakes or rivers, in this Part means proceeding from one place to another place.

  • Marginal note:Local Load Line Certificate to be issued

    (6) A local Load Line Certificate in lieu of a Load Line Convention Certificate provided for in subsection 359(1) shall be issued for the purposes of ships coming within the provisions of this section and under like conditions as Load Line Convention Certificates are issued.

  • Marginal note:Application

    (7) This section does not apply to scows and barges that are not self-propelled and do not carry passengers or crew.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 415

Marginal note:Load Line Rules

 The Governor in Council may make such rules as appear to him to be necessary for the purpose of giving effect to Articles 6 to 10 of the Load Line Convention and Annex I and Annex II thereto.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 416

Marginal note:Marking of deck line and load lines

  •  (1) No Load Line Convention ship registered in Canada, being a ship constructed after June 30, 1932, shall proceed to sea unless

    • (a) the ship has been surveyed by a steamship inspector in accordance with the Load Line Rules;

    • (b) the ship complies with the conditions of assignment;

    • (c) the ship is marked on each side with a deck line and load lines mark;

    • (d) the deck line and load lines are of the description required by the Load Line Rules, the deck line is in the position required by those Rules and the load lines are of the number required by such of those Rules as are applicable to the ship; and

    • (e) the load lines are in the position required by such of the Load Line Rules as are applicable to the ship.

  • Marginal note:Ships constructed before 1932

    (2) No Load Line Convention ship registered in Canada, being a ship constructed before July 1, 1932, shall proceed to sea unless

    • (a) the ship has been surveyed and marked in accordance with paragraphs (1)(a), (c) and (d);

    • (b) the ship complies with the conditions of assignment in principle and in detail, in so far as, in the opinion of the Chairman, is reasonable and practicable having regard to the efficiency of the protection of openings, the guard rails, the freeing ports and the means of access to the crew’s quarters provided by the arrangements, fittings and appliances existing on the ship at the time when the ship is first surveyed under this section; and

    • (c) the load lines are either in the position required by paragraph (1)(e) or in the position required by the tables used by the Board of Trade in the United Kingdom on December 31, 1906 for fixing the position of load lines, subject to such modifications of those tables and of the application thereof, approved by the Board of Trade under section 438 of the Merchant Shipping Acts, as were in force immediately before July 5, 1930.

  • Marginal note:Ship proceeding to sea in contravention

    (3) Where any ship proceeds or attempts to proceed to sea in contravention of this section, the master or owner thereof is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars.

  • Marginal note:Ship deemed unsafe

    (4) Any ship attempting to proceed to sea without being surveyed and marked in accordance with this section shall be detained until it has been so surveyed and marked, and any ship that does not comply with the conditions of assignment to the extent required in its case by this section shall be deemed to be unsafe for the purpose of section 392.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 356
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Marginal note:Submergence of load lines

  •  (1) A Load Line Convention ship registered in Canada shall not be so loaded as to submerge the appropriate load lines of the ship beyond the limits of submergence for that ship as determined under the Load Line Rules.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) The owner or master of a ship that is loaded in contravention of subsection (1) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars and to an additional fine not exceeding five hundred dollars for each inch or fraction of an inch by which the appropriate load lines of the ship are submerged beyond the limits of submergence for that ship.

  • Marginal note:Defence

    (3) In any proceedings against an owner or master in respect of a contravention of this section, it is a good defence to prove that the contravention was due solely to deviation or delay, being deviation or delay caused solely by stress of weather or other circumstances that neither the master nor the owner nor the charterer, if any, could have prevented or forestalled.

  • Marginal note:Ships to be detained

    (4) Without prejudice to any proceedings under this section, any ship that is loaded in contravention of this section shall be detained until it ceases to be so loaded.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 418

Marginal note:Miscellaneous offences in relation to marks

 If

  • (a) the owner or master of a Load Line ship registered in Canada that has been marked in accordance with section 356 fails without reasonable cause to keep the ship so marked, or

  • (b) any person conceals, removes, alters, defaces or obliterates, or suffers any person under his control to conceal, remove, alter, deface or obliterate any mark placed on a ship described in paragraph (a) in accordance with section 356, except with the authority of a person entitled under the Load Line Rules to authorize the alteration of the mark or except for the purpose of escaping capture by an enemy,

he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 419

Marginal note:Issue of Load Line Certificates and effect thereof

  •  (1) Where a Load Line Convention ship registered in Canada has been surveyed and marked in accordance with section 356 and complies with the conditions of assignment to the extent required in its case by that section, there shall be issued to the owner of the ship on his application and on payment of the prescribed fee a Load Line Convention Certificate.

  • Marginal note:Issue of certificates

    (2) Load Line Convention Certificates, except as otherwise provided in this Act, shall be issued under the seal of the Minister, when the Chairman is satisfied from reports of survey that all the provisions of this Act applicable in any particular case have been complied with, and the certificates shall be registered by the Chairman and shall be marked to show that they have been so registered.

  • Marginal note:Certificate issued by another country

    (3) The Minister may request the government of a country to which the Load Line Convention applies to issue a Load Line Convention Certificate in respect of a Load Line Convention ship registered in Canada, and a certificate issued in pursuance of a request and containing a statement that it has been so issued has effect for the purposes of this Part as if it had been issued under the seal of the Minister.

  • Marginal note:Ship deemed to have been surveyed

    (4) Where a valid Load Line Convention Certificate issued pursuant to subsection (3) is produced in respect of a ship,

    • (a) the ship shall, for the purpose of this Part, be deemed to have been surveyed in accordance with this Part; and

    • (b) if the deck line and load lines on the ship are of the number and description required by the Load Line Rules and the position of the deck line and load lines corresponds with the position specified in the Certificate, the ship shall be deemed to be marked in accordance with this Part.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 359
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 52

Marginal note:Certificates may be issued by society for the survey of shipping

 The Governor in Council may authorize, subject to such conditions as he may deem fit, any corporation or society for the survey or registry of shipping, approved by the Minister, to survey ships in respect of load lines, to assign load lines to ships and to issue Load Line Certificates, and any certificate so issued has effect in place of the certificate provided for under section 359.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 421

Marginal note:Duration, renewal and cancellation of certificates

  •  (1) Every Load Line Convention Certificate, unless it is renewed in accordance with subsection (2), expires at the end of such period, not exceeding five years from the date of its issue, as may be specified therein.

  • Marginal note:Renewal of certificate

    (2) Any Load Line Convention Certificate may, after a survey not less effective than the survey required by the Load Line Rules before the issue of the Certificate, be renewed by the authority by which it was granted, for such period, not exceeding five years on any occasion, as the authority renewing the certificate thinks fit.

  • Marginal note:Cancellation of certificate

    (3) The Minister shall cancel any Load Line Convention Certificate in force in respect of a ship, if he believes on reasonable grounds that

    • (a) material alterations have taken place in the hull or superstructures of the ship that affect the position of the load lines; or

    • (b) the fittings and appliances for the protection of openings, the guard rails, the freeing ports or the means of access to the crew’s quarters have not been maintained on the ship in as effective a condition as they were in when the Certificate was issued.

  • Marginal note:Owner to have ship surveyed

    (4) The owner of every ship in respect of which a Load Line Convention Certificate has been issued shall, so long as the certificate remains in force, cause the ship to be surveyed in the prescribed manner at least once in each year after the issue of the Certificate for the purpose of seeing whether the Certificate should remain in force, having regard to subsection (3), and if the ship is not so surveyed, the Minister shall cancel the Certificate, but if the Minister thinks fit in any particular case, he may, in respect of the survey of the ship, extend the period of one year.

  • Marginal note:Certificate to be delivered up

    (5) Where any Load Line Convention Certificate has expired or been cancelled, the Minister may require the owner or master of the ship to which the certificate relates to deliver up the certificate as he directs and the ship may be detained until such requirement has been complied with, and if the owner or master fails without reasonable cause to comply with such requirement, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding fifty dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 422

Marginal note:Ships not to proceed without certificate

  •  (1) No Canadian ship, being a Load Line Convention ship, shall proceed to sea on an international voyage unless there is in force in respect of the ship a Load Line Convention Certificate.

  • Marginal note:Master to produce certificate

    (2) The master of every Load Line Convention ship registered in Canada shall produce to the officer of customs, from whom a clearance for the ship is demanded, the certificate that is required by subsection (1) to be in force when the ship proceeds to sea, and a clearance shall not be granted, and the ship shall be detained, until that certificate is produced.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (3) The master of every ship that proceeds or attempts to proceed to sea in contravention of this section is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 423

Marginal note:Publication of Load Line Certificate and particulars relating to depth of loading

  •  (1) When a Load Line Convention Certificate has been issued under this Part in respect of a Load Line Convention ship registered in Canada,

    • (a) the owner of the ship shall forthwith on the receipt of the certificate cause it to be framed and posted up in some conspicuous place on board the ship and to be kept so framed and posted up and legible so long as the certificate remains in force and the ship is in use; and

    • (b) the master of the ship, before making any other entry in any official log-book of the ship, shall enter therein the particulars respecting the position of the deck line and load lines specified in the Certificate.

  • Marginal note:Duties of master before leaving dock

    (2) Before any Load Line Convention ship registered in Canada leaves any dock, wharf, harbour or other place for the purpose of proceeding to sea on any international voyage, the master thereof shall

    • (a) enter in the official log-book of the ship such particulars relating to the depth to which the ship is for the time being loaded as the Governor in Council may by regulations prescribe; and

    • (b) cause a notice, in such form and containing such of the particulars referred to in paragraph (a) as may be required by the regulations, to be posted up in some conspicuous place on board the ship and to be kept so posted up and legible until the ship arrives at some other dock, wharf, harbour or place.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (3) Where the master or owner of any Load Line Convention ship registered in Canada fails to comply with this section, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 363
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Marginal note:Particulars respecting Load Lines

  •  (1) Before an agreement with the crew of any Load Line Convention ship registered in Canada, in respect of which a Load Line Convention Certificate is in force, is signed by any member of the crew, the master of the ship shall insert in the agreement the particulars respecting the position of the deck line and load lines specified in the Certificate, and if he fails to do so, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.

  • Marginal note:Duties of shipping master

    (2) In the case of a Load Line Convention ship registered in Canada, being a foreign-going ship, a shipping master shall not proceed with the engagement of the crew until

    • (a) there is produced to him a Load Line Convention Certificate for the time being in force in respect of the ship; and

    • (b) he is satisfied that the particulars required by this section have been inserted in the agreement with the crew.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 364
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Special Provisions as to Load Line Convention Ships Not Registered in Canada

Marginal note:Load Line Certificates

  •  (1) The Minister may, at the request of the government of a country to which the Load Line Convention applies, cause to be issued a Load Line Convention Certificate in respect of a Load Line Convention ship of that country if he is satisfied in like manner as in the case of a Canadian ship that the Certificate can properly be issued, and where a certificate is issued at such a request, it shall contain a statement that it has been so issued.

  • Marginal note:Regulations to determine the validity of certificate

    (2) With a view to determining the validity in Canada of certificates purporting to have been issued in accordance with the Load Line Convention in respect of Load Line Convention ships not registered in Canada, the Governor in Council may make such regulations as appear to him to be necessary for the purpose of giving effect to Article 17 of the Load Line Convention, and, for the purpose of the provisions of this Part relating to Load Line Convention ships not registered in Canada, the expression “a valid Load Line Convention Certificate” means a certificate that complies with the regulations that are applicable in the circumstances.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 426

Marginal note:Inspection and control of Convention ships

  •  (1) A steamship inspector may go on board any Load Line Convention ship not registered in Canada that is at a place in Canada for the purpose of demanding the production of any Load Line Certificate for the time being in force in respect of the ship.

  • Marginal note:Limitation of powers of inspector

    (2) Where a valid Load Line Convention Certificate is produced to the inspector on demand, the inspector’s powers of inspecting the ship with respect to load line are limited to seeing

    • (a) that the ship is not loaded beyond the limits allowed by the Certificate;

    • (b) that the position of the load lines on the ship corresponds with the position specified in the Certificate;

    • (c) that no material alterations have taken place in the hull or superstructures of the ship that affect the position of the load lines; and

    • (d) that the fittings and appliances for the protection of openings, the guard-rails, the freeing ports and the means of access to the crew’s quarters have been maintained on the ship in as effective a condition as they were in when the Certificate was issued.

  • Marginal note:Ship may be detained

    (3) Where it is found on an inspection that the ship is loaded beyond the limits allowed by the Certificate, the ship may be detained and proceedings may be taken against the master or owner thereof under the provisions of this Part relating to the submersion of load lines on ships not registered in Canada.

  • Marginal note:Load lines not in position specified

    (4) Where it is found on an inspection that the load lines of the ship are not in the position specified in the Certificate, the ship may be detained until the matter has been rectified to the satisfaction of the inspector.

  • Marginal note:Alteration of ship

    (5) Where it is found on an inspection that the ship has been so materially altered in respect of the matters referred to in paragraphs (2)(c) and (d) that the ship is manifestly unfit to proceed to sea without danger to human life, the ship shall be deemed to be unsafe for the purpose of section 392, but where the ship has been detained under that section, the Minister shall order the ship to be released as soon as he is satisfied that the ship is fit to proceed to sea without danger to human life.

  • Marginal note:Where valid certificate not produced

    (6) Where a valid Load Line Convention Certificate is not produced to the inspector on demand, the inspector has the same power of inspecting the ship, for the purpose of seeing that the provisions of this Part have been complied with, as if the ship were a Canadian ship.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 427

Marginal note:Certificates of Convention ships to be produced

 The master of every Load Line Convention ship not registered in Canada shall produce a valid Load Line Convention Certificate to the officer of customs from whom a clearance for the ship from any port in Canada is demanded, and a clearance shall not be granted, and the ship may be detained, until the Certificate is produced.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 428

General Provisions as to Load Line Ships not Registered in Canada

Marginal note:Survey, marking and conditions of assignment

 Section 356 applies to Load Line ships not registered in Canada proceeding or attempting to proceed to sea from places in Canada, as it applies to Load Line Convention ships registered in Canada, subject to the following modifications:

  • (a) section 356 does not apply to a Load Line Convention ship not registered in Canada, if a valid Load Line Convention Certificate is produced in respect of the ship; and

  • (b) subject to paragraph (a), a foreign ship that does not comply with the conditions of assignment to the extent required in its case by section 356 shall be deemed to be unsafe for the purpose of section 392.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 429

Marginal note:Submersion of load line

 Section 357 applies to Load Line ships not registered in Canada, while they are within any port in Canada, as it applies to Load Line ships registered in Canada, subject to the following modifications:

  • (a) no Load Line Convention ship shall be detained, and no proceedings shall be taken against the owner or master thereof, under section 357 except after an inspection by a steamship inspector as provided in this Part; and

  • (b) the expression “the appropriate load line”, in relation to any ship not registered in Canada, means

    • (i) in the case of a Load Line Convention ship in respect of which there is produced on inspection a valid Load Line Convention Certificate, the Load Line appearing by the certificate to indicate the maximum depth to which the ship is for the time being entitled under the Load Line Convention to be loaded, and

    • (ii) in any other case, the load line that corresponds with the load line indicating the maximum depth to which the ship is for the time being entitled under the Load Line Rules to be loaded or, if no load line on the ship so corresponds, the lowest load line thereon.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 430

Marginal note:Ships registered outside Canada

  •  (1) The Minister may cause a Load Line Certificate to be issued, in a form approved by him, in respect of any Load Line ship registered elsewhere than in Canada, and not being a Load Line Convention ship, which certificate may be known as a Special Load Line Certificate.

  • Marginal note:Special certificates

    (2) The provisions of this Act relating to the issue, duration, renewal and cancellation of Load Line Convention Certificates apply to Special Load Line Certificates.

  • Marginal note:Effect of special certificates issued in respect of British ships

    (3) Where the Minister certifies

    • (a) that by the law in force in any Commonwealth country other than Canada provision has been made for the fixing, marking and certifying of load lines on British ships, or any class or description of British ships, registered in that Commonwealth country, or

    • (b) that by the law in force in any foreign country provision has been made for the fixing, marking and certifying of load lines on ships, or any class or description of ships, registered in that country and has also been so made, or has been agreed to be so made, for recognizing Load Line Convention Certificates issued in Canada as having the same effect in ports of that country as certificates issued under that provision,

    and that the provision for the fixing, marking and certifying of load lines is based on the same principles as the corresponding provisions of this Part and is equally effective, the Governor in Council may direct that Load Line Certificates issued pursuant to that provision in respect of British ships, or that class or description of British ships, registered in that Commonwealth country, or in respect of ships, or that class or description of ships, of that foreign country, as the case may be, have the same effect for the purpose of this Part as Special Load Line Certificates issued in Canada pursuant to this section.

  • Marginal note:Provision applicable

    (4) Paragraph (3)(a) applies with respect to any foreign country in which for the time being Her Majesty has jurisdiction, as if that country were a Commonwealth country.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 431

Marginal note:Certificates to be produced

 Subject to section 372, the master of every Load Line ship, other than a Canadian ship or a Load Line Convention ship not registered in Canada, shall produce to the officer of customs, from whom a clearance for the ship from any port in Canada is demanded, either a Special Load Line Certificate or a certificate having effect under this Act as that Certificate, being a certificate for the time being in force in respect of the ship, and a clearance shall not be granted, and the ship may be detained, until the certificate is produced.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 432

Marginal note:Minister may authorize clearance

 The Minister may authorize the clearance of any ship to which section 371 applies without the certificate therein provided for on the following conditions:

  • (a) that only such amount of cargo is carried as in the opinion of a port warden, or other competent person directed by the Minister to examine the ship, is sufficient to allow the ship to make a voyage in safety; and

  • (b) that, in the opinion of a steamship inspector, the hull, boilers, machinery and equipment of the ship are in good order and sufficient for the voyage contemplated.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 433

Loading of Timber

Marginal note:Carriage of timber deck cargo

  •  (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations, in this section referred to as the “timber cargo regulations”, respecting the conditions on which timber may be carried as cargo outside Canada in any uncovered space on the deck of any Load Line ship.

  • Marginal note:Effect to be given to Convention

    (2) The timber cargo regulations shall contain such regulations as appear to the Governor in Council to be necessary for the purpose of giving effect to paragraph 2 of Article 6 of the Load Line Convention.

  • Marginal note:What regulations may prescribe

    (3) Subject to subsection (2), the timber cargo regulations may prescribe generally the conditions on which timber may be carried as deck cargo outside Canada in any Load Line ship on all voyages or on any particular class of voyages and at all seasons or at any particular season, and in particular may prescribe the manner and position in which the timber is to be stowed and the provision that is to be made on the ship for the safety of the crew.

  • Marginal note:Inspection by port warden

    (4) Where a Load Line ship is about to make a voyage carrying a deck cargo of timber from Canada, the owner or master shall have the ship inspected by a port warden, or other person directed thereto in writing by the Minister who shall, if he is satisfied that he can do so with propriety, give a certificate showing that the ship is suitable for the carriage of deck cargoes of timber, and that the cargo is properly stowed and secured in accordance with the timber cargo regulations.

  • Marginal note:Inspection in absence of port warden

    (5) In the absence of a port warden or other person directed by the Minister, the certificate mentioned in subsection (4) shall be given by the master and deposited with the chief officer of customs at the port before the ship clears on its voyage, and that officer shall refuse to clear the ship unless the certificate is deposited with him.

  • Marginal note:Not to proceed without certificate

    (6) No ship described in subsection (4) shall proceed unless it has on board the certificate mentioned in that subsection, which shall be produced on demand of the chief officer of customs at any port.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (7) For any contravention or attempted contravention of this section, the owner or master of any ship is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of not more than twenty-five hundred dollars and not less than one hundred dollars, but in any proceedings against a master in respect of a contravention of the timber cargo regulations, it is a good defence to prove that the contravention was due solely to deviation or delay, the deviation or delay being caused solely by stress of weather or other circumstances that neither the master, the owner nor the charterer, if any, could have prevented or forestalled.

  • Marginal note:Ships loaded with a timber deck cargo

    (8) The regulations made under this section may contain appropriate provisions applying to any Load Line ship loaded with a timber deck cargo that is at any place in Canada.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 373
  • R.S., 1985, c. 1 (2nd Supp.), s. 213

Marginal note:Power to amend rules

 Where any provision of the Load Line Convention to which the Governor in Council is required by this Part to give effect by any rules or regulations is amended pursuant to Article 20 of that Convention, the Governor in Council may amend the rules or regulations accordingly.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 435

Marginal note:Definition of “new ship”

  •  (1) For the purposes of this section and section 376, new ship means a ship in excess of seventy-nine feet in length that is not a fishing vessel or pleasure craft, the keel of which is laid or construction of the hull of which is commenced on or after April 14, 1973.

  • Marginal note:Regulations

    (2) The Governor in Council may make regulations

    • (a) to carry out and give effect to the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966, signed at London on April 5, 1966, as amended in London on October 12, 1971 and November 15, 1979, including any amendments, whenever made, to the Annexes to that Convention;

    • (b) establishing load line requirements for new ships making voyages between Canada and the United States on any lake or river or making voyages from any place in Canada to any other place in Canada;

    • (c) prescribing special provisions respecting load lines for new ships not registered in Canada that are proceeding or attempting to proceed to sea from Canada or that are within any port in Canada;

    • (d) providing for the application to a ship other than a new ship of regulations made under this section where such application is requested by or on behalf of the owner of that ship; and

    • (e) providing for the inspection of ships to which regulations made under this section apply and the detention of those ships that do not meet the requirements of such regulations.

  • Marginal note:Publication of certain proposed regulations

    (2.1) Subject to subsection (2.2), a copy of each regulation that the Governor in Council proposes to make under paragraph (2)(a) shall be published in the Canada Gazette at least ninety days before the proposed effective date thereof, and a reasonable opportunity within those ninety days shall be afforded to ship owners, masters, seamen and other interested persons to make representations to the Minister with respect thereto.

  • Marginal note:Exceptions

    (2.2) Subsection (2.1) does not apply in respect of a proposed regulation that

    • (a) has previously been published pursuant to that subsection, whether or not it has been changed as a result of representations made pursuant to that subsection, or

    • (b) makes no substantive change to an existing regulation,

    nor does subsection (2.1) apply where the Governor in Council is satisfied that an emergency situation exists and that compliance with subsection (2.1) would therefore be prejudicial to the public interest.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (3) The owner or master of a ship who contravenes any regulation made under subsection (2) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

  • Marginal note:Idem

    (4) The owner or master of a ship that is loaded so as to submerge the appropriate load line of the ship beyond the limits of submergence for that ship as determined by regulations made under subsection (2) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars and to an additional fine not exceeding five hundred dollars for each inch or fraction of an inch by which the appropriate load line of the ship is submerged beyond the limits of submergence for that ship.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 375
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 54
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 23

Marginal note:Application

  •  (1) Subject to subsection (2), sections 352 to 374 do not apply to new ships.

  • Marginal note:Idem

    (2) Section 364 applies, with such modifications as the circumstances require, to new ships registered in Canada.

  • Marginal note:Definition of “new ship”

    (3) For the purpose of this section, new ship includes a ship to which regulations made under subsection 375(2) are made applicable pursuant to paragraph (d) of that subsection.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 437

Changes Affecting Certificate

Marginal note:Damage affecting seaworthiness

  •  (1) Where a Canadian ship has received any material damage affecting its seaworthiness or its efficiency, either in its hull, machinery or equipment, the owner or master shall, as soon as possible, forward a report to the Chairman, giving full particulars in the matter, and the ship shall not go from any place in Canada until it has been put in good seaworthy condition to the satisfaction of a steamship inspector with respect to the hull, machinery or equipment, as the case may be.

  • Marginal note:Alteration of hull, equipment or machinery

    (2) Where, in the case of any Canadian ship, any part of the hull, equipment or machinery has been altered or renewed so as to affect its compliance with the regulations made under this Part, in accordance with which any certificate has been issued in respect of the ship, the owner or master shall forthwith report the matter to the Chairman, and the ship shall not go from any place in Canada until it has been re-inspected and a certificate issued in accordance with the conditions found to exist.

  • Marginal note:Failure to report

    (3) If the owner or master of a ship fails, without reasonable cause, to report to the Chairman as required under this section, the master shall be deemed to be guilty of misconduct, and the owner is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of not more than five hundred dollars and not less than fifty dollars, and if the ship goes on any voyage it shall be deemed to be making a voyage without having a certificate, or certificates, as may be required under this Part.

  • Marginal note:Application of this section

    (4) This section has effect in respect of any Canadian ship that is at a port outside Canada, except that where it would be impracticable or unreasonable to have the ship inspected by a steamship inspector, the inspection may be postponed until the ship returns to Canada, but the master of the ship is not relieved from the obligation of putting the ship in good seaworthy condition for any contemplated voyage with respect to the hull, machinery or equipment, as the case may be.

  • Marginal note:Ships registered elsewhere

    (5) This section applies to every ship registered elsewhere than in Canada with respect to which any certificate has been issued under this Part.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 438

Marginal note:False report

 Every person who knowingly and wilfully makes or assists in making, or procures to be made, a false or fraudulent report of inspection or survey with the object of having issued in respect of any ship any certificate provided for under this Part, or forges or assists in forging, or procures to be forged, fraudulently alters, assists in fraudulently altering, or procures to be fraudulently altered, any such report or certificate, or anything contained in, or any signature to, such report or certificate, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 439

Marginal note:Tampering with safety valves

 Every owner, master or engineer of a steamship who alters or deals with the safety valves, or allows them to be altered or dealt with, whereby a greater pressure of steam may be obtained on a boiler than the pressure allowed by the inspector who last inspected the boilers of the steamship is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of not more than one hundred dollars and not less than fifty dollars, and, in the case of an engineer, is liable to have his certificate suspended.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 379
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Special Purpose Ships and Special Purpose Personnel

Marginal note:Designation

  •  (1) The Minister may, on application, designate

    • (a) ships or classes of ships as special purpose ships; and

    • (b) persons or classes of persons on board special purpose ships as special purpose personnel.

  • Marginal note:Regulations

    (2) The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting

    • (a) the operation of special purpose ships; and

    • (b) the function, role and activities of special purpose personnel on board special purpose ships.

  • 1998, c. 16, s. 9

Safety of Ships, Passengers and Crews

Marginal note:Regulations respecting safety

  •  (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations in respect of passenger steamships registered in Canada, requiring

    • (a) that hinged watertight doors and other appliances for closing openings in watertight bulkheads, side scuttles, gangway doors and like appliances shall be closed before a steamship proceeds to sea, and shall be kept closed while the steamship is at sea;

    • (b) that watertight doors shall be kept closed while a steamship is at sea, other than when it may be necessary for the working of the ship to have them open;

    • (c) that ash chutes, rubbish chutes, or similar appliances shall be kept securely closed except when in use;

    • (d) that there shall be periodic drills of the opening and closing of watertight doors and periodic inspections of those doors and other appliances fitted in watertight bulkheads;

    • (e) that there shall be periodic boat and fire drills;

    • (f) that the master of a steamship shall keep a record, entered in the official log-book of the steamship where an official log-book is required to be kept, or in the agreement with the crew where an official log-book is not required to be kept, of

      • (i) the time of opening and closing of watertight doors or other appliances required to be kept closed at sea,

      • (ii) the time of opening and closing of watertight doors that may be required to be opened at sea for the working of a steamship,

      • (iii) every occasion on which watertight doors are opened, closed or inspected and on which boat drills take place, and

      • (iv) every occasion on which boat drills or fire-drills are practised and every occasion when life-saving appliances and fire-extinguishing equipment are examined to see that they have been maintained in the same condition as when the certificate of inspection was issued and if the drills are not practised or the examinations are not made in accordance with the regulations, the reason therefor;

    • (g) that specific duties to be carried out by each member of the crew in an emergency shall be assigned; and

    • (h) that an efficient fire patrol system shall be maintained when passengers are on board.

  • Marginal note:Provisions of Safety Convention

    (2) The regulations made under this section shall provide that the provisions of the Safety Convention relating to watertight doors and other contrivances shall be complied with in every passenger ship registered in Canada that carries more than twelve passengers on an international voyage.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (3) If any regulations made under this section are contravened, the master is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 380
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 55

Marginal note:Information to be sent respecting dangers to navigation

  •  (1) The master of any Canadian ship on meeting with dangerous ice, a dangerous derelict or other direct dangers to navigation, a tropical storm, winds of a force of ten or more on the Beaufort scale for which no storm warning has been received or subfreezing air temperatures associated with gale force winds and causing severe ice accretion on the superstructure of his ship shall, in the manner prescribed by the regulations, send information thereof to all ships in the vicinity and to such authorities on shore as may be prescribed by the regulations.

  • Marginal note:Failure to comply

    (2) If the master of a ship fails to comply with this section, or with the regulations made thereunder, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars.

  • Marginal note:Abstention from transmission of messages

    (3) Every person in charge of a radio station in Canada or on board any Canadian ship shall, on receiving the signal prescribed in the regulations for indicating that a message is about to be sent under this section, refrain from sending messages for a time sufficient to allow other stations to receive the message, and if so required by the Minister shall transmit the message in such a manner as may be required by the Minister, and compliance with this section shall be deemed to be a condition of every licence granted by the Minister under this Act and of every radio licence issued by the Minister of Industry under the Radiocommunication Act.

  • Marginal note:Definition of “tropical storm”

    (4) For the purposes of this section, a tropical storm means a hurricane, typhoon, cyclone or other storm of a similar nature, and a master of a ship shall be deemed to have met with a tropical storm if he has reason to believe there is such a storm in the vicinity.

  • Marginal note:Transmission of messages to be free

    (5) The transmission of messages pursuant to this section shall be free of cost to the steamships concerned, and any expense for the transmission of those messages that would, but for this provision, fall on the ship, shall, in so far as they are not otherwise defrayed, be defrayed out of moneys provided by Parliament.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 381
  • 1989, c. 17, s. 11
  • 1995, c. 1, s. 62

Marginal note:Signals

  •  (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations with respect to what signals shall be signals of distress and urgency, and the signals prescribed by the regulations shall be deemed to be signals of distress and urgency.

  • Marginal note:What regulations shall prescribe

    (2) Regulations made under subsection (1) shall prescribe, in so far as is necessary and expedient, the circumstances in which, and the purposes for which, any signals prescribed by those regulations are to be used, the circumstances in which they are to be revoked and the speed at which any message sent by radio-telegraphy in connection with a signal is to be transmitted, and those regulations shall make such provision as appears to the Governor in Council to be necessary for the purpose of giving effect to Regulation 9 of Chapter V of the Safety Convention in so far as it relates to misuse of distress signals.

  • Marginal note:Displaying signals contrary to provisions

    (3) If a master of a ship uses or displays, or causes or permits any person under his authority to use or display,

    • (a) any signal prescribed by regulations made under this section, except in the circumstances and for the purposes prescribed by those regulations, or

    • (b) any private signal, whether registered or not, that is liable to be mistaken for any signal so prescribed,

    he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars and is further liable to pay compensation for any labour undertaken, risk incurred or loss sustained, in consequence of the signal having been supposed to be a signal of distress or urgency, and that compensation may, without prejudice to any other remedy, be recovered in the same manner in which salvage is recoverable.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 443

Marginal note:Special signals registered

  •  (1) Where the owner of a ship desires to use for the purposes of a private code any rockets, lights or other similar signals that are not such as are liable to be mistaken for a signal of distress or urgency, he may register those signals with the Minister who shall give proper notice of the signals so registered.

  • Marginal note:Refusal by Minister

    (2) The Minister may refuse to register any signals that, in his opinion, cannot easily be distinguished from signals of distress, signals for pilots, signals of urgency or signals prescribed for indicating that a message is about to be sent relating to a danger.

  • Marginal note:Effect of registration

    (3) The registration of any signal does not relieve any person from the obligations of complying with section 382.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 444

Marginal note:Answering distress signal

  •  (1) The master of a Canadian ship at sea, on receiving a signal from any source that a ship or aircraft or survival craft thereof is in distress, shall proceed with all speed to the assistance of the persons in distress informing them if possible that he is doing so, but if he is unable or, in the special circumstances of the case, considers it unreasonable or unnecessary to proceed to their assistance, he shall enter in the official log-book of the ship the reason for failing to proceed to the assistance of those persons.

  • Marginal note:Ships requisitioned

    (2) The master of any ship in distress may, after consultation, in so far as possible, with the masters of the ships that answer his distress signal, requisition one or more of those ships that he considers best able to render assistance, and it is the duty of the master of any Canadian ship that is so requisitioned to comply with the requisition by continuing to proceed with all speed to the assistance of the ship in distress.

  • Marginal note:Release from obligation

    (3) The master of a ship shall be released from the obligation imposed by subsection (1) when he learns that one or more ships other than his own have been requisitioned and are complying with the requisition.

  • Marginal note:Further release

    (4) The master of a ship shall be released from the obligation imposed by subsection (1), and, if his ship has been requisitioned, from the obligation imposed by subsection (2), if he is informed by the persons in the ship in distress or by the master of another ship that has reached those persons that assistance is no longer necessary.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (5) If the master of a Canadian ship contravenes this section he is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year.

  • Marginal note:Right to salvage

    (6) Nothing in this section affects the provisions of section 451 and compliance by the master of a ship with this section does not affect his right, or the right of any other person, to salvage.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 445

Marginal note:Designation of rescue coordinators

  •  (1) The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans may designate persons, to be known as rescue coordinators, to organize search and rescue operations in Canadian waters and on the high seas off the coasts of Canada.

  • Marginal note:Power of rescue coordinators

    (2) On being informed that a vessel or aircraft or survival craft thereof is in distress or is missing in Canadian waters or on the high seas off any of the coasts of Canada under circumstances that indicate it may be in distress, a rescue coordinator may

    • (a) order all vessels within an area specified by him to report their positions to him;

    • (b) order any vessel to take part in a search for that vessel, aircraft or survival craft or to otherwise render assistance; and

    • (c) give such other orders as he deems necessary to carry out search and rescue operations for that vessel, aircraft or survival craft.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (3) Every master or person in charge of a vessel in Canadian waters or a Canadian vessel on the high seas off the coasts of Canada who fails to comply with an order given by a rescue coordinator or a person acting under his direction is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.

  • Marginal note:Defence

    (4) No master or person in charge of a vessel shall be convicted of an offence under subsection (3) if he establishes that compliance with an order of a rescue coordinator or person acting under the direction thereof would have exposed his vessel or tow or persons on board it to serious danger.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 385
  • 2005, c. 29, s. 4

Marginal note:When ice is reported

  •  (1) The master of a Canadian ship, when ice is reported to be on or near his course, shall at night either proceed at a moderate speed or change his course so as to keep amply clear of the ice reported, and of the area of danger.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) If the master of a ship contravenes this section, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 447

Marginal note:Helm orders

  •  (1) No person on any Canadian ship shall, when the ship is going ahead,

    • (a) give a helm or steering order containing the word “starboard” or “right”, or any equivalent of “starboard” or “right”, unless he intends that the head of the ship shall move to the right; or

    • (b) give a helm or steering order containing the word “port” or “left”, or any equivalent of “port” or “left”, unless he intends that the head of the ship shall move to the left.

  • Marginal note:Regulations

    (2) The Governor in Council may make such regulations in respect of the arrangement of steering wheels, indicators or tell-tales, as may, in his opinion, be necessary to carry out the intent of this section.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (3) Every person who contravenes subsection (1) or any regulation made under this section is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars and in default of payment to imprisonment for any term not exceeding one month.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 448

Marginal note:Notice of intended routes

  •  (1) The owner of any line of passenger steamships registered in Canada, crossing the North Atlantic from or to any port in Canada by regular routes, shall give public notice, in such manner as the Minister may direct, of the proposed routes that ships belonging to the line shall follow, and of any changes that may be made in those routes.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) An owner described in subsection (1) who fails, without reasonable cause, to comply with this section is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 449

Dangerous Goods

Marginal note:Regulations

  •  (1) The Governor in Council may, by regulation, declare that any goods, articles or materials to be carried in a ship are dangerous goods, and may prescribe

    • (a) the method of packing and stowing those goods;

    • (b) the quantity of those goods that may be carried in any ship;

    • (c) the place or places within a ship in which they may be carried;

    • (d) the marking that is to be placed on any package or container in which those goods may be placed for shipment;

    • (e) the precautions to be taken by persons engaged in the loading, unloading or stowing of those goods;

    • (f) the precautions to be taken by persons on or in the vicinity of any ship loading, unloading or carrying those goods;

    • (g) the powers of a steamship inspector in respect of any ship loading, unloading or stowing those goods; and

    • (h) such other requirement respecting the inspection of a ship carrying those goods as he deems necessary.

  • Marginal note:Dangerous goods not to be carried

    (2) No person shall send or attempt to send by or carry or attempt to carry in any Canadian ship, except in accordance with the regulations made pursuant to subsection (1), as cargo or ballast, any dangerous goods, but this subsection does not apply to ships’ distress signals or to the carriage of military stores for the public service under conditions authorized by the Minister.

  • Marginal note:Total prohibitions

    (2.1) The Governor in Council may make regulations prohibiting the carriage by Canadian ships of goods specified in the regulations.

  • Marginal note:Directions or prohibitions by Board of Steamship Inspection

    (2.2) Where the Board considers it to be necessary for the protection of public safety, property or the environment in any case not provided for by regulations made under subsection (1) or (2.1), the Board may, subject to any regulations made pursuant to subsection (2.3), give to any person engaged in sending or carrying goods considered dangerous by the Board, in any Canadian ship, directions to cease any such activity or to carry it on in the manner directed.

  • Marginal note:Regulations

    (2.3) The Governor in Council may make regulations providing for the notification of persons directed to do anything under subsection (2.2) and for the effect, duration and appeal or review of the directions and for any matters incidental thereto.

  • Marginal note:Sending dangerous goods

    (3) No person shall send or attempt to send by, or, if he is not the master or owner of a ship, carry or attempt to carry in any Canadian ship any dangerous goods without distinctly marking their nature on the outside of the package containing the goods, in accordance with such regulations as the Governor in Council may make, and giving written notice of the nature of the goods and of the name and address of the sender thereof to the master or owner of a ship at or before the time of sending the goods to be taken on board the ship.

  • Marginal note:Refusal to take on board

    (4) The master or owner of any Canadian ship may refuse to take on board any package or parcel that he suspects contains goods of a dangerous nature, and may require the package or parcel to be opened to ascertain the fact.

  • Marginal note:Goods may be thrown overboard

    (5) When any dangerous goods or any goods that, in the judgment of the master or owner, are dangerous goods are sent on board any Canadian ship contrary to this section, the goods may be thrown overboard, and neither the master nor the owner of the ship is, in respect of the throwing overboard of those goods, subject to any liability, civil or criminal, in any court.

  • Marginal note:Goods on board in contravention of regulations or a direction of the Board

    (6) Where any ship has on board any goods in contravention of any regulations made under this section or of a direction given by the Board under subsection (2.2), the ship is liable to detention in accordance with section 392.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (7) Every person who contravenes subsection (2) or (3) is guilty of an offence and liable

    • (a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars; or

    • (b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year.

  • Marginal note:Idem

    (7.1) Every person who contravenes

    • (a) a regulation made under subsection (2.1), or

    • (b) a direction given by the Board under subsection (2.2) of which he has been notified in accordance with regulations made under subsection (2.3) or, in the absence of such regulations, of which he has received notification,

    is guilty of an offence and liable

    • (c) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand dollars for a first offence and not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars for each subsequent offence, or

    • (d) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.

  • Marginal note:Time limit for prosecutions

    (7.2) Proceedings by way of summary conviction in respect of an offence under this section may be instituted at any time within but not later than two years after the time when the subject-matter of the proceedings arose.

  • Marginal note:Consent of Minister

    (8) No prosecution under this section shall be instituted except by or with the consent of the Minister.

  • Marginal note:Application of section

    (9) This section and the regulations made thereunder apply to all ships in Canadian waters and to Canadian ships in all waters.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 389
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 56

Marginal note:Goods may be forfeited by order of the court

 When any dangerous goods are sent, or attempted to be sent or carried, or attempted to be carried, on board any Canadian ship contrary to section 389, the Admiralty Court, on application by, or on behalf of the owner, charterer or master of the ship, may declare the goods forfeited and direct that they be disposed of as the Court directs.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 451

Ships Alleged to be Unseaworthy

Marginal note:Obligation to secure seaworthiness

  •  (1) In every contract of service, express or implied, between the owner of a ship and the master or any seaman thereof, and in every instrument of apprenticeship whereby any person is bound to serve as an apprentice on board any ship, there shall be implied, notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary, an obligation on the owner of the ship, that the owner, the master and every agent charged with the loading of the ship, the preparing of the ship for sea or the sending of the ship to sea shall use all reasonable means to ensure the seaworthiness of the ship for the voyage at the time when the voyage commences and to keep the ship in a seaworthy condition during the voyage.

  • Marginal note:Exception

    (2) Nothing in this section subjects the owner of a ship to any liability by reason of the ship being sent to sea in an unseaworthy state where, owing to special circumstances, the sending of the ship to sea in that state was reasonable and justifiable.

  • Marginal note:Survey of ships alleged by seamen to be unseaworthy

    (3) Whenever in any proceeding against any seaman or apprentice belonging to any Canadian ship for the offence of desertion or absence without leave, or for otherwise being absent from his ship without leave, it is alleged by one-fourth, or if their number exceeds twenty by not less than five, of the seamen belonging to the ship that the ship is by reason of unseaworthiness, overloading, improper loading, defective equipment or for any other reason not in a fit condition to proceed to sea, or that the accommodation in the ship is insufficient, the court having cognizance of the case shall take such means as may be in its power to satisfy itself concerning the truth of the allegation, and shall for that purpose receive the evidence of the persons making the allegation, and may summon any other witnesses whose evidence it may think it desirable to hear, and shall, if satisfied that the allegation is groundless, adjudicate in the case, but if not so satisfied shall before adjudication cause the ship to be surveyed.

  • Marginal note:Seamen charged with desertion

    (4) A seaman or apprentice charged with desertion, or with quitting his ship without leave, does not have any right to apply for a survey under this section unless he has before quitting his ship complained to the master of the circumstances alleged in justification.

  • Marginal note:Survey ordered by court

    (5) For the purposes of subsection (3), the court shall require any surveyor of ships, or any person appointed for the purpose by the Minister, or, if such a surveyor or person cannot be obtained without unreasonable expense or delay, or is not, in the opinion of the court, competent to deal with the special circumstances of the case, any other impartial surveyor appointed by the court, and having no interest in the ship, its freight or cargo, to survey the ship and to answer any question concerning it that the court may think fit to put.

  • Marginal note:Survey and report

    (6) The surveyor or other person referred to in subsection (5) shall survey the ship and make his written report to the court, including an answer to every question put to him by the court, and the court shall cause the report to be communicated to the parties, and, unless the opinions expressed in the report are proved to the satisfaction of the court to be erroneous, shall determine the questions before it in accordance with those opinions.

  • Marginal note:Powers of surveyor

    (7) Any person making a survey under this section has, for the purposes thereof, all the powers of a steamship inspector.

  • Marginal note:Costs

    (8) The costs, if any, of the survey shall be determined by the court.

  • Marginal note:On complainant

    (9) Where it is proved that the ship is in a fit condition to proceed to sea, or that the accommodation is sufficient, as the case may be, the costs of the survey shall be paid by the person on whose demand or in consequence of whose allegation the survey was made, and may be deducted by the master or owner out of the wages due or to become due to that person.

  • Marginal note:On master or owner

    (10) Where it is proved that the ship is not in a fit condition to proceed to sea, or that the accommodation is insufficient, as the case may be, the master or owner of the ship shall pay the costs of the survey, and is liable to pay to the seaman or apprentice, who has been detained in consequence of the proceeding before the court under this section, such compensation for his detention as the court may award.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 391
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 10

Marginal note:Unseaworthy ships to be detained

  •  (1) Where, on complaint made to him pursuant to this section and sections 393 to 396 or without any complaint, the chief officer of customs at any port in Canada believes on reasonable grounds that any ship at a port or place in Canada is an unsafe ship by reason of the defective condition of its hull, equipment or machinery, or by reason of undermanning, overloading or improper loading, and is unfit to proceed to sea or to make any voyage or trip, without serious danger to life, that officer shall detain the ship until he is satisfied that it is a safe ship.

  • Marginal note:Ship to be inspected

    (2) Where any ship is detained under this section, the officer of customs who detained it may, before releasing the ship, demand that the owner or master have the ship inspected by a steamship inspector for any defects believed to exist, or by a port warden or other competent person named by the Minister in a case where overloading or improper loading is believed to exist.

  • Marginal note:Inspector may be accompanied

    (3) The owner or master may require that a person whom he may choose shall accompany the person making the inspection under this section.

  • Marginal note:Report to chief officer of customs

    (4) The steamship inspector, port warden or other person named by the Minister, who makes the inspection under this section, shall report fully to the officer of customs who has detained a ship under this section, and the officer shall report fully to the Minister, setting out all the particulars with respect to the detention, and his report shall be accompanied by a copy of the report of the steamship inspector, port warden or other person who has made the inspection.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 392
  • R.S., 1985, c. 1 (2nd Supp.), s. 213

Marginal note:Report to be in writing

 Any complaint in respect of the seaworthiness of a ship shall be in writing, stating the name and address of the complainant, and a copy of the complaint, including the name and address of the complainant, shall be given to the owner or master of the ship at the time of detention if the ship is detained.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 454

Marginal note:If complaint of a trivial nature

 Before a ship is detained under section 392, an officer of customs shall assure himself by all means at his disposal that the complaint is not of a trivial or vexatious nature, and if the officer thinks fit to do so, he may exact from the complainant a deposit of money to defray the expenses of inspection and to pay any loss that may be sustained by the owner on account of the detention of the ship, or he may exact such security for the payment of such expenses or loss as he deems sufficient.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 394
  • R.S., 1985, c. 1 (2nd Supp.), s. 213

Marginal note:Unsuccessful complainant to pay costs

  •  (1) Where, on inspection, it is determined that any ship detained under section 392 was not an unseaworthy ship, the expenses in connection with the inspection shall be paid to the Minister by the person making the complaint, and the payment does not prejudice any right of suit or action against the complainant by any persons aggrieved by the complaint.

  • Marginal note:Complaint by members of crew

    (2) The provisions of this section in respect of payment of the cost of inspection do not have effect where complaint is made by members of the crew of the ship complained of if, in the opinion of the Minister, the complaint was not vexatious.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 456

Marginal note:Expenses if complaint founded

 Where, on inspection, it is found that any complaint in respect of an unseaworthy ship was well founded, any expenses in connection with the inspection shall be paid by the owner, and the ship shall not be released until the expenses are paid.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 457

Marginal note:Appeal to Admiralty Court

  •  (1) Any owner who is dissatisfied with the decision of any person who makes inspection under section 392 may appeal to the Admiralty Court and that Court may, if it thinks fit, appoint a competent person or persons to inspect the ship anew.

  • Marginal note:Order by the Court

    (2) On an appeal under subsection (1), the Court may make such order with respect to the detention or discharge of the ship, with respect to the payment, whether by the Crown or otherwise, of any costs or damages incurred by its detention and with respect to the payment of the expenses of the original inspection and of the inspection anew, as to the Court seems just.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 458
  • R.S., c. 10(2nd Supp.), s. 65

Marginal note:Inspector may board ship

 Any person who makes an inspection under section 392 or 397 may, in the execution of his duty, go on board any ship at all reasonable times and inspect the ship or any part thereof, any of the equipment, cargo or articles on board the ship or the certificate of registry of the ship, and if that person considers it necessary to do so, he may require the ship to be so dealt with that he may be able to inspect every part of the hull, but he shall not for that inspection unnecessarily detain or delay a ship in proceeding on a voyage.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 459

Accident Prevention

Marginal note:Regulations

  •  (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations for the protection against accident of persons employed on ships and in the loading or unloading of ships, and without restricting the generality of the foregoing, may make regulations

    • (a) prescribing the standards for protective clothing and equipment to be used by persons so employed and respecting the use of and the responsibility for providing that clothing and equipment;

    • (b) respecting the ventilation and temperature of places in which those persons are employed and prescribing the minimum amount of space in which those persons may be required to work;

    • (c) respecting the guarding and fencing of machinery, equipment, wharfs and decks and openings through decks and the responsibility for providing safe gangways and stagings;

    • (d) respecting the illumination of holds and decks of ships and docks or wharfs at which ships are berthed;

    • (e) respecting the strength of machinery, tackle and gear, their fitness for the purpose for which they are intended and the manner of their use and operation;

    • (f) respecting the protection of persons so employed from fire and explosion; and

    • (g) respecting first-aid facilities, the provision of first-aid training and the services of first-aid attendants.

  • Marginal note:Application of regulations

    (1.1) Regulations made under this section may apply, if they so state, in respect of any ship as defined in Part XV but in no case does a regulation made under this section apply to ships capable of engaging in the drilling for, or the production, conservation or processing of, oil or gas unless the regulation so states and was made on the joint recommendation of the Minister and the Minister of Natural Resources.

  • Marginal note:Meaning of “oil” and “gas”

    (1.2) For the purposes of subsection (1.1), the words oil and gas have the same meanings as in the Oil and Gas Production and Conservation Act.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) Every person who contravenes any regulation made under this section is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 399
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 57
  • 1994, c. 41, s. 37

Inspection of Ships’ Tackle

Marginal note:Inspectors of ships’ tackle

  •  (1) The Governor in Council may appoint at such places in Canada as he deems advisable one or more persons to inspect ships’ tackle and to supervise to such extent as may be necessary for the protection of those employed therein the work of loading and unloading of ships.

  • Marginal note:Inspectors and Chairman

    (2) Persons appointed under subsection (1) shall be known as Inspectors of Ships’ Tackle, and they shall perform their duties under the direction of the Chairman and in accordance with such regulations as may be made by the Governor in Council.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 461

Marginal note:Marking of heavy packages or objects

  •  (1) No person shall in Canada consign to be loaded on any ship, and no master, owner or agent of any ship shall in Canada cause or permit to be loaded on any ship, any package or object of a gross weight of two thousand two hundred and forty pounds or over without causing its weight to be plainly and durably marked on the outside of the package or object, but in the case of a package or object of such a character that its exact weight would be difficult to ascertain, an approximate weight may be so marked accompanied by the word “approximate” or any reasonable abbreviation thereof.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) Every person who fails to comply with this section is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 462

Marginal note:Powers of Inspectors

  •  (1) An Inspector of Ships’ Tackle may in the exercise of his duties

    • (a) go at all reasonable times on board any ship or on any wharf or dock at which any ship is, for the purpose of loading or unloading, alongside; and

    • (b) demand from the owner or master of the ship or from the person in charge of the loading or unloading thereof reasonable assistance and pertinent information.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) Any person who impedes, obstructs or prevents any Inspector of Ships’ Tackle in the exercise of his duties, or refuses him reasonable assistance or full and truthful answer to any pertinent question put with relation to any machinery or tackle or to any accident, is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of not more than one hundred dollars and not less than fifty dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 463

Marginal note:Cessation of loading or unloading

  •  (1) Where any Inspector of Ships’ Tackle

    • (a) is of opinion that any person employed in the loading or unloading of any ship is exposed to undue risk on account of the condition of any machinery, tackle, stagings or the like or on account of the way in which the operation is being carried on, or

    • (b) finds that any regulations that the Governor in Council has made in respect of the loading or unloading of ships are not being complied with,

    he shall order, orally or otherwise, the owner, master and other person in charge of the loading or unloading of the ship or to any of them, to cease the operation of loading or unloading the ship.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) If any person who is ordered to cease the operation of loading or unloading continues the operation or allows it to be continued, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of not more than five hundred dollars and not less than one hundred dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 464

Gangways and Dock Lights

Marginal note:Suitable gangway to be provided

  •  (1) The master of every ship carrying passengers shall, on stopping at any wharf, dock or landing place for the purpose of putting passengers ashore or taking them on board, provide a suitable gangway, properly secured to the ship, for the safe and convenient transit of passengers, and shall cause to be fixed to that gangway at night good and sufficient lights.

  • Marginal note:Lights on wharf

    (2) The owner or occupier of every dock, wharf or landing place at which passengers are put on shore or taken on board shall, at night, cause to be shown conspicuously on that dock, wharf or landing place, at every angle or turn thereof, during the whole of the time that any ship is approaching, or alongside, good and sufficient lights.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (3) Every person who fails to comply with this section is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of not more than fifty dollars and not less than twenty dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 465

Exceptional Vessels and Exemptions from Inspection

Marginal note:Regulations affecting pleasure craft

  •  (1) Subject to subsection (2), pleasure craft are exempt from annual inspection and from the regulations made under section 338 other than those regulations respecting

    • (a) the construction of equipment and the class and quantity of various types of equipment to be carried;

    • (b) precautions against fire;

    • (c) the construction of hulls;

    • (d) marking to show recommended safe limits for engine power and gross load capacity;

    • (e) the construction and installation of machinery; and

    • (f) propelling power, steering capability and position controlling arrangements.

  • Marginal note:Inspection of boilers

    (2) Every pleasure craft in excess of five tons gross tonnage that is fitted with a boiler for purposes of propulsion is subject to the requirements of this Part relating to the annual inspection of boilers.

  • Marginal note:Regulations respecting pleasure craft

    (3) The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the identification of hulls of pleasure craft.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 405
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 58
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 23

Marginal note:Exemption from regulations

 Steamships not in excess of 15 tons gross tonnage that do not carry more than 12 passengers and that are not pleasure craft are exempt from annual inspection and from the regulations made under section 338, other than those respecting

  • (a) the construction of equipment and the class and quantity of various types of equipment to be carried;

  • (b) precautions against fire;

  • (c) the construction of hulls;

  • (d) marking to show recommended safe limits for engine power and gross load capacity;

  • (e) the construction and installation of machinery; and

  • (f) propelling power, steering capability and position controlling arrangements.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 406
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 59
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 11

Marginal note:Exemption from this Part

  •  (1) Steamships in excess of fifteen tons gross tonnage but not in excess of one hundred and fifty tons gross tonnage that are not passenger steamships are exempt from the provisions of this Part relating to annual inspection and instead shall be inspected every fourth year.

  • Marginal note:Inspection of boilers, etc.

    (2) Steamships described in subsection (1), if fitted with a boiler operating at a pressure in excess of 103 kPa, are, in addition to such inspection every fourth year, subject to annual inspection of their boilers, life-saving equipment and systems for precautions against fire, in like manner and as if they were steamships in excess of one hundred and fifty tons gross tonnage.

  • Marginal note:Idem

    (3) Steamships not in excess of fifteen tons gross tonnage that are not passenger steamships are exempt from the provisions of this Part relating to annual inspection, except that such steamships, if fitted with a boiler operating at a pressure in excess of 103 kPa, are subject to inspection of their boilers, life-saving equipment and systems for precautions against fire as provided in subsection (2).

  • (4) [Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 60]

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 407
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 60

Fees for Inspections

Marginal note:Fees

  •  (1) The Governor in Council may fix a fee to be paid yearly or quadrennially in respect of inspections made quadrennially by the owner of every Canadian ship that is required to have a certificate of inspection or a Load Line Certificate under this Part.

  • Marginal note:Amount and how paid

    (2) The amount of the fee shall, in each case, be paid at such times and in such manner and to such officers as the Governor in Council may direct, and shall be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

  • Marginal note:Fees to be paid

    (3) A certificate shall not be issued under this Part to any Canadian ship until the fees applicable in the case for the current year have been paid.

  • Marginal note:Regulations respecting scale of fees and collection thereof

    (4) The Governor in Council may make regulations for the establishment of a scale of fees and the collection thereof, for examining plans of ships, their machinery and equipment, for the inspection of steamships, their machinery and equipment during construction, for assigning and marking Load Lines, for the testing of material, and for such other examinations and inspection under this Part as he may deem fit.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 469

Detention for Non-Compliance or Other Cause

Marginal note:Production of certificates

 The chief officer of customs at any place shall demand of the owner or master of every ship entered, cleared or otherwise officially dealt with by him, the production of every certificate required under this Part to be held in respect of the ship, and where any certificate is not produced, the officer shall detain the ship until the certificate is produced and until any fine imposed on the ship, its master or owner under this Part or the regulations is paid.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 409
  • R.S., 1985, c. 1 (2nd Supp.), s. 213

Marginal note:Notice of non-compliance

 Whenever a steamship inspector gives notice in writing to an officer of customs at a port that any of the provisions of this Part, or any order in council made thereunder, have not been fully complied with in respect of any ship, or that any ship in respect of its hull, machinery or equipment has, in the opinion of the inspector, become unseaworthy, the chief officer of customs at that port shall detain that ship until he receives notice in writing from the inspector concerned that he may release the ship.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 410
  • R.S., 1985, c. 1 (2nd Supp.), s. 213

Marginal note:Preventing contravention of this Part

  •  (1) A chief officer of customs at any place, or other person directed thereto by the Minister, may take action, by detention of a ship or by other reasonable and appropriate means at his disposal, to prevent any contravention of any of the provisions of this Part.

  • Marginal note:Chief officer may go on board, etc.

    (2) For the purposes of this section, a chief officer of customs or other person, in the discharge of his duty, may go on board any ship, make any examination that he deems fit and ask any pertinent question of, and demand all reasonable assistance from, the owner or master or any person in charge thereof, or appearing to be in charge.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 411
  • R.S., 1985, c. 1 (2nd Supp.), s. 213

Marginal note:Impeding inspector or chief officer of customs

 Any person who impedes, prevents, obstructs or resists any steamship inspector, chief officer of customs or other person acting with the written authority of the Minister in the performance of any duty under any of the provisions of this Part, or of any order in council made thereunder, who refuses to answer any pertinent question put to him or who falsely answers any such question, or who refuses to give assistance to the steamship inspector, chief officer of customs or other person in the discharge of his duty, is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of not more than five hundred dollars and not less than fifty dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both fine and imprisonment.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 412
  • R.S., 1985, c. 1 (2nd Supp.), s. 213

Marginal note:Removing ship

 Any person who knowingly removes, or causes to be removed, or is a party to removing any ship that has been running in contravention of any of the provisions of this Part or of any order in council made thereunder, and has been detained by any chief officer of customs, or by a steamship inspector or other person thereunto directed in writing by the Minister, is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of not more than five hundred dollars and not less than fifty dollars, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 413
  • R.S., 1985, c. 1 (2nd Supp.), s. 213

Discretionary Application of Safety and Load Line Conventions

Marginal note:Provisions respecting rules and regulations

  •  (1) Notwithstanding any rules or regulations made pursuant to this Act for the purpose of giving effect to, or implementing, any provision of the Safety Convention or Load Line Convention that requires a particular fitting, appliance or apparatus, or type thereof, to be fitted or carried in a ship, or any particular provision to be made in a ship, the Chairman may allow any other fitting, appliance or apparatus, or type thereof, to be fitted or carried, or any other provision to be made if he is satisfied that that other fitting, appliance or apparatus, or type thereof, or provision, is at least as effective as that required by the Convention.

  • Marginal note:Authority to the Governor in Council to make rules and regulations

    (2) Where under this Act the Governor in Council is empowered to make such regulations or rules as appear to him to be necessary for the purpose of giving effect to any of the provisions of the Safety Convention or Load Line Convention, the requirement shall, in the case of a provision the terms of which are such as to vest in the several governments that are parties to the Convention a discretion with respect to whether any or what action should be taken thereunder, be construed as an authority to the Governor in Council to make by regulations or rules such provision, if any, with respect to the matter in question as he in the exercise of that discretion thinks proper.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 475

Sale of Ships to Realize Fines Imposed

Marginal note:Ships may be seized and sold

  •  (1) In every case in which a conviction has been secured against the owner of a ship for contravention of any of the provisions of this Part, and a fine imposed, the ship, is, if the fine is not paid forthwith, liable to be seized, and, after such reasonable notice as the Minister may, in each case, prescribe, may be sold by the chief officer of customs at any place, or any other person authorized for that purpose in writing by the Minister, and the officer of customs or other person may, by bill of sale, give the purchaser a valid title to the ship free from any mortgage or other claim on the ship that, at the time of the sale, may be in existence.

  • Marginal note:Surplus to be paid to owner

    (2) Any surplus remaining from the proceeds of sale after paying the amount of the fine and the costs of conviction, together with the costs of the seizure and sale, shall be paid over to the owner of the ship, or the mortgagee, as the case may be.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 415
  • R.S., 1985, c. 1 (2nd Supp.), s. 213

Disposal of Fines and Limitation of Proceedings

Marginal note:Disposal of fines

 All fines recovered under this Part shall be paid to the Receiver General, and shall be placed by him to the credit of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, but the Governor in Council may, if he sees fit, authorize the payment of a portion of those fines to the informer, if he is not a steamship inspector.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 477

Marginal note:Directions for payment to municipality

 Notwithstanding section 416, where a provincial, municipal or local authority bears in whole or in part the expense of prosecuting a contravention of this Part in respect of which a fine is imposed, the court, justice of the peace or provincial court judge imposing the fine may direct that the proceeds of the fine be paid to that authority.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 417
  • R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203

Marginal note:Limitation period

 Any information or complaint in respect of any offence under this Part may be laid or made at any time within but not later than twelve months after the time when the matter of the information or complaint arose.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 479

General Offence

Marginal note:Offence and punishment

  •  (1) Except where otherwise specially provided in this Part, the owner or master of any ship is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction for any contravention of this Part or any regulation made under this Part.

  • Marginal note:Meaning of “ship”

    (2) For greater certainty, the meaning of ship in subsection (1) is, for the purposes of a contravention of a regulation made under section 338, co-extensive with the scope of application of that regulation.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 419
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 61

Special Applications of this Part

Marginal note:Application of Part

  •  (1) The Governor in Council may direct that this Part or any of the provisions thereof shall apply to any ship or class of ship registered elsewhere than in Canada while within Canadian waters.

  • Marginal note:Unregistered ships

    (2) This Part applies to all unregistered ships, other than ships belonging to Her Majesty and government ships, while they are within Canada.

  • Marginal note:Certain products not considered cargo

    (3) Fish and the products of whaling trips and sealing trips shall not, for the purposes of this Part, be considered cargo of steamships employed in fishing, whaling or sealing.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 481

Marginal note:Relief from compliance with Part

  •  (1) Notwithstanding anything in this Part, the Minister, on the recommendation of the Chairman, may relieve any Canadian ship or the owner of any such ship from compliance with any of the provisions of this Part or regulations made under this Part relating to steamship inspection, except provisions relating to radio installations in ships, in any specific case of emergency where the Minister may deem it necessary or advisable in the public interest, to such extent, in such manner and on such terms as he may consider proper in the circumstances, but the Minister shall not relieve any ship or owner from compliance with any such provision to such extent or in such manner as would permit any ship to proceed to sea or make any voyage or trip in an unseaworthy condition, that is to say, unfit by reason of the defective condition of its hull, equipment or machinery, or by reason of undermanning, overloading or improper loading, to proceed to sea or make any such trip or voyage without serious danger to life.

  • Marginal note:Effective period

    (2) Subsection (1) has force and effect only during such period or periods as the Governor in Council may determine.

  • Marginal note:Exception

    (3) This section does not apply to Safety Convention ships, Load Line Convention ships or ships to which the Load Line Regulations apply.

  • Marginal note:Report to Parliament

    (4) The Minister shall annually lay before Parliament a special report stating the cases in which he has exercised his power under this section during the preceding year and the grounds on which he has acted in each case.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 482

Small Vessels

Marginal note:Regulations

  •  (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations

    • (a) defining the expression “small vessel” for the purposes of this section;

    • (b) respecting the construction or manufacture of small vessels;

    • (c) authorizing the inspection of small vessels to ensure compliance with regulations made under paragraph (b);

    • (d) authorizing the issuance of certificates or plates in respect of small vessels that comply with regulations made under paragraph (b) and prescribing the fees to be charged in respect of issuing them;

    • (e) respecting the suspension or cancellation of certificates or plates referred to in paragraph (d);

    • (f) prohibiting the tampering with or the unauthorized use or transfer of certificates or plates issued in respect of small vessels;

    • (g) authorizing the seizure and detention of small vessels that do not meet the requirements of regulations made under paragraph (b);

    • (h) prohibiting the construction, manufacture, sale, lease, importation or operation of small vessels that do not meet the requirements of regulations made under paragraph (b);

    • (i) requiring owners, builders, manufacturers, importers or vendors of small vessels to modify their small vessels, at their own expense, in order to comply with regulations made under paragraph (b);

    • (j) prohibiting the alteration or removal of the hull identification or serial numbers that identify small vessels; and

    • (k) prescribing the maximum fine that may be imposed in respect of the contravention of any provision of a regulation made under this subsection.

  • Marginal note:Offence

    (2) Every person who contravenes a provision of a regulation made under subsection (1) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than the maximum fine prescribed under paragraph (1)(k) in respect of that contravention or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both.

  • 1998, c. 16, s. 12

PART VIWrecks, Salvage and Investigations into Shipping Casualties

Superintendence

Marginal note:Superintendence

 The Minister has, throughout Canada, the general superintendence of all matters relating to salvage, wrecks and receivers of wrecks and, subject to the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act, shipping casualties.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 422
  • 1989, c. 3, s. 53
  • 1996, c. 31, s. 96
  • 2005, c. 29, s. 5

Appointment of Receivers of Wrecks

Marginal note:Appointment of receivers of wrecks

 The Governor in Council may

  • (a) establish, alter or abolish districts for the purposes of this Part;

  • (b) appoint any officer of customs or, when it appears to him more convenient, any other person to be a receiver of wrecks; and

  • (c) subject to this Part, make regulations for the conduct of receivers of wrecks.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 487

Marginal note:Where no receivers of wrecks

  •  (1) Where, at any time, there is no receiver of wrecks for any district included within the limits of an agency of the Department, the agent of the Department of the district is the receiver of wrecks for the district.

  • Marginal note:Idem

    (2) Where, at any time, there is no receiver of wrecks for any other district, the chief officer of customs at the principal port in such district is the receiver of wrecks for such district.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 488

Powers of Receivers of Wrecks

Marginal note:Powers

 A receiver of wrecks acting in execution of his duties pursuant to this Part has all the powers and authorities of a chief officer of customs.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 489

Marginal note:Powers respecting vessels wrecked, etc.

  •  (1) When any Canadian or foreign vessel is wrecked, stranded or in distress at any place within Canadian waters or on or near the coasts thereof, a receiver of wrecks shall, on being made acquainted with the wreck, stranding or distress, forthwith proceed to the place, and, on his arrival at that place, take command of all persons present and assign such duties and issue such directions to each person as he thinks fit for the preservation of the vessel, the wreck and the lives of shipwrecked persons.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) Any person who fails without reasonable cause to comply with directions of the receiver of wrecks is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 426
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 22

Marginal note:Wish of owner

 Nothing in this Part shall be construed as authorizing the receiver of wrecks to take charge of any ship, cargo or materials contrary to the expressed wish of the master or owner of the ship or cargo, or of his agent.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 491

Marginal note:Further powers

  •  (1) The receiver of wrecks may, with a view to the preservation of a vessel, or of any shipwrecked persons or wreck,

    • (a) require such persons as he thinks necessary to assist him;

    • (b) require the master of any vessel near at hand to give such aid with his men or vessel as is in his power; and

    • (c) require the use of any vehicle, horses, tackle, ropes or appliances that are near at hand.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) If any person whose service or property is required pursuant to subsection (1) fails, without reasonable cause, to comply with any requirement, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding twenty dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 492

Marginal note:Power of receiver of wrecks

 The receiver of wrecks may cause to be apprehended and kept in custody, until he can be conveniently taken before a justice of the peace to be dealt with according to law, any person who plunders, creates disorder or obstructs the preservation of a vessel wrecked, stranded or in distress within Canadian waters or on or near the coasts thereof, and may use such force as is reasonably necessary for the suppression of any such plundering, disorder or obstruction and may command all Her Majesty’s subjects to assist the receiver in the use of force.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 429
  • R.S., 1985, c. 31 (1st Supp.), s. 102

Marginal note:Persons killed, etc., while resisting

 Where, when the receiver of wrecks or any person acting under his orders is engaged in the execution of the duties by this Part committed to the receiver, any person who resists the receiver or person is maimed, hurt or killed by reason of the resistance, no action, suit or prosecution against the receiver or other person for or by reason of or on account of the maiming, hurting or killing shall be instituted or maintained, either on behalf of Her Majesty or of the person maimed or hurt, or the representatives of any person killed.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 494

Passage over Adjoining Lands

Marginal note:Passage over adjoining lands

  •  (1) Whenever any vessel is wrecked, stranded or in distress within Canadian waters or on or near the coasts thereof, all persons may, for the purpose of rendering assistance to the vessel, or of saving any wreck or the lives of any shipwrecked persons, unless there is some public road equally convenient, pass and repass, either with or without conveyances or horses, over any adjoining lands, without being subject to interruption by the owner or occupier of those lands, if they do so with as little damage as possible, and may, on the like condition, deposit on those lands any wreck saved.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) If the owner or occupier of any lands fails to comply with this section or hinders, prevents or obstructs the execution thereof, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding four hundred dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 495

Marginal note:Damage by such passage

  •  (1) All damage sustained by any owner or occupier described in subsection 431(1) in consequence of the passing, repassing or deposit referred to in that subsection is a charge on the vessel or wreck in respect of which the damage was occasioned.

  • Marginal note:How recoverable

    (2) The damage described in subsection (1) is, in default of payment, recoverable and, in case of dispute, the amount thereof shall be determined in the same manner as salvage may by this Part be recovered and, in case of dispute with respect to amount, is determined.

  • Marginal note:No compensation in certain cases

    (3) No compensation is recoverable under this section in respect of damage to any gate, wall, fence or other obstruction that has been erected or placed by an owner or occupier of lands so as to impede such passing, repassing or deposit.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 496

Power of Master

Marginal note:Unauthorized person may be repelled by force

 Every person, not being a receiver of wrecks or a person acting for or under the orders of a receiver, who endeavours to board any vessel or aircraft wrecked, stranded or in distress within Canadian waters or on or near the coasts thereof, without the leave of the person in charge of that vessel or aircraft, may be repelled by such force as is reasonably necessary, and the person in charge of the vessel or aircraft and every person under his orders so repelling that person by force are hereby indemnified for so doing.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 433
  • R.S., 1985, c. 31 (1st Supp.), s. 103

Officers Acting as Receivers of Wrecks

Marginal note:Certain officers to exercise powers of receiver of wrecks in his absence

  •  (1) When a receiver of wrecks is not present, any chief officer of customs, fishery officer or provincial court judge on board any vessel belonging to or in the service of the Government of Canada and employed in the service of protecting the fisheries, and any officer of customs, sheriff, justice of the peace, officer of the regular force of the Canadian Forces or lighthouse keeper employed by the Government of Canada may do all matters and things by this Part authorized to be done by the receiver, for the preservation of shipwrecked persons, vessels and wrecks.

  • Marginal note:Priority where more than one present

    (2) Where any two or more of the officers or persons described in subsection (1) are present on any occasion, they shall respectively have priority in relation to the doing of any matter or thing in the order in which they are named in that subsection.

  • Marginal note:Fees and right to salvage

    (3) Any officer or person acting pursuant to subsection (1) shall, in respect of any wreck the delivery of which to the receiver of wrecks is by this Part required, be considered as the agent of the receiver, and shall place the wreck in the custody of the receiver, and that officer or person is not entitled to any fees payable to receivers of wrecks, and is not deprived, by reason of his so acting, of any right to salvage to which he would otherwise be entitled.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 434
  • R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203

Marginal note:Persons when deemed acting under receiver of wrecks

 Any person acting under the orders of an officer or person acting pursuant to section 434 shall, for the purposes of this Part, be deemed to be acting under the orders of a receiver of wrecks.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 499

Wreck

Marginal note:Duty of persons finding wreck

  •  (1) Whenever any person takes possession of a wreck within the limits of Canada, including Canadian waters, he shall, as soon as possible, deliver it to the receiver of wrecks, but the Minister may dispense with that delivery in the case of any wreck, on such conditions as he thinks fit.

  • Marginal note:Aircraft

    (2) This section applies to any aircraft or any part thereof or cargo thereof found derelict at sea outside Canadian waters and brought within the territorial limits of Canada.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (3) If any person who has taken possession of a wreck without reasonable cause fails to comply with this section, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding four hundred dollars, and, in addition, to a fine equal to double the value of the wreck, and he forfeits any claim or right to claim salvage relating to the wreck.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 500

Marginal note:Neglect to prove lawful title

  •  (1) Every person in whose possession and on whose premises is found any wreck discovered by a receiver of wrecks, on search by him under a search warrant granted in that behalf by a justice of the peace, who fails, on being summoned by two justices of the peace, to appear before them to prove to their satisfaction that he was lawfully entitled to the possession of the wreck is, in the case of a first failure, guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding eighty dollars and, in any other case, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to a fine not exceeding four hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year.

  • Marginal note:Salvage to informer

    (2) Where the discovery of a wreck pursuant to subsection (1) is made in consequence of information given by any person to the receiver of wrecks, the informer is entitled, by way of salvage, to such sum not exceeding eighty dollars as the receiver allows under instructions from the Minister.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 501

Marginal note:Summary procedure

 When a receiver of wrecks suspects that any wreck is secreted or concealed by, or is wrongfully in the possession of, any person, he may apply to any justice of the peace for a search warrant, and the justice may grant the warrant, by virtue whereof it is lawful for the receiver to enter, by force if necessary, any house, building or place, whether enclosed or unenclosed, or any vessel, and to search for, remove and detain any wreck kept or secreted therein.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 502

Marginal note:Allegations in prosecutions

  •  (1) On any indictment or prosecution under this Part for any indictable offence in respect of a wreck, it is not necessary to attribute property to any person, or to identify the alleged wreck as part of any particular vessel or wreck coming from any particular vessel, or as the property of any particular person.

  • Marginal note:Indictments for certain offences

    (2) On any indictment or prosecution of an accused for receiving, secreting or disguising any wreck, for having the possession thereof, for selling or dealing therewith or for defacing or obliterating marks thereon, unless the accused shows that he was possessed of the wreck for more than twelve months before the date of the indictment or the commencement of the prosecution, it lies on the accused to show that he did not know and had not the means of knowing it to be a wreck, or that he was lawfully possessed of, or entitled to sell or deal with, the wreck.

  • Marginal note:Evidence of former convictions

    (3) On any indictment or prosecution of an accused for receiving, secreting, defacing, possessing, selling, dealing with or concealing the character of any wreck, evidence may be given, either before or after the verdict, of any former conviction of the accused for any of those offences.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 503

Marginal note:Notice of wreck

  •  (1) Every receiver of wrecks shall, after taking possession of any wreck, notify the owner, if known, or, if not known, cause a notice to be published setting out a description of the wreck.

  • Marginal note:How notice to be given

    (2) The notice must be published in the manner, at the time or times and in the location or locations that the receiver of wrecks considers reasonable in the circumstances, taking into account the value of the wreck and the likelihood of the notice coming to the attention of its owner.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 440
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 13

Marginal note:Owner may claim wreck

 The owner of any wreck in the possession of the receiver of wrecks, on establishing his claim to the wreck to the satisfaction of the Minister within one year from the time at which it came into the possession of the receiver is, on paying the salvage, fees and expenses due, entitled to have the wreck or the proceeds thereof delivered up to him or his agent.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 506

Marginal note:Consular officer

 Where any wreck referred to in section 441 is proved to the satisfaction of the Minister to belong to a foreign owner, any consular officer in Canada of the country to which the owner of the wreck belongs shall, in the absence of the owner or his agent, be deemed to be the agent of the owner with respect to the custody and disposal of the wreck.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 507

Sale of Wreck

Marginal note:Sale for general advantage

 Where, in the opinion of the receiver of wrecks, it is to the advantage of all parties to sell a wreck in his custody, or, where the wreck consists of goods of a dangerous nature, the receiver may sell the wreck, and the proceeds of the sale, after defraying the expenses thereof, shall be held by the receiver for the same purposes and subject to the same claims, rights and liabilities as if the wreck had remained unsold.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 508

Marginal note:Where salvage is not paid

 Where the owner of any wreck is known or has established his title to the wreck, but neglects to pay the salvage, fees or expenses due thereon for twenty days after notice in writing from the receiver of wrecks, the receiver may sell the wreck, or a sufficient part thereof, and may, out of the proceeds of the sale, after defraying the expenses of the sale, pay the salvage, fees and expenses due, and shall deliver any remaining portion of the wreck and pay the surplus proceeds, if any, of the sale to the persons entitled to receive them.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 509

Unclaimed Wreck

Marginal note:Disposal of unclaimed wreck

  •  (1) If no owner establishes a claim to any wreck within the period that the receiver of wrecks considers reasonable in the circumstances, the wreck shall be disposed of in the manner that the receiver of wrecks directs.

  • Marginal note:Disposal of proceeds

    (2) The proceeds of the disposal, if any, are, after payment of expenses, costs, fees and salvage, to be paid over to the Receiver General, to form part of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 445
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 14

Claims to Wreck

Marginal note:Delivery of wreck

 On delivery of a wreck or payment of the proceeds of a wreck by a receiver of wrecks, pursuant to this Part, the receiver is discharged from all liability in respect thereof, but the delivery or payment does not prejudice or affect any question that is raised by third parties concerning the wreck.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 511

Marginal note:Interpleader in case of wreck

  •  (1) Whenever two or more persons claim any wreck or proceeds of a wreck of any value or amount in the possession of a receiver of wrecks, any court sitting and having jurisdiction in civil matters to the value or amount of the wreck or proceeds in question in the district of the receiver may, on the application of the receiver, or of any of those persons, summon such persons before it, and may hear and adjudicate on their claims, and make such order between the parties in respect thereof and of the costs of the proceedings as to the court seems fit.

  • Marginal note:Enforcement of order

    (2) An order made pursuant to subsection (1) may be enforced in like manner as any order made in any action brought in the same court.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 512

Delegation

Marginal note:Delegation

 A receiver of wrecks may delegate to any person any of the receiver’s powers, duties and functions under this Act, other than the power to hear and determine disputes respecting salvage.

  • 1998, c. 16, s. 15

Offence

Marginal note:Impeding receiver of wrecks

 Every person who wilfully impedes a receiver of wrecks, a person assisting a receiver of wrecks under subsection 428(1) or a person to whom any powers, duties or functions of a receiver of wrecks have been delegated under section 447.1 in the execution of any duty under this Act, or defaults in appearing or giving evidence before a receiver of wrecks, is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than $1,000.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 448
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 15
  • 2001, c. 34, s. 26(E)

Aircraft

Marginal note:Aircraft treated as if ship or vessel

  •  (1) The law, statutory and other, including the provisions of this Part, relating to wrecks, to the salvage of life or property and to the duty or obligation to render assistance to ships or vessels in distress applies to aircraft on or over the sea or tidal waters and on and over the Great Lakes, as it applies to ships or vessels.

  • Marginal note:Reward for salvage services

    (2) The owner of an aircraft is entitled to a reasonable reward for salvage services rendered by the aircraft to any property or persons in any case where the owner of the aircraft would be so entitled had it been a ship or vessel.

  • Marginal note:Exemptions

    (3) The Governor in Council may make modifications of and exemptions from the provisions of the law, statutory and other, in its application to aircraft, to such extent and in such manner as appears necessary or expedient.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 514

Salvage

Marginal note:Salvage Convention

  •  (1) Subject to such reservations as Canada may make, the International Convention on Salvage, 1989, signed at London on April 28, 1989 and set out in Schedule V, is approved and declared to have the force of law in Canada, from and after the day on which Canada deposits an instrument of ratification with the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization.

  • Marginal note:Inconsistent laws

    (2) In the event of an inconsistency between the Convention and this Act or the regulations, the Convention prevails to the extent of the inconsistency.

  • Marginal note:Publication

    (3) A copy of any reservation referred to in Article 30 of the Convention that Canada intends to make shall be published in the Canada Gazette at least ninety days before the proposed effective date of the reservation and a reasonable opportunity within those ninety days shall be afforded to interested persons to make representations to the Minister with respect to that reservation.

  • 1993, c. 36, s. 1

Marginal note:Salvage payable for saving life

  •  (1) Where services are rendered wholly or in part within Canadian waters in saving life from any Canadian or foreign vessel, or elsewhere in saving life from any vessel registered in Canada, there shall be payable to the salvor by the owner of the vessel, cargo or apparel saved a reasonable amount of salvage, to be determined in case of dispute in the manner set out in this Part.

  • Marginal note:Priority

    (2) Salvage in respect of the preservation of life when payable by the owners of the vessel shall be payable in priority to all other claims for salvage.

  • Marginal note:Award to salvor

    (3) Where the vessel, cargo, and apparel are destroyed or the value thereof is insufficient, after payment of the actual expenses incurred, to pay the amount of salvage payable in respect of the preservation of life, the Minister may, in his discretion, award to the salvor, out of any funds at his disposal for that purpose, such sum as he thinks fit in whole or part satisfaction of any amount of salvage so left unpaid.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 450
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 22

Marginal note:Assistance

  •  (1) The master or person in charge of a vessel shall, in so far as he can do so without serious danger to his own vessel, its crew and passengers, if any, render assistance to every person, even if that person is a subject of a foreign state at war with Her Majesty, who is found at sea and in danger of being lost, and if he fails to do so he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars.

  • Marginal note:Salvage not affected

    (2) Compliance with subsection (1) by the master or person in charge of a vessel does not affect his right or the right of any other person to salvage.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 516

Marginal note:Salvage of cargo or wreck

 When, within Canadian waters or on or near the coasts thereof, any vessel is wrecked, abandoned, stranded or in distress, and services are rendered by any person in assisting the vessel or in saving any wreck, there shall be payable to the salvor by the owner of the vessel or wreck, as the case may be, a reasonable amount of salvage including expenses properly incurred.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 517

Procedure in Salvage

Marginal note:Disputes respecting salvage

 Disputes respecting salvage, whether of life or property, shall be heard and determined by and before the receiver of wrecks or the Admiralty Court, as provided for respectively by this Part, and not otherwise.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 518

Marginal note:When receiver of wrecks may hear dispute

 Where in a dispute respecting salvage the amount claimed does not exceed one hundred dollars or the value of the property liable, or alleged to be liable, for the salvage does not exceed two hundred and fifty dollars, or where the parties consent in writing, the dispute shall be heard and determined by the receiver of wrecks for the district where the services were rendered or where the property liable is at the time of the making of the claim, and his award shall include fees and costs.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 519

Marginal note:Appeals to Minister

 Any party who feels aggrieved by an award of the receiver of wrecks may appeal to the Minister, within thirty days after the decision of the receiver from which the appeal is made, and, in that case, the appellant shall, within seven days after the cause of appeal has arisen, give notice to the other party and to the receiver of his intention to appeal, and of the grounds of the appeal.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 520

Marginal note:Other cases

 In cases other than those described in sections 454 and 455, a dispute respecting salvage may be heard and determined by the Admiralty Court.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 521

Marginal note:Costs

 Where, in any suit or proceeding for salvage in the Admiralty Court, the claimant recovers an amount less than the maximum amount that might be claimed before the receiver of wrecks, unless the court certifies that the suit or proceeding was unfit to be determined by the receiver, the claimant shall have no costs, charges or expenses incurred by him in the prosecution of his claim, and shall pay to the other party such costs, charges and expenses, if any, as the Court directs.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 522

Marginal note:Proceedings respecting salvage, how to be conducted

 Every dispute respecting salvage that arises in Canada, when the services have been rendered in Canadian waters or on or near the coasts thereof, may be heard and determined, on the application either of the salvor or of the owner of the property liable to the claim for salvage, or when the property is in the custody of the receiver of wrecks, on his application, and, if no proceedings to determine any dispute respecting salvage have been taken by the salvor, the owner may make application to the receiver or the Admiralty Court, according to the value of the property liable.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 523

Marginal note:Valuation of property

  •  (1) When any dispute respecting salvage arises in Canada, the receiver of wrecks for the district where the property liable is situated shall, on the application of either party in the dispute, appoint a valuer to value the property, and shall give copies of the valuation to both parties.

  • Marginal note:Evidence of valuation

    (2) Any copy of a valuation purporting to be signed by the valuer, and to be certified as a true copy by the receiver of wrecks, is admissible as evidence in any subsequent proceeding and is, for the purpose of giving jurisdiction in salvage, conclusive evidence of the value at the time of the valuation.

  • Marginal note:Fees

    (3) There shall be paid in respect of a valuation such fee as the Minister directs.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 524

Marginal note:Seizure and detention of property

 A receiver of wrecks may seize any property found within his district and alleged to be liable for salvage and detain the property until the salvage, fees and costs due thereon are ascertained and paid, process is issued for the arrest or detention thereof by the Admiralty Court or security is given to his satisfaction for the salvage, fees and costs.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 525

Marginal note:Security

  •  (1) Where the value of the property seized and detained by a receiver of wrecks pursuant to section 460 does not exceed two hundred and fifty dollars, any question respecting the amount of the security to be given or respecting the sufficiency of the sureties may be determined by the receiver of wrecks.

  • Marginal note:Idem

    (2) Where the value of the property exceeds two hundred and fifty dollars, any question respecting the amount of the security to be given or respecting the sufficiency of the sureties may be determined on the application either of the owner of the property or of the salvors or any of them, or of the receiver of wrecks, by the Admiralty Court.

  • Marginal note:Valuation of property

    (3) Where property has not been valued, the value, for the purposes of this section, shall be determined by the receiver of wrecks or by a valuer appointed by him.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 526

Marginal note:Enforcing security

 Security given for salvage pursuant to sections 460 and 461 may be enforced by the Admiralty Court in the same manner as if bail had been given in that Court, and whenever, under this Part, the determination of disputes respecting salvage is to be made by a receiver of wrecks, any such security may be enforced in that manner by that Court.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 527

Marginal note:Procedure in disputes before a receiver of wrecks

 Whenever any dispute respecting salvage arises before a receiver of wrecks under this Part, the receiver shall hear and determine the dispute and if, after he has made and published his award, the salvage, fees and costs by him awarded to be paid are not paid within fourteen days, he may sell the property liable for the salvage, fees and costs or a sufficient part thereof, and, out of the proceeds, defray the expenses of the sale and the salvage, fees and costs awarded, and shall pay or deliver up the surplus, if any, to the owners of the property or other persons entitled thereto.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 528

Marginal note:Apportionment of salvage

  •  (1) Whenever the aggregate amount of salvage payable in respect of any services has been finally determined, that amount may be apportioned and distributed

    • (a) by a receiver of wrecks, if the amount has been determined by him, among the persons entitled thereto, in such manner as he thinks just, subject to an appeal to the Minister by any person aggrieved; or

    • (b) by the Admiralty Court, when the amount has been determined by that Court, among the persons entitled thereto in such manner as the Court thinks just, and the Court may appoint any person to carry the apportionment into effect, compel any person in whose hands or under whose control the amount is to distribute the amount, or to bring it into the Court to be dealt with as the Court directs, and, for those purposes, issue such orders as the Court thinks fit.

  • Marginal note:Disputes arising after admission or agreement

    (2) Where the amount has been finally ascertained by admission or agreement, but a dispute arises or is apprehended with respect to the apportionment thereof among several claimants, the person liable to pay the amount may pay the amount, if it exceeds one hundred dollars, into the Admiralty Court, or, if the amount does not exceed one hundred dollars, or if the claimants so agree, it may be paid to the receiver of wrecks.

  • Marginal note:Apportionment by receiver of wrecks

    (3) The receiver of wrecks or the Admiralty Court shall receive and apportion the amount and grant to the person paying the amount a certificate of the amount paid and the services in respect of which it is paid, and the certificate is a full discharge and indemnity to that person and to all his property liable in respect of those services, against all persons, parties to or bound by the admission or agreement.

  • Marginal note:Apportionment under law of country of foreign ship

    (4) Where any dispute arises with respect to the apportionment of any amount of salvage among the owners, master, pilot, crew, and other persons in the services of any foreign vessel, the amount shall be apportioned by the Admiralty Court or person making the apportionment in accordance with the law of the country to which the vessel belongs.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 529

Marginal note:Enforcement of salvage

 When any salvage, fees, charges or costs in relation to salvage are awarded or declared to be due by a receiver of wrecks and the property liable or the proceeds thereof is or are under arrest in a different suit in the Admiralty Court, the salvage, fees, charges and costs shall be enforced against the property or proceeds so under arrest, by the Admiralty Court.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 530

Salvage by Ships Belonging to Her Majesty

Marginal note:Salvage by Her Majesty’s ships

  •  (1) Where salvage services are rendered by a ship belonging to Her Majesty, other than a ship specially equipped with a salvage plant or a tug, or by the commander or crew thereof, no claim shall be allowed for any loss, damage or risk caused to the ship or its stores, tackle or furniture, or for the use of any stores or other articles belonging to Her Majesty, supplied in order to effect those services, or for any other expense or loss sustained by Her Majesty by reason of that service.

  • Marginal note:Consent of Governor in Council

    (2) No claim for salvage services by the commander or crew, or part of the crew of a ship belonging to Her Majesty shall be finally adjudicated on, unless the consent of the Governor in Council to the prosecution of that claim is proved, which consent may be given at any time before final adjudication.

  • Marginal note:Evidence of consent

    (3) Any document purporting to give the consent of the Governor in Council for the purpose of this section is evidence of that consent.

  • Marginal note:Consent not proved

    (4) Where a claim is prosecuted and the consent is not proved, the claim shall stand dismissed with costs.

  • Marginal note:Aircraft

    (5) This section applies to aircraft and the word “ship” includes aircraft, but with respect to claims by aircraft the consent referred to in this section may be the consent of the Minister of National Defence.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 531

Marginal note:Salvage by Her Majesty’s ships abroad

  •  (1) Where salvage services are rendered at any place outside Canada or Canadian waters by the commander or any of the crew of a ship belonging to Her Majesty in saving any vessel, cargo or property belonging to a vessel, the vessel, cargo or property alleged to be saved shall, if the salvor is justified by the circumstances of the case in detaining it, be taken to some port in Canada or in some other part of the Commonwealth and Dependent Territories where there is a court having Admiralty jurisdiction or a consular officer.

  • Marginal note:Salvor and master to deliver statement

    (2) The salvor and the master or other person in charge of the vessel, cargo or property saved may, within twenty-four hours after arriving at the port, each deliver to the court or a consular officer, or in Canada shall deliver to the Admiralty Court, as the case may be, a statement on oath, specifying in so far as possible, and in so far as those particulars are applicable, the particulars set out in Part I of Schedule III, and also, in the case of the master or other person, his willingness to execute a bond in the form, in so far as circumstances will permit, set out in Part II of that Schedule.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 532
  • R.S., c. 10(2nd Supp.), s. 65

Marginal note:When proceedings in Canada

  •  (1) Where the proceedings described in section 467 are in Canada,

    • (a) the bond shall be in such sum as the Admiralty Court thinks sufficient to answer the demand for salvage service, but the sum fixed shall not exceed one-half of the amount that, in the opinion of the Court, is the value of the property in respect of which salvage has been rendered;

    • (b) if the vessel, cargo or property in respect of which salvage has been rendered is not owned by persons domiciled in a Commonwealth country, the master shall procure such security for the due performance of the bond as the Admiralty Court thinks sufficient to be lodged with that Court as it may direct; and

    • (c) the Admiralty Court shall fix the amount of the bond within four days after the receipt of the statements required by this Part, but if either of those statements is not delivered within the time required by this Part, it may proceed ex parte.

  • Marginal note:Restriction

    (2) Nothing in this section authorizes the Admiralty Court to require the cargo of any ship to be unladen.

  • Marginal note:When proceedings in Canada

    (3) Where the proceedings are in Canada,

    • (a) the Admiralty Court on fixing the sum to be inserted in the bond shall send notice thereof to the salvor and master, and on the execution of the bond by the master in the sum fixed in the presence of a judge, who shall attest the same, on delivery thereof to the salvor, and in cases where security is to be lodged, on that security being duly lodged, the right of the salvor to detain the vessel, cargo or property shall cease;

    • (b) the bond binds the respective owners of the vessel, cargo and freight, and their heirs, executors and administrators for the salvage adjudged to be payable in respect of the vessel, cargo and freight respectively;

    • (c) the bond shall be adjudicated on and enforced in the Admiralty Court; and

    • (d) where security has been given for the performance of a bond, the persons, if any, with whom the security is lodged shall deal with the security as the Admiralty Court directs.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 533
  • R.S., c. 10(2nd Supp.), s. 65

Marginal note:When proceedings not in Canada

 Where the proceedings described in section 467 are not in Canada, they may, notwithstanding the interest of Her Majesty in right of Canada in the salving ship, proceed according to the law of the Commonwealth country where those proceedings were instituted, but any salvage bond or security given on the release of the ship from detention shall be forthwith transmitted to the Federal Court, at Ottawa, and that Court has jurisdiction to enforce any bond or security given in any Commonwealth country.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 534
  • R.S., c. 10(2nd Supp.), s. 64

Marginal note:Saving for other salvage rights

  •  (1) Nothing in this Part prejudices the right of the salvor, where salvage services have been rendered by a ship belonging to Her Majesty or by the commander or any of the crew thereof, to proceed for the enforcement of the salvage claim otherwise than in the manner provided by this Act, but the salvor has no right to detain the vessel, cargo or property saved, unless he elects to proceed under this Part.

  • Marginal note:Rights of salvor protected

    (2) Nothing in this Part affects the right of the salvor, where salvage services have been rendered by a ship belonging to Her Majesty or by the commander or any of the crew thereof, in any case that is not provided for in this Part.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 535

Limitation of Time for Salvage Proceedings

Marginal note:Proceedings within two years

  •  (1) No action is maintainable in respect of any salvage services, unless proceedings therein are commenced within two years from the date when the salvage services were rendered.

  • Marginal note:Extension of period by court

    (2) The court having jurisdiction to deal with an action to which this section relates may, in accordance with the rules of court, extend the period described in subsection (1) to such extent and on such conditions as it thinks fit, and shall, if satisfied that there has not during the period been any reasonable opportunity of arresting the defendant’s vessel within the jurisdiction of the court, or within the territorial waters of the country to which the plaintiff’s ship belongs or in which the plaintiff resides or has his principal place of business, extend the period to an extent sufficient to give such reasonable opportunity.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 536

Security for Customs Duties on Salved Property

Marginal note:Duties on wreck

 The Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness may permit all goods saved from any vessel stranded or wrecked within the limits of Canada on its inward voyage to be forwarded to the port of its original destination, and all goods saved from any ship stranded or wrecked within the limits of Canada on its outward voyage to be returned to the port at which the goods were shipped, taking such security for the due protection of the revenue in respect of such goods as he thinks proper.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 472
  • 2005, c. 38, ss. 142, 145

Fees of Receivers of Wrecks

Marginal note:Receiver’s fees

  •  (1) There shall be paid to every receiver of wrecks the expenses properly incurred by him in the performance of his duties, and in respect of the matters specified in Form 5 in Schedule IV, such fees set out in that Form as are directed by the Governor in Council.

  • Marginal note:Recovery of fees

    (2) The receiver of wrecks, in addition to all other rights and remedies for the recovery of expenses or fees, has the same rights and remedies that a salvor has in respect of salvage due to him, and may, if the property in respect of which any of those expenses or fees are due is not under arrest in any court, seize or detain that property until those expenses and fees are paid, or until security is given for them to his satisfaction.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 538

Marginal note:Disputes respecting fees

 Whenever any dispute arises in any part of Canada respecting the amount payable to any receiver of wrecks in respect of expenses or fees, the dispute shall be determined by the Minister, whose decision is final.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 539

Marginal note:Fees to receiver

 All fees received by any receiver of wrecks in respect of any of the matters specified in Form 5 in Schedule IV may be retained by him for his own remuneration.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 540

Shipping Casualties and Accidents on Ships

Marginal note:Shipping casualties

 A shipping casualty shall be deemed to occur

  • (a) when any ship is lost, abandoned, stranded or damaged in Canadian waters, or on a voyage to or from a port in Canada;

  • (b) when any ship causes loss or damage to any other ship in Canadian waters;

  • (c) when, by reason of any casualty happening to or on board any ship in Canadian waters, loss of life ensues;

  • (d) when any such loss, abandonment, stranding, damage or casualty happens elsewhere, and any competent witness thereof arrives or is found at any place in Canada;

  • (e) when any loss of life occurs by reason of any casualty happening to or on board any boat belonging to a fishing vessel or other vessel registered or licensed in Canada; and

  • (f) when any ship is lost or supposed to have been lost, and any evidence is obtainable in Canada respecting the circumstances under which the ship proceeded to sea or was last heard of.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 541

Marginal note:Investigation into accidents

  •  (1) The Minister may order an investigation to be made by any person or persons appointed for that purpose into the cause of any accident on any ship, whether attended with loss of life or not, subject to the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act.

  • Marginal note:Powers of investigation

    (2) For the purposes of investigating the cause of any accident on a ship, any person appointed under subsection (1) has the powers set out in section 481.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 477
  • 1989, c. 3, s. 54

Marginal note:Regulations

  •  (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations

    • (a) respecting the reporting of shipping casualties by ships in Canadian waters and Canadian ships in any waters;

    • (b) respecting the reporting of accidents or dangerous occurrences happening to or on board ships in Canadian waters and Canadian ships in any waters, whether attended with loss of life or not;

    • (c) respecting the reporting of deaths on and the disappearance of persons from ships in Canadian waters or Canadian ships in any waters; and

    • (d) prescribing the information to be included in any report referred to in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) and the form of that report.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) Every person who contravenes any regulation made under this section is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 543

Marginal note:Examination of witnesses

  •  (1) Where any ship, British or foreign, is or has been in distress in Canadian waters, a receiver of wrecks or, at the request of the Minister, a wreck commissioner or deputy approved by the Minister, or, in the absence of those persons, a justice of the peace, shall, as soon as conveniently may be, examine on oath any person belonging to the ship, or any other person who may be able to give any account thereof or of the cargo or stores thereof with respect to the following matters:

    • (a) the name and description of the ship;

    • (b) the name of the master and of the owners;

    • (c) the names of the owners of the cargo;

    • (d) the ports from and to which the ship was bound;

    • (e) the occasion of the distress of the ship;

    • (f) the services rendered; and

    • (g) such other matters or circumstances relating to the ship, or to the cargo on board the ship, as the person holding the examination thinks necessary.

  • Marginal note:Evidence sent to Minister

    (2) The person holding the examination shall take it down in writing, and shall send a copy thereof to the Minister.

  • Marginal note:Powers of examiner

    (3) The person holding the examination has, for the purposes thereof, the power to administer the oath and all the powers of a steamship inspector under this Act.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (4) Any person belonging to the ship that is or has been in distress in Canadian waters, or capable of giving an account as described in subsection (1), who, on being examined, refuses to answer any pertinent question under this section that is put to him on examination pursuant to this section is guilty of an offence and liable, in addition to any other liability, to a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 544

Preliminary Inquiries into Casualties

Marginal note:Appointment of officer to hold preliminary inquiry

  •  (1) The Minister may appoint a chief officer of customs, any officer of the Government of Canada or any other person to make preliminary inquiries respecting shipping casualties, and may define the territorial jurisdiction of that officer or person, and the persons so appointed shall make a preliminary inquiry respecting a shipping casualty wherever so directed by the Minister, subject to the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act.

  • Marginal note:Suspension of licence of pilot in certain cases

    (2) Where, on a preliminary inquiry respecting a shipping casualty, the officer or person holding the inquiry is of the opinion that any loss or damage, or the stranding of any ship, or any loss of life has been caused by the wrongful act or default or by the incapacity of the pilot in charge, or that the pilot has been guilty of any gross act of misconduct or drunkenness, the licence of the pilot may be suspended by that officer or person until a formal investigation under this Part has been held and a further decision rendered on the case.

  • Marginal note:Term of suspension

    (3) The term of suspension shall not exceed a period of three days, unless the Minister notifies the pilot within that time that a formal investigation will be held.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 480
  • 1989, c. 3, s. 55

Marginal note:Power respecting inquiry

 Subject to section 481.1, every officer or person referred to in section 480 may, for the purpose of holding a preliminary inquiry respecting a shipping casualty,

  • (a) go on board any vessel or wreck and inspect it or any part thereof, or any of the machinery, boats, equipments, lading or articles on board thereof, the boarding or inspection of which appears to him to be requisite for the purpose of the inquiry, not unnecessarily detaining the vessel from proceeding on any voyage;

  • (b) enter and inspect any premises, the entry and inspection of which appear to him requisite for the purpose of the inquiry;

  • (c) require by summons under his hand the attendance of all such persons as he thinks fit to call before him and examine for the purpose of the inquiry, and require answers or returns to any inquiries he thinks fit to make;

  • (d) require and enforce the production of all books, papers or documents that he considers important for the purpose of the inquiry; and

  • (e) administer oaths, or, in lieu of requiring and administering an oath, require every person examined by him to make and subscribe a solemn affirmation or declaration of the truth of the statement made by him in his examination.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 481
  • R.S., 1985, c. 31 (1st Supp.), s. 22

Marginal note:Warrant required to enter dwelling-house

  •  (1) Where any vessel or premises referred to in section 481 is a dwelling-house, an officer or person referred to in section 480 may not enter that dwelling-house without the consent of the occupant except under the authority of a warrant issued under subsection (2).

  • Marginal note:Authority to issue warrant

    (2) Where on ex parte application a justice of the peace is satisfied by information on oath

    • (a) that entry to a dwelling-house is requisite for the purpose of an inquiry, and

    • (b) that entry to the dwelling-house has been refused or that there are reasonable grounds for believing that entry thereto will be refused,

    the justice of the peace may issue a warrant under his hand authorizing the officer or person referred to in section 480 named therein to enter that dwelling-house subject to such conditions as may be specified in the warrant.

  • Marginal note:Use of force

    (3) In executing a warrant issued under subsection (2), the officer or person referred to in section 480 named therein shall not use force unless the officer or person is accompanied by a peace officer and the use of force has been specifically authorized in the warrant.

  • R.S., 1985, c. 31 (1st Supp.), s. 23

Marginal note:Report to the Minister

 On the conclusion of any inquiry, the officer or person who made the inquiry shall send to the Minister a report containing a full statement of the case, and of his opinion thereon, accompanied by such report of or extracts from the evidence and such observations as he thinks fit.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 547

Formal Investigations into Casualties

Marginal note:Commissioner for formal investigations

  •  (1) The Minister may appoint any officer of the Government of Canada, any judge of any court of record, any deputy judge of the Federal Court or any provincial court judge to be a commissioner to hold formal investigations, or any formal investigation in respect of any shipping casualty, subject to the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act, and a commissioner shall for that purpose be a court.

  • Marginal note:Appointment of court

    (2) Where the Minister considers any shipping casualty to be of extreme gravity and special importance, the Minister may appoint two or more fit persons to be commissioners to hold a formal investigation, subject to the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act, and the commissioners so appointed are for that purpose a court and that court shall, in addition to its judgment, make a full and detailed report to the Minister on the circumstances of the case, and may make such recommendations as may in its opinion be proper.

  • Marginal note:Investigation by request

    (3) The Minister shall not direct the holding of a formal investigation in respect of any shipping casualty occurring to or in respect of a ship registered in any Commonwealth country other than Canada except at the request, or with the consent, of the government of that country in which the ship is registered.

  • Marginal note:Exemption

    (4) Subsection (3) does not apply in the case of a shipping casualty that occurs on or near the coast of Canada or in respect of a ship wholly engaged in the coasting trade of Canada.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 483
  • 1989, c. 3, s. 56

Marginal note:No investigation into case already dealt with

 An investigation into a shipping casualty shall not be held under this Part into any matter that has once been the subject of an investigation or inquiry and has been reported on by a competent court or tribunal in any Commonwealth country, or with respect to which the certificate of a master, mate, pilot or engineer has been cancelled or suspended by a naval court.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 484
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Marginal note:Duty of court of investigation

 A court appointed pursuant to section 483 is authorized to hold a formal investigation if the investigation is ordered by the Minister in the following cases:

  • (a) a shipping casualty;

  • (b) where a master, mate, pilot or engineer has been charged with incompetency, misconduct or default while serving on board any British ship in Canadian waters or in the course of a voyage to a port in Canada;

  • (c) where a master, mate, pilot or engineer is charged with incompetency, misconduct or default while serving as an officer on board a Canadian ship;

  • (d) where a master, mate, pilot or engineer is charged with incompetency, misconduct or default while serving on board a British ship is found in Canada;

  • (e) where, in the case of a collision, the master or certificated officer or pilot in charge of a vessel fails, without reasonable cause,

    • (i) to render to the other vessel, its master, crew and passengers, such assistance as is practicable and necessary to save them from any danger caused by the collision,

    • (ii) to stay by the vessel until he has ascertained that the vessel has no need of further assistance, and

    • (iii) to give to the master or person in charge of the other vessel the name of his own vessel, the port to which he belongs and the names of the ports from which he comes and to which he is bound; and

  • (f) where the Minister believes on reasonable grounds that any master, mate, pilot or engineer is from any cause unfit to discharge or incapable of discharging his duties.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 485
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Marginal note:Preliminary inquiry unnecessary

 It is not necessary to hold a preliminary inquiry before a formal investigation is held.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 551

Marginal note:Assessors

  •  (1) The Minister may appoint one or more assessors of nautical, engineering or other special skill or knowledge for the purpose of assisting courts appointed pursuant to section 483 in holding formal investigations into shipping casualties, and the appointments shall be in force for three years.

  • Marginal note:Re-appointment

    (2) An assessor is eligible for re-appointment, and the Minister may at any time cancel the appointment of an assessor.

  • Marginal note:Fees and expenses

    (3) There shall be paid to every assessor the expenses properly incurred by him in the performance of his duties and such fees for services as are determined by the Minister.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 552

Marginal note:Assessors

  •  (1) A court holding a formal investigation into a shipping casualty shall hold it with two or more assessors to be selected for that purpose by the Minister.

  • Marginal note:Qualification

    (2) The assessors selected under subsection (1) shall have nautical, engineering or special skill in the matter to be inquired into.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 553

Marginal note:Oaths of commissioners and assessors

 Every commissioner and assessor, before entering on his duties, shall take and subscribe the following oath:

I, ..........., do swear (or solemnly affirm) that I will perform the duties of commissioner (or assessor) under the Canada Shipping Act, and that I will act faithfully in that capacity, without partiality, fear, favour or affection. So help me God.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 554

Marginal note:Place of investigation

 Formal investigations shall be held in a town hall, county court house or public building, or in some other suitable place to be determined by the court.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 555

Marginal note:Powers of court of investigation

  •  (1) A court holding a formal investigation under this Part has the power of summoning before it any person and of requiring him to give evidence on oath, either orally or in writing, and to produce such documents and things as the court deems requisite to the full investigation of the matters into which it is appointed to examine, and it has the same power to enforce the attendance of witnesses and to compel them to give evidence as is vested in any court of justice in civil cases.

  • Marginal note:Proceedings of court

    (2) The proceedings of the court shall be assimilated as far as possible to those of the ordinary courts of justice, with the like publicity.

  • Marginal note:Disobedience of summons

    (3) If any person summoned by the court and paid or tendered his proper expenses of attendance does not, without reasonable cause, obey the summons, or having attended, refuses to give evidence or to produce such documents and things as the court deems requisite, he is guilty of an offence and liable, in addition to any other liability, to a fine not exceeding forty dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 556

Marginal note:Witnesses to be allowed fees and expenses

  •  (1) Every witness attending at a preliminary inquiry or at a formal investigation under this Part shall be allowed such fees and expenses as would be allowed to any witness attending on subpoena to give evidence before the Federal Court.

  • Marginal note:Taxation of witness fees

    (2) In case of any dispute with respect to the amount of expenses, the dispute shall be referred by the officer or person holding the inquiry to the nearest prothonotary, clerk, master or other taxing officer of any court of record within the jurisdiction of which the attendance is required, who, on a request made to him for that purpose under the hand of that officer or person, shall ascertain and certify the proper amount of those expenses.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 557
  • R.S., c. 10(2nd Supp.), s. 64

Marginal note:Power respecting certificates

  •  (1) The certificate of a master, mate or engineer, or the licence of a pilot, may be cancelled or suspended

    • (a) by a court holding a formal investigation into a shipping casualty under this Part, or by a naval court constituted under this Act, if the court finds that the loss or abandonment of, or serious damage to, any ship, or loss of life, has been caused by his wrongful act or default, but the court shall not cancel or suspend a certificate unless at least one of the assessors concurs in the finding of the court;

    • (b) by a court holding an inquiry under Part II or under this Part into the conduct of a master, mate or engineer, if it finds that he is incompetent, or has been guilty of any gross act of misconduct, drunkenness or tyranny, or that in a case of collision he has failed to render such assistance or give such information as is required under Part IX; or

    • (c) by any naval or other court where under the powers given by this Part, the holder of the certificate is superseded or removed by that court.

  • Marginal note:Pilots’ licences

    (2) The provisions of this Part relating to the manner in which the certificates of a master, mate or engineer shall be dealt with extend, in so far as they are applicable, to pilots’ licences, which are subject to cancellation or suspension in the same manner as those certificates are subject to cancellation or suspension under this Part.

  • Marginal note:Penalty

    (3) The court may, instead of cancelling or suspending the licence of a pilot, penalize that pilot in any sum of not more than four hundred dollars and not less than fifty dollars, and may make an order for the payment of the penalty by instalments or otherwise, as it deems expedient.

  • Marginal note:How recoverable

    (4) Any penalty incurred under this section may be recovered in the name of Her Majesty in a summary manner with costs under the provisions of the Criminal Code relating to summary convictions.

  • Marginal note:Decision in open court

    (5) Where any case before a court described in subsection (1) involves a question with respect to the cancelling or suspending of a certificate, that court shall, at the conclusion of the case or as soon afterwards as possible, state in open court its decision with respect to the cancelling or suspending of the certificate.

  • Marginal note:Report

    (6) The court shall in all cases send a full report on the case with the evidence to the Minister, and, if it determines to cancel or suspend any certificate, send the cancelled or suspended certificate to the Minister with its report.

  • Marginal note:Copy of report to holder of certificate

    (7) A certificate shall not be cancelled or suspended by a court under this section, unless a copy of the report, or a statement of the case on which the investigation or inquiry has been ordered, has been furnished before the commencement of the investigation or inquiry to the holder of the certificate.

  • Marginal note:Dissenting assessors

    (8) Each assessor who does not concur in and sign the finding of the court shall state in writing his dissent therefrom and the reasons for that dissent.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 493
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Marginal note:Certificates of another part of Commonwealth

 Any court holding a formal investigation under this Part may cancel or suspend a certificate of competency or service granted by another Commonwealth country in so far only as concerns its validity within Canada.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 559

Marginal note:Costs of investigation

  •  (1) Any court holding a formal investigation under this Part may make such order as it thinks fit respecting the costs of an investigation, the re-hearing thereof or any part of an investigation or re-hearing, and the order shall be enforced by the court as an order for costs under the provisions of the Criminal Code relating to summary convictions.

  • Marginal note:Costs may be paid by Minister

    (2) The Minister may, if in any case he thinks fit to do so, pay the costs of any inquiry or formal investigation.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 560

Marginal note:Court may require delivery of certificate

  •  (1) A court holding a formal investigation under this Part may at any time, either during or after the investigation, call on any master, mate, pilot or engineer to deliver his certificate or licence to the court.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) Any master, mate, pilot or engineer who fails, without reasonable cause, to deliver his certificate to the court when called on by the court is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 496
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Marginal note:Copy of judgment to be given

 A court that has held a formal investigation under this Part shall, on application being made therefor, furnish free of charge to any master, mate, pilot or engineer whose certificate has been cancelled or suspended, or to his agent, a copy of the judgment of the court.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 497
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Marginal note:Judgment to be sent to the Minister

 A court that has held a formal investigation under this Part shall in all cases send the judgment in the case with the evidence to the Minister and if it determines to cancel or suspend any certificate, and the certificate has been delivered to the court, the certificate shall also be sent to the Minister.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 498
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Marginal note:What to be done with certificate

 The Minister shall, if the certificate or licence referred to in section 498

  • (a) has been issued in Canada, retain it; or

  • (b) has been issued in any Commonwealth country other than Canada, send it, together with a full report on the case and a copy of the evidence, to the government of that country.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 499
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Marginal note:Certificates cancelled or suspended in other part of Commonwealth

 Where a certificate of competency or service granted in Canada has been cancelled or suspended by any court holding a formal investigation into any shipping casualty in any other Commonwealth country, the Minister may adopt and carry out that cancellation or suspension and demand the delivery up to him of that certificate of competency or service.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 565

Marginal note:Re-hearing of investigation

  •  (1) In any case where a formal investigation has been held, the Minister may order the investigation to be re-heard, either generally or with respect to any part thereof, and he shall so order

    • (a) if new and important evidence that could not be produced at the investigation has been discovered; or

    • (b) if, for any other reason, there has been in his opinion ground for suspecting that a miscarriage of justice has occurred.

  • Marginal note:Re-hearing

    (2) The Minister may order the case to be re-heard by the court by which the case was heard in the first instance, or may appoint another commissioner and select the same or other assessors to re-hear the case.

  • Marginal note:Appeal

    (3) Where on any investigation a decision has been given with respect to the cancelling or suspension of the certificate of a master, mate or engineer, or the licence of a pilot, and an application for a re-hearing under this section has not been made or has been refused, an appeal lies from the decision to the Admiralty Court.

  • Marginal note:Subject to conditions and regulations

    (4) Any re-hearing or appeal under this section is subject to and is to be conducted in accordance with such conditions and regulations as may be prescribed by rules made in relation thereto under the powers contained in this Part.

  • Marginal note:Want of form, etc.

    (5) No proceeding or judgment of a court in or on any formal investigation shall be quashed or set aside for any want of form or removed by certiorari or otherwise into any court, and no writ of prohibition shall issue to any court constituted under this Act in respect of any proceeding or judgment in or on any formal investigation.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 501
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Marginal note:No re-hearing in Canada

 The Minister shall not order a re-hearing in Canada in connection with a shipping casualty in respect of which a formal investigation has been held in any other Commonwealth country.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 567

Marginal note:Rules for procedure, etc.

 The Governor in Council may make rules for carrying into effect the enactments relating to preliminary inquiries and formal investigations and to the re-hearing of or appeal from any formal investigation, and, with respect to the appointment and summoning of assessors, the procedure, the parties, the persons allowed to appear and the notice to the parties or to persons affected.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 568

Inquiries as to the Competency and Conduct of Officers

Marginal note:Inquiry into conduct of certificated officer

  •  (1) The Minister may cause an inquiry to be held if the Minister believes on reasonable grounds that any master, mate or engineer

    • (a) is unfit to discharge their duties because of incompetency or misconduct;

    • (b) has failed to render any assistance or give any information that is required under sections 568 and 569; or

    • (c) while on board a vessel that has contravened any of sections 5.3 to 5.5 of the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act, had knowledge of the contravention at the time it occurred.

  • Marginal note:Appointment by Minister

    (2) The Minister may either himself appoint a person to hold the inquiry or may direct the inquiry to be held before a judge of the Admiralty Court.

  • Marginal note:Duties of person appointed

    (3) Where the inquiry is held by a person appointed by the Minister, that person

    • (a) shall hold the inquiry with the assistance of a competent legal assistant appointed by the Minister;

    • (b) has all the powers of a steamship inspector under this Act;

    • (c) shall give any master, mate or engineer against whom a charge is made an opportunity of making his defence either in person or otherwise, and may summon him to appear;

    • (d) may make such order with regard to the costs of the inquiry as he thinks just; and

    • (e) shall send a report on the case to the Minister.

  • Marginal note:Inquiry held by judge

    (4) Where the inquiry is held by a judge of the Admiralty Court, the inquiry shall be conducted and the results reported in the same manner, and the court has the like powers, as in the case of a formal investigation into a shipping casualty under this Part.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 504
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)
  • 1999, c. 19, s. 15

Marginal note:Suspension or cancellation of certificate

 Where on any inquiry held pursuant to section 504 the Minister is satisfied

  • (a) that any master, mate or engineer is incompetent or has been guilty of any act of misconduct, drunkenness or tyranny,

  • (a.1) that any master, mate or engineer on board a vessel that has contravened any of sections 5.3 to 5.5 of the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act knew, at the time that the contravention occurred, that the vessel was committing the contravention,

  • (b) that the loss or abandonment of or serious damage to any ship or any loss of life was caused by the wrongful act or default of any master, mate or engineer,

  • (c) that any master, mate or engineer has been guilty of a criminal offence or has been blamed by any coroner’s inquest in respect of the death of any person, or

  • (d) that the master or mate, in cases of collision between his vessel and another vessel, has failed without reasonable cause to comply with the requirements of section 568 with regard to rendering assistance or to giving information,

he may, with respect to either a certificate granted in Canada or a certificate granted in any other Commonwealth country in so far only as concerns its validity in Canada, suspend or cancel the certificate of competency or service of the master or mate or the certificate of the engineer.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 505
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)
  • 1999, c. 19, s. 16

Adjudications by Naval Courts on the High Seas and Abroad

Marginal note:Cases in which naval courts may be summoned

 A court, in this Act called a “naval court”, may be summoned by any officer in command of any ship belonging to Her Majesty, on any foreign station, or, in the absence of such an officer, by any consular officer, in the following cases:

  • (a) whenever a complaint that appears to that officer to require immediate investigation is made to him by the master of any Canadian ship, by a certified mate or by any one or more of the seamen belonging to the ship;

  • (b) whenever the interest of the owner of any Canadian ship or of the cargo thereof appears to that officer to require it; and

  • (c) whenever any Canadian ship is wrecked, abandoned or otherwise lost at or near the place where that officer may be, or whenever the crew or part of the crew of a Canadian ship that has been wrecked, abandoned or lost abroad arrive at that place.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 506
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Marginal note:Application of law other than that of Canada

  •  (1) Whenever a naval court is summoned pursuant to section 506 to sit at a place in a Commonwealth country other than in Canada or on board a ship belonging to Her Majesty in right other than in right of Canada, the court is hereby authorized to proceed, with relation to Canadian ships and with relation to their owners, masters, mates, engineers and crews, in all respects according to the law of the place in which or the ship on board which the court is sitting, and that law shall, when so applied to Canadian ships and their owners, masters, mates, engineers and crews, bind them as if it were the law of Canada.

  • Marginal note:Alternative application of this Act

    (2) A naval court that is summoned to sit pursuant to section 506 may proceed pursuant to sections 508 to 515 which, with section 506, apply in any event to all naval courts summoned to sit on board any ship belonging to Her Majesty in right of Canada.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 507
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Marginal note:Constitution of naval courts

  •  (1) A naval court shall consist of not more than five and not less than three members, of whom, if possible, one shall be an officer in the naval service of Her Majesty in right of any Commonwealth country not below the rank of lieutenant, one a consular officer and one a master of a British merchant ship, and the rest shall be either officers in the naval service of Her Majesty in that right, masters of British merchant ships or British merchants, and the court may include the officer that summons the court, but shall not include the master or consignee of the ship to which the parties complaining or complained against belong.

  • Marginal note:President

    (2) The naval or consular officer in the court, if there is only one such officer, or, if there is more than one, the naval or consular officer who, according to any regulations for settling their respective ranks for the time being in force, is of the highest rank, shall be the president of the court.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 572

Marginal note:Functions of naval courts

  •  (1) A naval court shall hear the complaint or other matter brought before it under this Act, or investigate the cause of the wreck, abandonment or loss of any ship, and shall do so in such manner as to give every person against whom any complaint or charge is made an opportunity of making a defence.

  • Marginal note:Oaths, witnesses and evidence

    (2) A naval court may, for the purpose of the hearing and investigation, administer oaths, summon parties and witnesses, and compel their attendance and the production of documents.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 573

Marginal note:Powers of naval courts

  •  (1) Every naval court may, after hearing and investigating a case, exercise the following powers:

    • (a) the court may, if unanimous that the safety of the ship or crew or the interest of the owner absolutely requires it, remove the master and appoint another person to act in his stead, but no such appointment shall be made without the consent of the consignee of the ship if the consignee is at the place where the case is heard;

    • (b) the court may, in cases in which it is authorized by this Act and subject to this Act, cancel or suspend the certificate of any master, mate or engineer;

    • (c) the court may discharge a seaman from his ship;

    • (d) the court may order the wages of a seaman so discharged or any part of those wages to be forfeited, and may direct the wages either to be retained by way of compensation to the owner or to be paid to the Minister to form part of the Consolidated Revenue Fund in the same manner as fines under this Act;

    • (e) the court may decide any questions with respect to wages, fines or forfeitures arising between any of the parties to the proceedings;

    • (f) the court may direct that all or any of the costs incurred by the master or owner of any ship in procuring the imprisonment of any seaman or apprentice in a foreign port, or in his maintenance while so imprisoned, shall be paid out of and deducted from the wages of that seaman or apprentice, whether then or subsequently earned;

    • (g) the court may exercise the same powers with regard to persons charged before it with the commission of offences at sea or abroad as consular officers may exercise under section 615;

    • (h) the court may punish any master of a ship or any of the crew of a ship respecting whose conduct a complaint is brought before it for any offence under this Act that, when committed by that master or member of the crew, is punishable on summary conviction, and has for that purpose the same powers as a court of summary jurisdiction would have if the case were tried in Canada, but

      • (i) where an offender is sentenced to imprisonment, the senior naval or consular officer present at the place where the court is held shall in writing confirm the sentence and approve the place of imprisonment, whether on land or on board ship, as a proper place for the purpose, and

      • (ii) copies of all sentences passed by any naval court summoned to hear the complaint shall be sent to the commander-in-chief or senior naval officer of the station;

    • (i) the court may, if it appears expedient, order a survey of any ship that is the subject of investigation to be made, and the survey shall accordingly be made in the same way, and the surveyor who makes the survey has the same powers, as if the survey had been directed by a competent court pursuant to section 391; and

    • (j) the court may order the costs of the proceedings before them, or any part of those costs, to be paid by any of the parties thereto, and may order any person making a frivolous or vexatious complaint to pay compensation for any loss or delay caused thereby, and any costs or compensation so ordered to be paid shall be paid by that person accordingly, and may be recovered in the same manner in which the wages of the seamen are recoverable, or may, if the case admits, be deducted from the wages due to that person.

  • Marginal note:Orders conclusive

    (2) All orders duly made by a naval court under the powers hereby given to it are, in any subsequent legal proceedings, conclusive with respect to the rights of the parties.

  • Marginal note:Entry of orders

    (3) All orders made by any naval court shall, whenever practicable, be entered in the official log-book of the ship to which the parties to the proceedings before the court belong, and shall be signed by the president of the court.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 510
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

Marginal note:Report of proceedings of naval courts

  •  (1) Every naval court shall, in respect of any Canadian ship, make a report to the Minister containing the following particulars:

    • (a) a statement of the proceedings of the court, together with the order made by the court, and a report of the evidence;

    • (b) an account of the wages of any seaman or apprentice who is discharged from his ship by the court; and

    • (c) if summoned to inquire into a case of wreck or abandonment, a statement of the opinion of the court respecting the cause of that wreck or abandonment, with such remarks on the conduct of the master and crew as the circumstances require.

  • Marginal note:Signature and evidence

    (2) Every report shall be signed by the president of the court, and is admissible in evidence in the manner provided by this Act.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 575

Marginal note:Offence and punishment

 Every person who wilfully and without due cause prevents or obstructs the making of any complaint to an officer empowered to summon a naval court, or the conduct of any hearing or investigation by any naval court, is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars, or to imprisonment for any period not exceeding three months.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 512
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 63

Marginal note:Application of provisions respecting naval courts

  •  (1) Sections 506 to 512 apply to all sea-going Canadian ships with the exception of fishing boats exclusively employed in fishing on the coasts of Canada when those ships are out of the jurisdiction of the Government of Canada and, where they apply to a ship, apply to the owners, master and crew of that ship.

  • Marginal note:Construction

    (2) For the purposes of sections 506 to 512, an unregistered ship owned by a British subject domiciled in Canada shall be deemed to have been registered in Canada.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 577

Marginal note:Power of naval court

  •  (1) The powers of a naval court under section 510 include the power to send to Canada an offender sentenced by the court to punishment for the purpose of being there imprisoned, and the court may take the same steps, and for the purpose has the same powers, with respect to the orders that may be given to masters of ships, as a consular officer has for the purpose of sending an offender for trial under section 615 and subsections (2), (3), (5) and (6) of that section apply with such modifications as the circumstances require.

  • Marginal note:Delivery of offender

    (2) Any master of a ship to whose charge an offender is committed under this section shall, on his ship’s arrival in Canada, give the offender into the custody of a police officer or constable, and the offender shall be dealt with as if he had been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment by a court of competent jurisdiction in Canada.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 578

Marginal note:Appeal from naval courts

  •  (1) Any person aggrieved by an order of a naval court ordering the forfeiture of wages, or by a decision of a naval court on a question respecting wages, fines or forfeitures, may appeal to the Admiralty Court, in such manner and subject to such conditions and provisions as may be provided by the rules of that Court, and on an appeal the Court may confirm, quash or vary the order or decision appealed against as it thinks just.

  • Marginal note:Orders quashed or varied

    (2) Subsection 510(2) does not have effect with respect to any order of a naval court that is quashed on an appeal under this section and, where an order of a naval court is varied on appeal, applies as if the order as so varied were the order originally made by the naval court.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 579

Removal of Master by Admiralty Court

Marginal note:Removal of master

  •  (1) In Canada, the Admiralty Court, and elsewhere in the Commonwealth countries any court having admiralty jurisdiction, may remove the master of any Canadian ship while within the jurisdiction of that court, if that removal is shown to the satisfaction of the court by evidence on oath to be necessary.

  • Marginal note:Application for removal

    (2) The removal may be made on the application of any owner of the ship or his agent, of the consignee of the ship, of any certificated mate or of one-third or more of the crew of the ship.

  • Marginal note:Appointment of new master

    (3) The court may appoint a new master instead of the one removed, but where the owner, agent or consignee of the ship is within the jurisdiction of the court, an appointment under this subsection shall not be made without the consent of that owner, agent or consignee.

  • Marginal note:Costs

    (4) The court may make such order and require such security in respect of the costs of the matter as the court thinks fit.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 516
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 87(F)

PART VIILighthouses, Buoys and Beacons, and Sable Island

Marginal note:Definitions

 The following definitions apply in this Part.

Department

ministère

Department means the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. (ministère)

Minister

ministre

Minister means the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. (ministre)

  • 2005, c. 29, s. 6

Marginal note:Lighthouses, etc., to vest in Her Majesty

 All lighthouses, lightships, floating and other lights, lanterns and other signals, buoys and beacons, radio aids to marine navigation, anchors and landmarks acquired, constructed, repaired, maintained, improved, erected, placed or laid down for the greater security and facility of navigation at the expense of any province before it became a part of Canada, or at the expense of the Government of Canada, together with all buildings and other works belonging thereto and in connection therewith, are vested in Her Majesty, and are under the direct control and management of the Minister.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 581

Marginal note:Appointment of keepers, etc.

 The Minister may appoint in the manner authorized by law any keepers, superintendents and other officers that are necessary for the purposes of this Part.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 518
  • 2005, c. 29, s. 7

Marginal note:Regulations

 The Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Transport, may make regulations

  • (a) respecting aids to navigation in Canadian waters; and

  • (b) prescribing the fines for any contravention of any regulation made under this section, and those fines may not be more than $200.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 519
  • 2005, c. 29, s. 7

Marginal note:Regulations

 The Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister, may make regulations

  • (a) respecting the government of Sable Island and of St. Paul Island, the duties of the resident keepers on those islands, the administration of relief to shipwrecked persons and their removal, the preservation and removal of shipwrecked property, the prevention of persons not authorized by the Minister from taking up residence on those islands and the general management of those islands; and

  • (b) prescribing the fines for any contravention of any regulation made under this section, and those fines may not be more than $200.

  • 2005, c. 29, s. 7

Marginal note:Sable or St. Paul Island

 The Minister may give to any person a licence that authorizes that person to reside on Sable Island or St. Paul Island, which licence shall describe the person in whose favour it is so issued.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 584

Marginal note:People found on Sable Island or St. Paul Island

 The superintendent, a resident keeper, any officer of the Department or any other person acting under the authority of the Minister may apprehend any person residing on Sable Island or St. Paul Island, having voluntarily gone there for any purpose whatever without a licence from the Minister, and bring the person and all property found in his possession to Halifax, and any provincial court judge or two justices of the peace, on proof that the person was so found, may commit him to the common jail for not more than six months, and further thereafter, until he gives security for his future good behaviour.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 521
  • R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203

Marginal note:Disposal of their property

 Whatever property is found on Sable Island or St. Paul Island belonging to an offender referred to in section 521 may be sold by order of the provincial court judge or justices, and the proceeds thereof shall be applied to pay the expense of the removal of the offender and goods, and the residue, if any, returned to the owner, but any such property not sold by order of the provincial court judge or justices shall be deemed to be wreck and shall be dealt with as provided by Part VI.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 522
  • R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203

Marginal note:Vessels or goods stranded on Islands

 When vessels or goods are stranded on Sable Island or St. Paul Island, or on any of the bars or coasts thereof, and those vessels or goods or any part thereof are saved by the superintendent, by any other officer of the Department or by any person under the authority of the Minister, those vessels or goods may be taken in charge by the superintendent or keeper, and unless the Minister otherwise directs, may be sent to Halifax, to be disposed of under the direction of the Minister, for the benefit of the owners, after payment of such salvage as the Minister directs to the establishment of Sable Island or St. Paul Island, as the case may be, and all other expenses incurred with respect to those vessels or goods.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 587

Marginal note:Disposal of goods

  •  (1) All goods saved as described in section 523 shall be held to be in possession of the Minister, and shall not, on any pretence, be taken out of the custody of the superintendent or keeper, or of any persons employed by either of them, except by order of the Minister, nor until payment of the salvage and expenses.

  • Marginal note:Customs duties

    (2) The goods referred to in subsection (1) are liable to customs duties.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 588

Marginal note:In what counties the Islands shall be deemed to be

 Subject to section 521, in all proceedings in any court, Sable Island shall be held to be within the County of Halifax and St. Paul Island to be within the County of Victoria, in the Province of Nova Scotia, and any person charged with committing any offence on those Islands, or on the shores, banks or bars thereof, may be proceeded against and tried as if those Islands were actually within those counties respectively.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 589

PART VIIIPort Wardens

Application

Marginal note:Ports excepted

 This Part does not apply to the harbour of Quebec or Montreal.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 526
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 64(F)

Port Wardens

Marginal note:Port wardens

 The Minister may designate one or more port wardens for any port or any district.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 527
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 65

Marginal note:Minister may enter agreements

 The Minister may enter into an agreement with any corporation or organization under which

  • (a) the corporation or organization agrees to provide such port warden services as are specified in the agreement; and

  • (b) the Minister agrees to designate as port wardens the nominees of that corporation or organization on condition that the nominee is, in the Minister’s opinion, qualified to be so designated.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 528
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 65

Marginal note:Fees

  •  (1) The fees to be charged by port wardens in respect of their functions under this Part shall be fixed by the Governor in Council.

  • Marginal note:Idem

    (2) In respect of his functions as port warden, a port warden shall receive no fees other than those fixed under subsection (1).

  • Marginal note:Where port warden is member of federal public administration

    (3) Where a port warden is a member of the federal public administration, all fees received by him under this Part shall be paid to the Receiver General and credited to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 529
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 65
  • 2003, c. 22, s. 224(E)

 [Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 65]

Marginal note:Regulations

  •  (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations prescribing the manner in which grain cargoes and deck cargoes may be carried on any Canadian ship, or on any ship not registered in Canada that is within any port in Canada.

  • Marginal note:On arrival of ship

    (2) When any ship arrives at any port in Canada with a grain cargo or deck cargo, any port warden or customs officer may proceed on board and, when practicable, examine into the manner in which the cargo was stowed, and every person in charge of the ship at the time of the examination shall render the port warden or officer the assistance he asks to enable him to make the examination.

  • Marginal note:Punishment

    (3) Any regulations made under subsection (1) may provide for fines, their recovery, enforcement and disposition, including enforcement by imprisonment for non-payment thereof, but no fine shall exceed for any one offence one thousand dollars nor shall any imprisonment for non-payment of any one fine exceed a term of three months.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 531
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 66(E)

Office, Books and Seal of the Port Warden

Marginal note:Office, seal and books

 A port warden shall, at his own expense, where he is not a member of the federal public administration, keep an office during the season of navigation, and shall have a seal of office and the necessary books in which all his acts as port warden shall be recorded together with the fee charged by him, which books shall be open for public inspection.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 532
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 67
  • 2003, c. 22, s. 224(E)

Duties and Powers of Port Wardens

Marginal note:Examination of condition of cargo, etc.

 A port warden shall, at the request of any person interested, proceed in person on board any ship for the purpose of examining the condition and stowage of its cargo, and, if there are any goods damaged on board the ship, he shall inquire into, examine and ascertain the cause of the damage, make a memorandum thereof and enter the memorandum in full on the books of his office.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 609

 [Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 68]

Marginal note:Port warden to ascertain cause of damage

 A port warden shall, when required, proceed to any ship, warehouse, dwelling or wharf and examine any merchandise, vessel, material, produce or other property said to have been damaged on board the ship, and inquire into, examine and ascertain the cause of the damage, make a memorandum thereof and of the property, and record, in his books, a full and correct statement thereof.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 612

 [Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 69]

Marginal note:Duty of master of ship

  •  (1) The master or agent of any ship intending to load grain consigned to any place outside Canada and not being a place within the limits of an inland voyage shall, before loading the grain, notify a port warden, who shall proceed on board and ascertain whether the ship is in a fit condition to carry the proposed cargo, the result of the survey to be recorded in his books, together with a statement covering the requirements that may be necessary to comply with the Regulations governing the Loading and Carriage of Grain Cargoes.

  • Marginal note:Duty of port warden

    (2) Before beginning to load any chamber or compartment in any ship, the port warden shall see that all the requirements of the regulations for the loading and carriage of grain cargoes are complied with, and issue a certificate accordingly.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 614

Marginal note:Timber deck cargo

 The master or agent of any ship intending to load a timber deck cargo consigned to any place outside Canada and not being a place within the limits of an inland voyage shall, before commencing to load, notify a port warden, who shall supervise the loading and on completion issue a certificate that the regulations in this respect have been complied with, and record all particulars in his book relative to stowage, quantities of cargo on deck and below, method of securing, height of deck loads at wings and crown on forward and after decks, with amount of water ballast carried and draft of water with corresponding freeboard.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 539
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 70

Marginal note:Concentrates

 The master or agent of any ship intending to load concentrates consigned to any place outside Canada and not being a place within the limits of an inland voyage shall make application to a port warden, who shall survey and approve stowage according to approved practice, when the quantity of concentrates proposed to be carried exceeds eighteen per cent of the total cargo-carrying capacity of the ship, and the port warden shall enter in his books a statement showing the manner of stowage and securing, and issue a certificate accordingly.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 614

Marginal note:Limitation

 This Part does not apply to ships carrying grain when in bags unless the quantity loaded is in excess of one-third of the dead weight carrying capacity of those ships.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 614

Marginal note:Dunnage

  •  (1) A port warden shall, when required, decide what dunnage is necessary, and what separations are to be made between cargoes.

  • Marginal note:Certificate

    (2) A port warden’s certificate that dunnage has been used or separations made is evidence of the good stowage of the cargo in so far as those facts are concerned.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 615

Marginal note:Further duties of master and port warden with respect to ships laden with grain

  •  (1) The master of any ship that is either wholly or partly laden with grain, except as provided in section 541, with a timber deck cargo or with concentrates, when the amount of concentrates carried exceeds eighteen per cent of the total dead weight carrying capacity of the ship, consigned to any place outside Canada and not being a place within the limits of an inland voyage, shall, before proceeding on a voyage or clearing at the custom-house, notify a port warden, who shall then proceed on board the ship and examine whether it is in a fit state to proceed to sea.

  • Marginal note:Unfit ships, how dealt with

    (2) Where the ship is found fit, the port warden shall give a certificate accordingly and where it is found unfit, the port warden shall withhold the certificate and notify the master or agent of the ship, detailing his requirements in accordance with regulations and approved practice.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 616

Marginal note:In case of refusal to comply

 Where the master refuses or neglects to fulfil the requirements referred to in subsection 543(2), the port warden shall notify the chief officer of customs at the port in order that no clearance may be granted for the ship until the requirements are fulfilled and a certificate to that effect is granted by the port warden.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 544
  • R.S., 1985, c. 1 (2nd Supp.), s. 213

Marginal note:No clearance granted unless there is compliance with requirements of this Part

  •  (1) No officer of customs shall grant a clearance to any ship that is wholly or partly laden with grain, except as provided in section 541, with a timber deck cargo or with concentrates, within the meaning of section 540, consigned to any place outside Canada and not being a place within the limits of an inland voyage, unless the master of the ship produces to him a certificate signed by the port warden that the Regulations for the Loading and Carriage of Grain Cargoes, or Timber Deck Loads, as the case may be, have been complied with, or that concentrates have been loaded and secured according to approved practice.

  • (2) [Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 71]

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 545
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 71

Marginal note:Ship may be detained

 Where any ship that is wholly or partly laden with grain, with a timber deck cargo or with concentrates, within the meaning of section 540, attempts to leave for any place not being a place within the limits of an inland voyage without a clearance, any officer of customs, or any person acting under the direction of the Minister, may detain the ship until such certificate is produced to him.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 619

 [Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 72]

Marginal note:Port warden to arbitrate

 A port warden, when required in writing by all interested parties, shall hear and arbitrate on any difficulty or matter in dispute between the master or charterer of any vessel and any proprietor, shipper or consignee of the cargo, and shall keep a record of the proceedings.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 622

Marginal note:Notice by port warden

  •  (1) Before proceeding to act in any case in the performance of his duties, a port warden shall give reasonable notice, when practicable, to all parties interested or concerned in the case.

  • Marginal note:Notices to be in writing

    (2) All notices, requests or requirements, to or from the port warden, shall be given in writing a reasonable time before action is required or taken.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 623

Marginal note:Disputes with port warden

 Section 307 applies, with such modifications as the circumstances require, to matters in dispute arising under this Part between the owner of a ship, or any other interested party, and a port warden.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 551
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 73

 [Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 73]

Marginal note:Annual report to Minister

 A port warden or, where there is an agreement under section 528, the corporation or organization in question shall submit to the Minister by March 31 in each year a report relating to the previous calendar year, in such form as the Minister directs, of services provided and of receipts and expenses related thereto.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 553
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 74

Rules and Regulations

Marginal note:Duties of port warden

 The Governor in Council may make rules and regulations prescribing the manner in which a port warden shall perform his duties, and giving him such additional duties as the Governor in Council may see fit, and the Chamber of Shipping or the council of the Board of Trade or Chamber of Commerce may make suggestions to the Governor in Council with respect to any of those other duties, or any modification of the duties in this Part assigned to the port warden for the port or district, and those other duties may be assigned or such modification made by the Governor in Council accordingly.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 554
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 74

Certificates and Copies

Marginal note:Copies of documents

 At the request of any person interested, a port warden shall furnish certificates in writing, under his hand, of any matters of record in his office, and he shall also furnish, when required, copies of any entries in his books or documents filed in his office, on payment of a reasonable fee.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 628

Marginal note:Certificate to be evidence

 All certificates issued under the hand of a port warden and sealed with the seal of his office, referring to matters recorded in his books, are evidence of the existence and contents of the record in any court of justice.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 629

 [Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 75]

Marginal note:Failure to notify port warden

  •  (1) Every master of a ship who fails to notify the port warden as required by this Part, and every port warden who, on notification, fails to comply with all the provisions of this Part, is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding eight hundred dollars.

  • Marginal note:Breach of regulations

    (2) For any breach of the regulations for the loading and carriage of cargo or for the neglect of taking all reasonable precautions incidental to the proper stowage of cargo, the master, owner or agent of the ship responsible for the breach or neglect is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars.

  • Marginal note:Punishment for preventing examination

    (3) If any master or person in charge of any ship prior to the final departure of the ship from a place in Canada, or after the arrival of the ship at its port of discharge in Canada, having on board a cargo that by its nature would constitute a danger if improperly stowed, prevents or attempts to prevent any port warden or officer of customs from proceeding on board or from examining into the manner in which the cargo is stowed, or fails or refuses to render to that officer all reasonable assistance, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 561
  • R.S., 1985, c. 1 (2nd Supp.), s. 213

PART IXNavigation — Collisions — Operation — Limitation of Liability

Rules, Regulations and Orders

  •  (1) [Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 77]

  • Marginal note:Regattas and marine parades

    (2) The Governor in Council may make rules or regulations relating to the safety of life or limb on navigable waters during regattas and marine parades.

  • Marginal note:Regulations

    (3) The Governor in Council may by order or regulation provide

    • (a) for the government and regulation of any part or parts of the inland, minor or other waters of Canada;

    • (b) for the licensing of operators of vessels on those waters; and

    • (c) for the enforcement of any order or regulation.

  • Marginal note:Restriction of navigation

    (4) Without limiting the generality of subsection (3), any order or regulation made by the Governor in Council under that subsection may provide for the prohibiting or limiting of navigation on any part of the waters of Canada, in the interests of public safety or of promoting or ensuring the effective regulation of those waters in the public interest or for the protection or convenience of the public, of vessels not exceeding fifteen tons gross tonnage.

  • (5) [Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 77]

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 562
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 77

Marginal note:Regulations for safe navigation and operation of ships

  •  (1) The Governor in Council may, for the purpose of promoting safe and efficient navigation or operation of ships or environmental protection, make regulations

    • (a) requiring ships to have on board, maintain and use appropriate charts and nautical publications;

    • (b) respecting the number and qualifications of navigation and engine room personnel required to be on duty on ships;

    • (c) respecting procedures and practices to be followed by persons on board ships;

    • (d) respecting compulsory routes and recommended routes, including, without restricting the generality of the foregoing, areas to be avoided, precautionary areas and inshore traffic zones, procedures to be followed by ships in such routes, areas and zones, and other shipping traffic measures; and

    • (e) for limiting or prohibiting the navigation, operation, anchoring, mooring or berthing of ships by reason of

      • (i) the cargo or the size, draft, power or manoeuvring characteristics of the ship,

      • (ii) environmental or hydrographic conditions, or

      • (iii) the proximity of artificial islands, installations, structures, works or a marine casualty

      for the purpose of protecting persons, ships, artificial islands, installations, structures, works or shore areas.

  • Marginal note:Application of regulations

    (2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), regulations made under subsection (1) apply

    • (a) to Canadian ships in all waters; and

    • (b) to all ships in Canadian waters and the exclusive economic zone of Canada.

  • Marginal note:Regulations may be given restricted application

    (3) The Governor in Council, in any regulation made under subsection (1),

    • (a) may designate

      • (i) in the case of Canadian ships, to which waters the regulation applies, or

      • (ii) in the case of other ships, to which waters, within the waters described in paragraph (2)(b), the regulation applies; and

    • (b) may designate to which ships or class of ships the regulation applies.

  • Marginal note:Conflicts with foreign rules

    (4) A regulation made under subsection (1) does not apply to a Canadian ship in the waters of a country other than Canada where the regulation is inconsistent with a law of that country that, by its terms, applies to the ship when in the waters of that country.

  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 78
  • 1996, c. 31, s. 97

Marginal note:Prevention of collisions

  •  (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations for the prevention of collisions at sea and in all other waters, including regulations to implement the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, signed at London on October 20, 1972, as amended in London on November 19, 1981, or to implement any amendments, whenever made, to the Regulations to that Convention.

  • Marginal note:Application of regulations

    (2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), regulations made under subsection (1) apply

    • (a) to Canadian vessels in all waters; and

    • (b) to all vessels in Canadian waters and the exclusive economic zone of Canada.

  • Marginal note:Regulations may be given restricted application

    (3) The Governor in Council, in any regulation made under subsection (1),

    • (a) may designate

      • (i) in the case of Canadian vessels, to which waters the regulation applies, or

      • (ii) in the case of other vessels, to which waters, within the waters described in paragraph (2)(b), the regulation applies; and

    • (b) may designate to which vessels or class of vessels the regulation applies.

  • Marginal note:Conflicts with foreign rules

    (4) A regulation made under subsection (1) does not apply to a Canadian vessel in the waters of a country other than Canada where the regulation is inconsistent with a law of that country that, by its terms, applies to the vessel when in the waters of that country.

  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 78
  • 1996, c. 31, s. 98

Marginal note:Publication of proposed regulations implementing the Convention

  •  (1) Subject to subsection (2), a copy of each regulation that the Governor in Council proposes to make under subsections 562.1(1) and 562.11(1) shall be published in the Canada Gazette at least ninety days before the proposed effective date thereof, and a reasonable opportunity within those ninety days shall be afforded to ship owners, masters, seamen and other interested persons to make representations to the Minister with respect thereto.

  • Marginal note:Exceptions

    (2) Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of a proposed regulation that

    • (a) has previously been published pursuant to that subsection, whether or not it has been changed as a result of representations made pursuant to that subsection, or

    • (b) makes no substantive change to an existing regulation,

    nor does subsection (1) apply where the Governor in Council is satisfied that an emergency situation exists and that compliance with subsection (1) would therefore be prejudicial to the public interest.

  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 78

Marginal note:Internationally approved routing systems

  •  (1) Every Canadian ship shall comply with any routing system approved by the International Maritime Organization, or its successor organization, that appears in Notices to Mariners published by the Canadian Coast Guard.

  • Marginal note:All ships to obey instructions from Coast Guard

    (2) Canadian ships in all waters and every ship in

    • (a) Canadian waters, and

    • (b) the exclusive economic zone of Canada

    • (c) [Repealed, 1996, c. 31, s. 99]

    shall comply with any instruction or direction relating to routing systems, navigation limitations and prohibitions or other shipping measures that is given or issued under the authority of this Act or the regulations and contained in Notices to Mariners published by the Canadian Coast Guard or in Notices to Shipping broadcast or published by the Canadian Coast Guard.

  • Marginal note:Certificate of Secretary of Department of Transport

    (3) If in any action or proceeding a question arises as to whether a particular instruction or direction mentioned in subsection (2) was broadcast to a ship by the Canadian Coast Guard, a certificate purporting to be issued by or under the authority of the Secretary of the Department of Transport appointed under the Department of Transport Act containing all of the following facts, namely,

    • (a) the date and time of the broadcast,

    • (b) the place from which the broadcast was made, and

    • (c) the radio frequency used to make the broadcast,

    shall be admitted in evidence and, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, is proof that the instruction or direction was broadcast by the Canadian Coast Guard.

  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 78
  • 1996, c. 31, s. 99

Marginal note:Offences and punishment

 Any person, ship or vessel that contravenes

  • (a) a rule, regulation or order made under section 562,

  • (b) a regulation made under section 562.1 or 562.11, or

  • (c) section 562.13

is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars where the contravention is in respect of a ship or vessel twenty metres or less in length, or to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars where the contravention is in respect of a ship or vessel exceeding twenty metres in length.

  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 78

Vessel Traffic Services

Marginal note:Clearance of ships to enter Canadian waters, etc.

 The Governor in Council may, on the recommendation of the Minister, make regulations

  • (a) respecting the information to be given, for the purpose of obtaining a traffic clearance, by ships about to enter or within Canadian waters or a shipping safety control zone prescribed under the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act;

  • (b) respecting the conditions under which a traffic clearance referred to in paragraph (a) is to be granted; and

  • (c) respecting the information to be given by ships after obtaining a traffic clearance referred to in paragraph (a).

  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 78
  • 2005, c. 29, s. 8

Marginal note:Vessel Traffic Services Zones

 The Governor in Council may, on the recommendation of the Minister, for the purpose of promoting safe and efficient navigation or environmental protection in Canadian waters or in any shipping safety control zone prescribed under the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act, make regulations

  • (a) establishing Vessel Traffic Services Zones within any such waters;

  • (b) respecting the monitoring and surveillance of marine traffic about to enter or within a Vessel Traffic Services Zone;

  • (c) respecting the procedures and practices to be followed by ships about to enter or within a Vessel Traffic Services Zone; and

  • (d) respecting the radio frequencies that ships about to enter or within a Vessel Traffic Services Zone must be capable of using.

  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 78
  • 2005, c. 29, s. 9

Marginal note:Variations from prescribed procedures or practices

  •  (1) The Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard or any person designated by him may, on request, permit a ship to follow a procedure or practice other than that required pursuant to regulations made under section 562.15 or paragraph 562.16(c) if he is satisfied that such other procedure or practice is as safe as that required pursuant to the said regulations.

  • Marginal note:Failure to comply with substituted procedure or practice

    (2) Failure to comply with a procedure or practice substituted pursuant to subsection (1) shall be deemed to constitute failure to comply with the procedure or practice required pursuant to the relevant regulation.

  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 78

Marginal note:Powers of Commissioner

  •  (1) With respect to any ship about to enter or within a Vessel Traffic Services Zone, the Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard may, for the purpose of promoting safe and efficient navigation or environmental protection, but subject to any other Act of Parliament governing ports or harbours and any regulation or by-law made under such an Act, and to any regulations made under sections 562.1, 562.11 and 562.16,

    • (a) give a traffic clearance to the ship to enter, leave or proceed within a Vessel Traffic Services Zone;

    • (b) direct the master, pilot or person in charge of the deck watch of the ship to provide such pertinent information in respect of that ship as may be specified in the direction;

    • (c) direct the ship to use such radio frequencies in communications with coast stations or other ships as may be specified in the direction; and

    • (d) direct the ship, at such time or between such times as may be specified in the direction,

      • (i) to leave a Vessel Traffic Services Zone,

      • (ii) to leave or refrain from entering such area within a Vessel Traffic Services Zone as may be specified in the direction, or

      • (iii) to proceed to or remain at such location within a Vessel Traffic Services Zone as may be specified in the direction

      where he believes on reasonable grounds that any of the following circumstances exist, namely,

      • (iv) non-availability of a berth required for the ship,

      • (v) pollution or reasonable apprehension of pollution in the Vessel Traffic Services Zone,

      • (vi) the proximity of animals whose well-being could be endangered by the movement of the ship,

      • (vii) any obstruction to navigation in the Vessel Traffic Services Zone,

      • (viii) the proximity of a ship in apparent difficulty or presenting a pollution threat or other hazard to life or property,

      • (ix) the proximity of a ship navigating in an unsafe manner or with improperly functioning equipment or radio equipment, or without charts or publications required by regulations made pursuant to paragraph 562.1(1)(a), or

      • (x) vessel traffic congestion that constitutes an unacceptable risk to shipping, the public or the environment.

  • Marginal note:Marine traffic regulators

    (2) The Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard may designate marine traffic regulators to exercise his powers set out in subsection (1), and may establish the requirements that a person must meet before being so designated and the conditions of such designation.

  • Marginal note:Requirements in VTS Zones

    (3) Except as provided by subsections (4) and (5), no ship shall

    • (a) enter, leave or proceed within a Vessel Traffic Services Zone without having previously obtained a traffic clearance under this section; or

    • (b) proceed within a Vessel Traffic Services Zone unless able to maintain direct communication with a marine traffic regulator.

  • Marginal note:Where ship unable to communicate

    (4) Where a ship, for any reason other than ship board radio equipment failure,

    • (a) is unable to obtain a clearance required by subsection (3) by reason of inability to establish direct communication with a marine traffic regulator, or

    • (b) after receiving a clearance, is unable to maintain direct communication with a marine traffic regulator,

    the master may nevertheless proceed on his route, but shall take all reasonable measures to communicate with a marine traffic regulator as soon as possible.

  • Marginal note:Idem

    (5) Where a ship, due to ship board radio equipment failure,

    • (a) is unable to obtain a clearance required by subsection (3) by reason of inability to establish direct communication with a marine traffic regulator, or

    • (b) after receiving a clearance, is unable to maintain direct communication with a marine traffic regulator,

    the master may nevertheless proceed on his route, but shall take all reasonable measures to report the occurrence to a marine traffic regulator as soon as possible, and shall proceed to the nearest reasonably safe port or anchorage on his route where the radio equipment can be repaired.

  • Marginal note:Ships must obey directions

    (6) A ship shall comply with a direction given under this section.

  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 78

Marginal note:Offences and punishment

  •  (1) Any person or ship that contravenes

    • (a) a regulation made under paragraph 562.15(a) or (c) or 562.16(c) or (d),

    • (b) subsection 562.18(3), (4) or (5), or

    • (c) a direction given by the Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard or a marine traffic regulator under section 562.18

    is, subject to subsection (2), guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars where the contravention is in respect of a ship twenty metres or less in length, or to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand dollars where the contravention is in respect of a ship exceeding twenty metres in length.

  • Marginal note:Defence available in certain cases

    (2) It is a defence to a charge under subsection (1) of contravening a regulation made under paragraph 562.16(c), subsection 562.18(3) or a direction referred to in paragraph (1)(c) that the master, pilot or person in charge of the deck watch of the ship had reasonable grounds to believe that compliance would have imperilled life, the ship or any other ship or any property, and, in the case of contravening a direction referred to in paragraph (1)(c), notified the person who gave the direction, as soon as possible, of the contravention and of the reasons therefor.

  • Marginal note:Proof of offence by ship

    (3) In a prosecution of a ship for an offence under this section, it is sufficient proof that the ship has committed the offence to establish that the act or neglect that constitutes the offence was committed by the master of or any person on board the ship, whether or not the person on board the ship has been identified and, for the purposes of any prosecution of a ship for contravening a direction given under section 562.18, a direction given to the master or any person on board the ship shall be deemed to have been given to the ship.

  • Marginal note:Ship may be detained

    (4) Where the Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard or any person authorized by him for the purposes of this subsection believes on reasonable grounds that an offence referred to in subsection (1) has been committed by or in respect of a ship, he may make a detention order in respect of that ship, and section 672 applies to such a detention order, with such modifications as the circumstances require.

  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 78

Marginal note:Publication of proposed regulations

  •  (1) Subject to subsection (2), a copy of each regulation that the Governor in Council proposes to make under subsection 562.16 shall be published in the Canada Gazette at least ninety days before the proposed effective date thereof, and a reasonable opportunity within those ninety days shall be afforded to ship owners, masters, seamen and other interested persons to make representations to the Minister with respect thereto.

  • Marginal note:Exceptions

    (2) Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of a proposed regulation that

    • (a) has previously been published pursuant to that subsection, whether or not it has been changed as a result of representations made pursuant to that subsection, or

    • (b) makes no substantive change to an existing regulation,

    nor does subsection (1) apply where the Governor in Council is satisfied that an emergency situation exists and that compliance with subsection (1) would therefore be prejudicial to the public interest.

  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 78

Ships in Transit

Marginal note:Certain exemptions for ships in transit

 Where Canada enters into an agreement with another state, in this section referred to as the “port state”, under which the Governor in Council is satisfied that the port state agrees to grant to every ship enroute to or departing from a port in Canada an exemption equivalent to that described in this section, the Governor in Council may by order, for the purpose of implementing that agreement, exempt all ships registered in states other than Canada, when navigating in Canadian waters specified in the order, from the requirements of this Part and Part XV, and any regulations made thereunder, relating to design, construction, manning and equipment, where such ships

  • (a) are enroute to or departing from a port in the port state and not enroute to or departing from a port in Canada; and

  • (b) are in full compliance with all such requirements imposed by the law of the port state.

  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 78

Marginal note:Local regulations

 No local rule or by-law, inconsistent with the Collision Regulations, is of any force or effect, but, in so far as it is not inconsistent therewith, any local rule or by-law is of full force within the locality to which it applies.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 636

Marginal note:Observance of regulations

  •  (1) Every owner, master and person having the conduct of a vessel or raft shall obey the Collision Regulations as modified by any local rule pursuant to section 563, and shall not carry or exhibit any other lights, or use any other fog signals, than those required by the Collision Regulations as so modified.

  • Marginal note:Penalty

    (2) Every person who fails, without reasonable cause, to comply with this section is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction

    • (a) to a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars, where the failure to comply is in respect of a vessel or raft twenty metres or less in length; or

    • (b) to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars, where the failure to comply is in respect of a vessel or raft exceeding twenty metres in length.

  • Marginal note:Liability for damage on non-observance

    (3) Where any injury to a person or damage to property arises from the non-observance by any vessel or raft of any of the Collision Regulations, the injury or damage shall be deemed to have been occasioned by the wilful default of the person in charge of that raft, or of the deck of that vessel at the time, unless it is shown to the satisfaction of a court that the circumstances of the case made a departure from the regulation necessary.

  • (4) and (5) [Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 79]

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 564
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 79

Provisions respecting Collisions, etc.

 [Repealed, 2001, c. 6, s. 118]

Marginal note:Duty of masters in collision

  •  (1) In every case of collision between two vessels, it is the duty of the master or person in charge of each vessel, if and in so far as he can do so without danger to his own vessel, crew and passengers, if any,

    • (a) to render to the other vessel, her master, crew and passengers, if any, such assistance as may be practicable, and as may be necessary to save them from any danger caused by the collision, and to stay by the other vessel until he has ascertained that it has no need of further assistance; and

    • (b) to give to the master or person in charge of the other vessel the name of his own vessel and of the port to which it belongs, and also the names of the ports from which it comes and to which it is bound.

  • Marginal note:No presumption on failure

    (2) Failure of the master or person in charge of a vessel to comply with this section does not raise any presumption of law that the collision was caused by his wrongful act, neglect or default.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 641

Marginal note:Report to Minister of accidents to steamships

  •  (1) When a steamship has sustained or caused any accident occasioning loss of life or any serious injury to any person, or has received any material damage affecting its seaworthiness or its efficiency either in its hull or in any part of its machinery, the owner or master shall, within twenty-four hours after the happening of the accident or damage, or as soon thereafter as possible, transmit to the Minister, by letter signed by the owner or master, a report of the accident or damage, and of the probable occasion thereof, stating the name of the ship, its official number, if any, the port to which it belongs and the place where it is.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) If the owner or master, without reasonable cause, fails to comply with this section, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars.

  • Marginal note:Application of section

    (3) This section applies to all Canadian ships and to all steamships carrying passengers between places in Canada.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 642

Marginal note:Notice of loss to be given to the Minister

  •  (1) Where the managing owner or, in the event of there being no managing owner, the ship’s husband, of any Canadian ship has reason, owing to the non-appearance of the ship or to any other circumstance, to apprehend that the ship has been wholly lost, he shall, as soon as conveniently may be, send to the Minister notice in writing of the loss and of the probable occasion thereof, stating the name of the ship, its official number, if any, and the port to which it belongs.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (2) If the managing owner or the ship’s husband, without reasonable cause, fails to comply with this section, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 643

 [Repealed, 2001, c. 6, s. 119]

Marginal note:Construction of terms

 Sections 568 to 570 apply in respect of a vessel to any persons other than the owners responsible for the fault of the vessel as though the expression “owners” included those persons, and in any case where, by virtue of any charter or demise, or for any other reason, the owners are not responsible for the navigation and management of the vessel, those sections shall be read as though for references to the owners there were substituted references to the charterers or other persons for the time being so responsible.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 573
  • 2001, c. 6, s. 120

 [Repealed, 2001, c. 6, s. 121]

 [Section 578, as enacted by 1998, c. 6, s. 2, repealed by 2001, c. 6, s. 122 prior to its coming into force.]

 [Repealed, 2001, c. 6, s. 123]

 [Repealed, 1998, c. 6, s. 2]

Carriers of Goods by Water

Marginal note:Obligation to convey passengers and goods

 Carriers by water shall, at the times and in the manner and on the terms of which they have respectively given public notice, receive and convey according to that notice all persons applying for passage and all goods offered for conveyance unless, in either case, there is reasonable and sufficient cause for not doing so.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 656

Marginal note:Responsibility for goods

 Subject to Part 5 of the Marine Liability Act, carriers by water are responsible not only for goods received on board their vessels but also for goods delivered to them for conveyance by their vessels, and are bound to use due care and diligence in the safe-keeping and punctual conveyance of those goods.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 586
  • 2001, c. 6, s. 124

 [Repealed, 1998, c. 6, s. 3]

Marginal note:Fines for contravention of by-laws of harbour commissioners

 All fines incurred for any offence against this Part shall, if the offence is committed within the jurisdiction of any harbour commissioners, be sued for, recovered, enforced and applied in like manner as fines imposed for the contravention of the by-laws of the harbour commissioners within whose jurisdiction the offence is committed.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 659

Marginal note:Application of fines

 Subject to section 588, all fines recovered under this Part shall be paid over to the Receiver General and shall form part of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 660

PART X

[Repealed, 1992, c. 31, s. 26]

PART XIDelivery of Goods

Delivery of Goods and Lien for Freight

Marginal note:Shipowner to enter and land goods

  •  (1) Where the owner of any goods imported in any ship into Canada fails to make entry thereof or, having made entry, to land the goods or take delivery thereof, and to proceed therewith with all convenient speed, by the times mentioned in this Part, the owner of the ship may make entry of and land or unship the goods at the following times:

    • (a) if a time for the delivery of the goods is expressed in the charter party, bill of lading or agreement, at any time after the time so expressed; and

    • (b) if no time for the delivery of the goods is expressed in the charter party, bill of lading or agreement, at any time after the expiration of seventy-two hours, exclusive of a holiday, from the time of the report of the ship.

  • Marginal note:Goods placed on wharf or in warehouse

    (2) Where the owner of a ship lands goods pursuant to this section, he shall place them, or cause them to be placed,

    • (a) if any wharf or warehouse is named in the charter party, bill of lading or agreement as the wharf or warehouse where the goods are to be placed and if they can be conveniently there received, on that wharf or in that warehouse; and

    • (b) in any other case, on some wharf or in some warehouse on or in which goods of a like nature are usually placed, the wharf or warehouse being, if the goods are dutiable, a wharf or warehouse duly approved by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness for the landing of dutiable goods.

  • Marginal note:Owner may land and enter goods

    (3) Where at any time before the goods are landed or unshipped the owner of the goods is ready and offers to land or take delivery of them, he shall be allowed to do so, and his entry shall in that case be preferred to any entry that may have been made by the owner of the ship.

  • Marginal note:Assorting goods on discharge

    (4) Where any goods are, for the purpose of convenience in assorting them, landed at the wharf where the ship is discharged, and the owner of the goods at the time of that landing has made entry and is ready and offers to take delivery thereof and to convey them to some other wharf or warehouse, the goods shall be assorted at landing, and shall, if demanded, be delivered to the owner thereof within twenty-four hours after assortment, and the expense of and consequent on that landing and assortment shall be borne by the owner of the ship.

  • Marginal note:Notice to owner before landing goods

    (5) Where at any time before any goods are landed or unshipped the owner thereof has made entry for the landing and warehousing of them at any particular wharf or warehouse other than that at which the ship is discharging, and has offered and been ready to take delivery thereof, and the owner of the ship has failed to make that delivery, and has failed at the time of that offer to give to the owner of the goods correct information in respect of the time at which the goods can be delivered, the owner of the ship shall, before landing or unshipping the goods, pursuant to this section, give to the owner of the goods or the wharf or warehouse twenty-four hours notice in writing of his readiness to deliver the goods, and shall, if he lands or unships the goods without that notice, do so at his own risk and expense.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 596
  • 2005, c. 38, ss. 142, 145

Marginal note:Lien for freight on landing goods

 Where, at the time any goods are landed from a ship and placed in the custody of any person as a wharfinger or warehouseman, the owner of the ship gives to the wharfinger or warehouseman notice in writing that the goods are to remain subject to a lien for freight or other charges payable to the owner of the ship to an amount mentioned in the notice, the goods shall, in the hands of the wharfinger or warehouseman, continue to be subject to the same lien, if any, for those charges as they were subject to before their landing, and the wharfinger or warehouseman receiving them shall retain them until the lien is discharged, and shall, if he fails to do so, make good to the owner of the ship any loss thereby occasioned to him.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 667

Marginal note:Discharge of lien

 The lien for freight and other charges referred to in section 597 shall be discharged

  • (a) on the production to the wharfinger or warehouseman of a receipt for the amount claimed as due, and the delivery to the wharfinger or warehouseman of a copy thereof or of a release of freight from the owner of the ship, and

  • (b) on the deposit by the owner of the goods with the wharfinger or warehouseman of a sum of money equal in amount to the sum claimed by the owner of the ship,

but in the latter case the lien shall be discharged without prejudice to any other remedy that the owner of the ship may have for the recovery of the freight.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 668

Marginal note:Deposits and notice by owners of goods

  •  (1) When a deposit described in section 598 is made with a wharfinger or warehouseman, the person making the deposit may, within fifteen days after making it, give to the wharfinger or warehouseman notice in writing to retain it, stating in the notice the sums that he admits to be payable to the owner of the ship or that he does not admit any sum to be so payable, but if no notice is given, the wharfinger or warehouseman may, at the expiration of the fifteen days, pay the sum deposited over to the owner of the ship.

  • Marginal note:Payment or tender to shipowner

    (2) Where a notice is given under subsection (1), the wharfinger or warehouseman shall immediately inform the owner of the ship of the notice, and shall pay or tender to him out of the sum deposited the sum, if any, admitted by the notice to be payable, and shall retain the balance or, if no sum is admitted to be payable, the whole of the sum deposited, for thirty days from the date of the notice.

  • Marginal note:Repayment to owner

    (3) At the expiration of thirty days unless legal proceedings have been instituted by the owner of the ship against the owner of the goods to recover the balance or sum, or for the settlement of any dispute that may have arisen between them concerning the freight or other charges, and notice in writing of those proceedings has been served on the wharfinger or warehouseman, the wharfinger or warehouseman shall pay the balance or sum to the owner of the goods.

  • Marginal note:Warehouseman discharged

    (4) A wharfinger or warehouseman is by any payment under this section discharged from all liability in respect thereof.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 669

Marginal note:Sale of goods by warehouseman

  •  (1) Where the lien referred to in section 597 is not discharged and no deposit is made pursuant to section 598, the wharfinger or warehouseman may, and if required by the owner of the ship, shall, at the expiration of ninety days from the time when the goods were placed in his custody, or, if the goods are of a perishable nature, at such earlier period as in his discretion he thinks fit, sell by public auction, either for home use or for exportation, the goods or so much thereof as may be necessary to satisfy the charges mentioned in this Part.

  • Marginal note:Notice

    (2) Before making the sale the wharfinger or warehouseman shall give notice thereof by advertisement in two local newspapers circulating in the neighbourhood, and, if the address of the owner of the goods has been stated on the manifest of the cargo, or on any of the documents that have come into the possession of the wharfinger or warehouseman, or is otherwise known to him, shall send notice of the sale to the owner of the goods by post.

  • Marginal note:Title to goods

    (3) The title of a bona fide purchaser of the goods is not invalidated by reason of the omission to send the notice required by this section, nor is that purchaser bound to inquire whether the notice has been sent.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 670

Marginal note:Application of proceeds of sale

 The proceeds of any sale referred to in section 600 shall be applied by the wharfinger or warehouseman as follows, and in the following order:

  • (a) if the goods are sold for home use, in payment of any customs or excise duties owing in respect thereof,

  • (b) in payment of the expenses of the sale,

  • (c) in payment of the charges of the wharfinger or warehouseman and the owner of the ship according to such priority as may be determined by the terms of the agreement, if any, in that behalf between them, or, if there is no agreement,

    • (i) in payment of the rent, rates and other charges due to the wharfinger or warehouseman in respect of the goods, and

    • (ii) in payment of the amount claimed by the owner of the ship as due for freight or other charges in respect of the goods,

    and the surplus, if any, shall be paid to the owner of the goods.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 671

Marginal note:Warehouseman’s rent and expenses

 Whenever any goods are placed in the custody of a wharfinger or warehouseman under the authority of this Part, the wharfinger or warehouseman is entitled to rent in respect of the goods, and has the power, at the expense of the owner of the goods, to do all such reasonable acts as in the judgment of the wharfinger or warehouseman are necessary for the proper custody and preservation of those goods, and has a lien thereon for the rent and expenses.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 672

Marginal note:Warehouseman’s protection

 Nothing in this Part compels any wharfinger or warehouseman to take charge of any goods that he would not have been liable to take charge of if this Act had not been passed, nor is he bound to see to the validity of any lien claimed by any owner of a ship under this Part.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 673

Marginal note:Saving for powers under local Acts

 Nothing in this Part

  • (a) takes away or abridges any powers given by any special Act to any harbour commission whereby they are enabled to expedite the discharge of ships or the landing or delivery of goods; or

  • (b) takes away or diminishes any rights or remedies given to any owner of a ship or wharfinger or warehouseman by any Act.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 674

PART XIILegal Proceedings

Prosecutions and Punishment

Marginal note:Recovery of fines

 Fines incurred or imposed under this Act may, except as otherwise provided by this Act, be recovered before a provincial court judge or two justices of the peace on summary conviction pursuant to the provisions of the Criminal Code relating to summary convictions.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 605
  • R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203

Marginal note:Before whom offences may be tried

  •  (1) Any judge of the Court of Quebec or Superior Court of the Province of Quebec, judge of the Superior Court of Justice in and for the Province of Ontario, judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia or British Columbia, judge of the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland, judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench of New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatchewan or Alberta, or provincial court judge has, for the purposes of all proceedings under this Act, all the powers of two justices of the peace under the Criminal Code, and may try and determine in a summary way all offences punishable under this Act on summary conviction, whether by fine or imprisonment, or both.

  • Marginal note:Two justices

    (2) Any two justices of the peace have the same jurisdiction.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 606
  • R.S., 1985, c. 27 (2nd Supp.), s. 10, c. 40 (4th Supp.), s. 2
  • 1990, c. 16, s. 21, c. 17, ss. 39, 47
  • 1992, c. 51, s. 64
  • 1998, c. 30, s. 12

Marginal note:Offence under this Act

 Words in this Act to the effect that a person is or shall be liable to a fine shall be construed as meaning that the person is guilty of an offence under this Act and, in the absence of any express provision relating to imprisonment in case of non-payment of any fine imposed under this Act, that on default of payment of any fine imposed under this Act, an offender may be imprisoned for a term not exceeding six months unless the fine is sooner paid.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 677

Marginal note:Prosecution of offences

 Subject to any special provisions of this Act, an offence under this Act or under any rule or regulation made pursuant to this Act that is declared to be an indictable offence or to be punishable on, by or under indictment

  • (a) is punishable by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years; and

  • (b) may, instead of being prosecuted as an indictable offence, be prosecuted summarily in the manner provided by the provisions of the Criminal Code relating to summary convictions, and if so prosecuted the offence is punishable by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 678
  • 1976-77, c. 28, s. 40

Marginal note:Limitation of time for summary proceedings

 Subject to any special provisions of this Act, neither a conviction for an offence nor an order for payment of money shall be made under this Act in any summary proceeding instituted in Canada, unless

  • (a) that proceeding is commenced at any time within but not later than six months after the commission of the offence or after the cause of complaint arises, as the case may be; or

  • (b) if both or either of the parties to the proceeding happen during that time to be out of Canada, the proceeding is commenced, in the case of a summary conviction at any time within but not later than two months, and in the case of a summary order six months, after they both arrive, or are at one time, within Canada.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 680

Jurisdiction

Marginal note:Jurisdiction in case of offences

  •  (1) For the purpose of giving jurisdiction under this Act, every offence shall be deemed to have been committed and every cause of complaint to have arisen either in the place in which the offence actually was committed or arose, or in any place in which the offender or person complained against may be.

  • Marginal note:Presumption of jurisdiction

    (2) Where, in any legal proceeding under this Act, a question arises whether any ship or person is within the provisions of this Act or of some Part of this Act, the ship or person shall be deemed to be within those provisions unless the contrary is proved.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 681

Marginal note:Jurisdiction over ships lying off coasts

  •  (1) Where any district within which any court, justice of the peace or provincial court judge has jurisdiction either under this Act or under any other Act or at common law, for any purpose whatever, is situated on the coast of any sea, or abutting on or projecting into any bay, channel, lake, river or other navigable water, the court, justice or provincial court judge has jurisdiction over any vessel being on, or lying or passing off, that coast, or being in or near that bay, channel, lake, river or navigable water, and over all persons on board that vessel or for the time being belonging thereto, in the same manner as if the vessel or persons were within the limits of the original jurisdiction of the court, justice or provincial court judge.

  • Marginal note:Added power of courts

    (2) The jurisdiction under this section is in addition to and not in derogation of any jurisdiction or power of a court under the Criminal Code.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 611
  • R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203

 [Repealed, 1990, c. 44, s. 18]

Damage Occasioned by Foreign Ships

Marginal note:Power to detain foreign ship that has occasioned damage

  •  (1) Whenever any injury has in any part of the world been caused to any property belonging to Her Majesty or to any of Her Majesty’s subjects by any foreign ship, and at any time thereafter that ship is found in Canadian waters, the Admiralty Court may, on being shown by any person applying summarily that the injury was probably caused by the misconduct or want of skill of the master or mariners of the ship, issue an order directed to any officer of customs or other officer named by the Court, requiring him to detain the ship until such time as the owner, master or consignee thereof has

    • (a) made satisfaction in respect of the injury, or

    • (b) given security to be approved by the Court, to abide the event of any action, suit or other legal proceeding that may be instituted in respect of the injury, and to pay all costs and damages that may be awarded thereon,

    and any officer of customs or other officer to whom the order is directed shall detain the ship accordingly.

  • Marginal note:Detention of ship

    (2) Where it appears that, before an application can be made under this section, the ship in respect of which the application is to be made will have departed from Canadian waters, the ship may be detained for such time as will allow the application to be made and the result thereof to be communicated to the officer detaining the ship, and that officer is not liable for any costs or damages in respect of the detention unless the detention is proved to have been made without reasonable grounds.

  • Marginal note:Defendant to proceedings

    (3) In any legal proceeding in relation to any injury referred to in subsection (1), the person giving security shall be made defendant and shall be stated to be the owner of the ship that has occasioned the damage, and the production of the order of the judge or Court, made in relation to the security, is conclusive evidence of the liability of the defendant to the proceeding.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 685
  • R.S., c. 10(2nd Supp.), s. 65

Offences Committed at Sea or Abroad

Marginal note:Conveyance of offenders and witnesses to Canada

  •  (1) Whenever any complaint is made to any consular officer

    • (a) that any offence against property or a person has been committed at any place, either ashore or afloat, outside a Commonwealth country by any master, seaman or apprentice who at the time when the offence was committed, or within three months before that time, was employed in any Canadian ship, or

    • (b) that any offence on the high seas has been committed by any master, seaman or apprentice belonging to any ship so registered,

    that consular officer may inquire into the case on oath, and may, if the case so requires, take any steps in his power for the purpose of placing the offender under the necessary restraint and of sending him as soon as practicable in safe custody to Canada.

  • Marginal note:Master to receive and afford passage and subsistence

    (2) A consular officer may order the master of any ship registered in and bound to Canada to receive and afford a passage and subsistence during the voyage to any offender described in subsection (1), and to the witnesses, but the master is not required to receive more than one offender for every one hundred tons of his ship’s register tonnage, or more than one witness for every fifty tons of that tonnage.

  • Marginal note:Endorsement

    (3) A consular officer has the right to endorse on the agreement of a ship such particulars with respect to any offenders or witnesses sent in the ship as the Minister requires.

  • Marginal note:Delivery to police

    (4) Any master of a ship to whose charge an offender has been committed shall, on his ship’s arrival in Canada, give the offender into the custody of some police officer or constable, and that officer or constable shall take the offender before a justice of the peace or provincial court judge by law empowered to deal with the matter, and the justice or provincial court judge shall deal with the matter as in cases of offences committed on the high seas.

  • Marginal note:Refusal of passage

    (5) If any master of a Canadian ship, when required by any consular officer to receive and afford a passage and subsistence to any offender or witness, does not receive him and afford a passage and subsistence to him, or does not deliver any offender committed to his charge into the custody of some police officer or constable as required by this section, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars.

  • Marginal note:Expenses

    (6) The expense of imprisoning any offender under this Act and of conveying him and the witnesses to Canada in any manner other than in the ship to which they respectively belong shall, where not paid as part of the costs of the prosecution, be paid out of moneys provided by Parliament for that purpose.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 615
  • R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203

Inquiry into Causes of Death

Marginal note:Inquiry into cause of death on board

  •  (1) Where a case of death happens on board any foreign-going Canadian ship, the shipping master at the port where the crew of the ship is discharged or any person appointed by the Minister for that purpose shall, on the arrival of the ship at that port, inquire into the cause of the death, and shall make in the official log-book of the ship an endorsement to the effect that the statement of the cause of death in the log-book is in his opinion true, or the contrary, according to the result of the inquiry.

  • Marginal note:Powers of shipping master

    (2) A shipping master or a person appointed by the Minister has, for the purpose of an inquiry under this section, the powers of an officer or person appointed to make a preliminary inquiry under Part VI, and if in the course of an inquiry it appears to the shipping master or person that a death has been caused on board the ship by violence or other improper means, he shall report the matter to the Minister, and, if the emergency of the case so requires, shall take immediate steps for bringing the offender or offenders to justice.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 687

Depositions in Legal Proceedings

Marginal note:Depositions received when witness cannot be produced

  •  (1) Subject to subsection (2), whenever in the course of any legal proceeding instituted in Canada before any judge or provincial court judge, or before any person authorized by the law or by consent of parties to receive evidence, the testimony of any witness is required in relation to the subject-matter of that proceeding, on due proof that the witness cannot be found in Canada, any deposition that the witness may have previously made on oath in relation to the same subject-matter before any justice or magistrate in a Commonwealth country, or before any consular officer elsewhere, is admissible in evidence.

  • Marginal note:Exception

    (2) If the deposition referred to in subsection (1) was made in Canada, it is not admissible in any proceeding instituted in Canada, and if the proceeding is criminal, it is not admissible, unless it was made in the presence of the person accused.

  • Marginal note:Deposition to be certified

    (3) A deposition referred to in subsection (1) shall be authenticated by the signature of the judge, magistrate or consular officer before whom it is made, and the judge, magistrate or consular officer shall certify, if it is so, that the accused was present at the taking thereof.

  • Marginal note:Certificate as evidence

    (4) It is not necessary in any case to prove the signature or official character of the person appearing to have signed a deposition, and in any criminal proceeding a certificate under this section is, unless the contrary is proved, sufficient evidence that the accused was present in the manner thereby certified.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 617
  • R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203

Detention of Ship and Distress on Ship

Marginal note:Enforcing detention of ship

  •  (1) Where under this Act a ship is to be or may be detained, any commissioned officer on full pay in the naval, army or air service of Her Majesty or in the Canadian Forces, or any officer of customs may detain the ship.

  • Marginal note:Offence

    (2) If the ship after detention or after service on the master of any notice of or order for detention proceeds to sea before it is released by competent authority, the master of the ship, the owner and any person who sends the ship to sea, if that owner or person is party or privy to the act, are guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars.

  • Marginal note:Taking detention officer to sea

    (3) Where a ship proceeding to sea takes to sea any officer authorized to detain the ship or any officer of customs, while the officer is on board in the execution of his duty, the owner and master of the ship are each guilty of an offence and liable to pay all expenses of and incidental to the officer being so taken to sea, and to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, or, if the offence is not prosecuted in a summary manner, not exceeding fifty dollars for every day until the officer returns, or until such time as would enable him after leaving the ship to return to the port from which he is taken, and the expenses ordered to be paid may be recovered in like manner as the fine.

  • Marginal note:Clearance refused

    (4) Where under this Act a ship is to be detained an officer of customs shall, and where under this Act a ship may be detained an officer of customs may, refuse to clear that ship outward.

  • Marginal note:Definition of “proper officer”

    (5) Where any provision of this Act provides that a ship may be detained until any document is produced to the proper officer of customs, the proper officer means the officer who is able to grant a clearance or transire to the ship.

  • Marginal note:Application of section

    (6) This section does not apply to the detention of a ship pursuant to subsection 562.19(4), section 672 or subsection 724(2).

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 618
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 81

Marginal note:Ship may be seized and sold if fine not paid

  •  (1) Where a conviction has been secured against the owner of a ship for a contravention of any of the provisions of this Act and a fine has been imposed, the ship is, if the fine is not paid forthwith, liable to be seized and, after such reasonable notice as the Minister may in each case prescribe, may be sold by any chief officer of customs or any person authorized for that purpose in writing by the Minister, who may, by bill of sale, give to the purchaser a valid title to the ship free from any mortgage or other claim thereon that at the time of that sale may be in existence.

  • Marginal note:Surplus paid over

    (2) Any surplus remaining from the proceeds of sale of a ship under subsection (1) after paying the amount of the fine and the costs of conviction, together with the costs of the seizure and sale, shall be paid over to the owner of the ship or the mortgagee, as the case may be.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 690

Marginal note:Distress on ship for sums ordered to be paid

 Where any court, justice of the peace or provincial court judge has power to make an order directing payment to be made of any seaman’s wages, fines or other sums of money, if the party so directed to pay is the master or owner of a ship, and the payment is not at the time and in the manner prescribed in the order, the court, justice of the peace or provincial court judge who made the order may, in addition to any other powers he may have for the purpose of compelling payment, direct the amount remaining unpaid to be levied in distress or poinding and the sale of the ship, its tackle, furniture and apparel.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 620
  • R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203

Procedure

Marginal note:Examination de bene esse

 The examination of any seaman liable to be obliged to leave the province in which any offence under this Act is prosecuted, or of any witness who is sick, infirm or about to leave that province, may be taken de bene esse before any commissioner or other proper authority, in the same manner as depositions in civil cases are taken.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 692

Marginal note:No stay of proceedings without order

 The proceedings on any conviction or order shall not be stayed by reason of any application to remove that conviction or order to a superior court or of any notice of that application, unless the court or judge to whom the application is made or is to be made orders a stay of proceedings on special cause being shown.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 693

Marginal note:County court judge may act

 Where there is no judge having jurisdiction in respect of writs of certiorari resident at or near the place where any conviction or order is made, in the Province of Ontario, a judge of the Superior Court of Justice in and for the Province of Ontario, in the Provinces of Nova Scotia and British Columbia, a judge of the Supreme Court, in the Province of Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland, a judge of the Trial Division of the Supreme Court, or, in the Province of New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatchewan or Alberta, a judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench, has power to hear and determine any application for a stay of proceedings on that conviction or order.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 623
  • R.S., 1985, c. 27 (2nd Supp.), s. 10
  • 1990, c. 16, s. 22, c. 17, ss. 40, 47
  • 1992, c. 51, s. 65
  • 1998, c. 30, s. 12

Marginal note:Venue in prosecutions

 Every person charged under Part VI with an indictable offence may be indicted and prosecuted, and the venue may be laid, in any county or district.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 695

Evidence, Service of Documents, and Declarations

Marginal note:Proof of attestation

 Where any document is required by this Act to be executed in the presence of or to be attested by any witness or witnesses, that document may be proved by the evidence of any person who is able to bear witness to the requisite facts without calling the attesting witness or witnesses or any of them.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 696

Marginal note:Admissibility of documents in evidence

  •  (1) Where a document is by this Act declared to be admissible in evidence, that document is, on its production from the proper custody, admissible in evidence in any court or before any person having by law or consent of parties authority to receive evidence, and, subject to all just exceptions, is evidence of the matters stated therein pursuant to this Act or by any officer in pursuance of his duties.

  • Marginal note:Certified copies admissible

    (2) A copy of any document described in subsection (1) or extract therefrom is admissible in evidence if proved to be an examined copy or extract, or if it purports to be signed and certified as a true copy or extract by the officer to whose custody the original document was entrusted, and that officer shall furnish the certified copy or extract to any person applying for it at a reasonable time.

  • Marginal note:Punishment for false certificate

    (3) If any officer described in subsection (2) wilfully certifies any document as being a true copy or extract knowing that it is not a true copy or extract, he is guilty of an indictable offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for any term not exceeding eighteen months.

  • Marginal note:Forgery or counterfeits

    (4) Every person who forges the seal, stamp or signature of any document to which this section applies, or tenders in evidence any such document with a false or counterfeit seal, stamp, or signature thereto, knowing it to be false or counterfeit, is guilty of an indictable offence.

  • Marginal note:Documents to be kept in custody

    (5) Whenever any document to which this section applies has been admitted in evidence, the court or the person who admitted the document may on request direct that it be impounded and be kept in the custody of some officer of the court or other proper person for such period or subject to such conditions as the court or person thinks fit.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 697

Marginal note:Service of documents

  •  (1) Where for the purposes of this Act any document is to be served on any person, that document may be served

    • (a) in any case by delivering a copy thereof personally to the person to be served, or by leaving the copy at his latest known address;

    • (b) if the document is to be served on the master of a ship, where there is a master, or on a person belonging to a ship, by leaving the document on board that ship with the person being or appearing to be in command or charge of the ship; and

    • (c) if the document is to be served on the master of a ship, where there is no master, and the ship is in Canada, on the managing owner of the ship or, if there is no managing owner, on some agent of the owner residing in Canada, or where no such agent is known or can be found, by affixing a copy thereof to the mast of the ship.

  • Marginal note:Obstructing service

    (2) Every person who obstructs the service on the master of a ship of any document under the provisions of this Act relating to the detention of ships as unseaworthy is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding fifty dollars and, if the master or owner of the ship is party or privy to the obstruction, he is guilty of an indictable offence.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 698

Application of Fines

Marginal note:Application of fines

  •  (1) Where a fine is imposed under this Act for which no specific application is provided, the court, justice of the peace or provincial court judge imposing the fine may direct that the whole or any portion of it may

    • (a) be applied in compensating any person for any wrong or damage that may have been sustained by the act or default in respect of which the fine is imposed;

    • (b) be applied in or toward payment of the expenses of the proceedings; or

    • (c) be paid to the provincial, municipal or local authority bearing in whole or in part the expense of prosecuting the contravention of this Act in respect of which the fine was imposed.

  • Marginal note:Paid to Receiver General

    (2) Subject to any specific application provided under this Act, all fines under this Act shall, notwithstanding anything in any other Act, be paid to the Receiver General and deposited to the credit of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 628
  • R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203

PART XIIISupplemental

Stevedores and Trimmers

Marginal note:Power to arrest ship

  •  (1) Where it is claimed that any sum is due to any person from the owners of a ship for work done at any place in any province by that person in connection with the stowing or discharging of cargoes on board or from that ship, or the trimming of coal on board that ship, and that ship is at any time found in Canadian waters, the Admiralty Court may, on being shown by any person applying in accordance with rules of court that, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, the claim against the owners is a good claim, issue an order for the arrest of the ship.

  • Marginal note:Order to detain ship

    (2) An order under this Part shall be directed to a marshal of the court, an officer of customs or some other officer named in the order, and shall require him to detain the ship until

    • (a) satisfaction has been made by the owners, agent, master or consignee thereof in respect of the claim, or

    • (b) security to be approved by the court has been given by them or him to abide the event of any action, suit or other legal proceeding that may be instituted in respect of the claim, and to pay all costs and damages that may be awarded thereon,

    and where an order is made under subsection (1), the officer to whom the order is directed shall detain the ship accordingly.

  • Marginal note:Person giving security to be made defendant

    (3) In any legal proceedings in relation to any claim referred to in subsection (1), the person giving security shall be made defendant and shall be stated to be the owner of the ship in respect of which the work giving rise to the claim was done, and the production of the order of the judge, made in relation to the security, is conclusive evidence of the liability of the defendant to the proceedings.

  • Marginal note:Where complaint made that ship will have departed, etc.

    (4) Where a complaint is made to the Minister that, before an application can be made under this section, the ship in respect of which the application is to be made will have departed from Canadian waters, the ship shall, if the Minister so directs, be detained for such time as will allow the application to be made and the result thereof to be communicated to the officer detaining the ship, and that officer is not liable for any costs or damages in respect of the detention if made in accordance with the directions of the Minister.

  • Marginal note:Section 614 to apply

    (5) Section 614 applies to the detention of a ship under this Part as it applies to the detention of a ship under Part XII.

  • Marginal note:Where the owner is a corporation

    (6) Where the owner of a ship is a corporation, the owner shall, for the purposes of this section, be deemed to reside in the province where the application is made if the corporation has an office in that province at which service of writs can be effected.

  • Marginal note:Application of Act

    (7) Where a ship has been demised to charterers, this section applies to claims against the charterers of the ship as it applies to claims against the owners of a ship, with the substitution of charterers for owners, but no ship shall be detained on a claim against the charterers of the ship after the expiration of the term for which the ship was demised to them.

  • Marginal note:Proceedings in Admiralty

    (8) Nothing in this section affects the power of any person to enforce any claim to which this Part applies otherwise than in accordance with this Part.

  • Marginal note:Idem

    (9) Any person having a claim to which this Part applies may, if he so desires, instead of proceeding under the provisions of this Part, institute proceedings in Admiralty for enforcing the claim in accordance with the ordinary rules of practice of the Admiralty Court, and that Court, if proceedings are so instituted, has the same jurisdiction for the purpose of enforcing the claim as if the claim were a claim for necessaries supplied to the ship.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 702
  • R.S., c. 10(2nd Supp.), s. 65

Powers for Enforcing Compliance with Act

Marginal note:Powers of officers to enforce compliance

  •  (1) Where any commissioned officer of any ship belonging to Her Majesty on full pay, any chief officer of customs in any Commonwealth country or any shipping master has any reason to suspect that the provisions of this Act, or any law for the time being in force relating to shipping or navigation is not complied with, that officer or shipping master may

    • (a) require the owner, master or any of the crew of any Canadian ship to produce any official log-books or other documents relating to the crew or any member thereof in their respective possession or control;

    • (b) require the master of any Canadian ship to produce a list of all persons on board the ship, and take copies of the official log-books or documents, or of any part thereof;

    • (c) muster the crew of any ship; and

    • (d) summon the master to appear and give any explanation concerning the ship or its crew or the official log-books or documents produced or required to be produced.

  • Marginal note:Refusing or neglecting to comply

    (2) If any person, on being duly required by an officer authorized under this section, fails without reasonable cause to produce to that officer any official log-book or document that he is required to produce under this section, refuses to allow the official log-book or document to be inspected or copied, impedes any muster of the crew required under this section, refuses or neglects to give any explanation that he is required under this section to give or knowingly misleads or deceives any officer authorized under this section to demand any such explanation, that person is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 703

Marginal note:Prohibition of shipment of articles of war

  •  (1) No article to which this section applies shall

    • (a) be discharged at any port or place in any territory designated by the Governor in Council for the purposes of this section or within the territorial waters adjacent to the territory from a Canadian ship, or

    • (b) be transhipped on the high seas from a Canadian ship into any vessel bound for any such port or place,

    and no such article consigned to or destined for any such port or place shall be taken on board or carried in a Canadian ship.

  • Marginal note:Regulations

    (2) The Governor in Council may by regulation

    • (a) designate any territory or territories in which there is a state of war or armed conflict, civil or otherwise, in respect of which this section shall apply;

    • (b) prescribe the time or times during which this section shall apply;

    • (c) exempt in the case of any territory designated pursuant to paragraph (a) any article or class of articles referred to in subsection (3) from the application of this section; and

    • (d) provide otherwise for the carrying out of the intent of this section.

  • Marginal note:Articles defined

    (3) Subject to subsection (2), the articles to which this section applies are arms, ammunition, implements or munitions of war, military stores, or any articles deemed capable of being converted thereinto or made useful in the production thereof, or provisions or any sort of victual that may be used as food by man or beast.

  • Marginal note:Discharging in contravention of section

    (4) If any article is discharged or transhipped from, or taken on board or carried in, any ship in contravention of this section, the owner, charterer or master of the ship is, if he is privy to the contravention, guilty of an indictable offence.

  • Marginal note:Admiralty Court jurisdiction

    (5) Where any articles are taken on board or carried in any ship in contravention of this section, the Admiralty Court, or, in any other Commonwealth country, any court exercising jurisdiction under subsection 639(2), may declare those articles and any packages or receptacles in which they are contained to be, and they shall thereupon be, forfeited and when forfeited shall be disposed of as the court directs.

  • Marginal note:Powers of certain officers

    (6) Any officer mentioned in section 630, any consular officer or an officer as defined for the purposes of the provisions of the Customs Act that relate to preventive measures, who has reason to suspect that a ship is contravening or has contravened this section has, without prejudice to the powers conferred by that section, the following powers:

    • (a) he may go on board the ship and for that purpose may detain the ship or require it to stop or to proceed to some convenient place;

    • (b) he may require the master to produce any documents relating to any cargo that is being carried or has been carried on the ship;

    • (c) he may search the ship, examine the cargo and require the master or any member of the crew to open any package or parcel that he suspects contains any articles to which this section applies;

    • (d) he may make any other examination or inquiry that he deems necessary to ascertain whether this section is being or has been contravened; and

    • (e) if it appears to him that this section is being or has been contravened, he may, without summons, warrant or other process, take the ship and its cargo and its master and crew to the nearest or most convenient port in Canada or in any other Commonwealth country in order that the alleged contravention may be adjudicated on by a competent court.

  • Marginal note:Failing to stop or proceed if required to do so

    (7) If any ship duly required under subsection (6) to stop or to proceed to some convenient place fails to comply with that requirement, the master of the ship is guilty of an indictable offence, and if a master or any other person fails to do any other thing duly required of him under that subsection or obstructs any officer in the exercise of his powers under that subsection, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 631
  • R.S., 1985, c. 1 (2nd Supp.), s. 213

Application to Air Cushion Vehicles

Marginal note:Application

  •  (1) The provisions of Part I except sections 94 to 101, Parts V and VI, Part IX except section 581, and Parts XI to XIV apply to air cushion vehicles used in navigation, and wherever in those Parts vessels, ships or steamships are referred to, those references shall be construed as including air cushion vehicles used in navigation.

  • Marginal note:Regulations

    (2) The Governor in Council may make regulations

    • (a) providing for the licensing of persons acting as members of the crew or employed in connection with the maintenance and repair of air cushion vehicles used in navigation, and for the suspension and revocation of those licences;

    • (b) prescribing standards of fitness for air cushion vehicles used in navigation and prohibiting or restricting the use of those vehicles that do not meet the standards prescribed;

    • (c) providing for the safety of persons and property in air cushion vehicles used in navigation and for preventing those vehicles from endangering other persons and property;

    • (d) providing for the measurement of the tonnage of air cushion vehicles for the purposes of this Act;

    • (e) excluding air cushion vehicles used in navigation from the operation, in whole or in part, of any of the provisions of this Act that are by subsection (1) made applicable to them and re-applying, in whole or in part, any of those provisions; and

    • (f) generally, to control and regulate air cushion vehicles used in navigation, including the prohibition of the navigation of those vehicles over such waters and for such times as may be prescribed.

  • Marginal note:Offence and punishment

    (3) Every person who contravenes any regulation made under this section is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 632
  • 1992, c. 31, s. 27

Application to British Ship Registered Elsewhere than in Canada

Marginal note:Power to exempt British ships registered outside Canada

 Where the Governor in Council is satisfied that British ships registered in a Commonwealth country outside Canada, or ships registered in a port of a territory over which Her Majesty exercises jurisdiction, are required by the law of that Commonwealth country or the law in force in that territory to comply with any provisions that are substantially the same as, or equally effective with, any provisions of this Act that apply to those ships if they are within a port of Canada, the Governor in Council may direct that any of those provisions of this Act do not apply to any ship registered in that Commonwealth country or in that territory while within a port in Canada, if it is proved that the ship complies with the corresponding provisions of the law of the Commonwealth country or territory in which the ship is registered.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 706

Foreign Ships

Marginal note:Power to exempt foreign ships

 Where the Governor in Council is satisfied that

  • (a) ships of a foreign country are required by the law of that country to comply with any provisions that are substantially the same as, or equally effective with, any provisions of this Act that apply to foreign ships while they are within a port of Canada, and

  • (b) that country has made or has undertaken to make provisions for the exemption of Canadian ships, while they are within a port of that country, from the corresponding requirement of the law of that country,

the Governor in Council may direct that any of those provisions of this Act do not apply to any ship of that country while within a port of Canada, if it is proved that the ship complies with the corresponding provisions of the law of that country applicable to that ship.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 707

Marginal note:Notice to be given to consular officer

 Where any foreign ship is detained under this Act and any proceedings are taken under this Act against the master or owner of the ship, notice shall forthwith be served on the consular officer for the country to which the ship belongs at or nearest to the port where the ship is for the time being, and the notice shall specify the grounds on which the ship has been detained or the proceedings have been taken.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 708

Marginal note:Proof that seaman is bound to serve

 The oath of the master of any foreign merchant ship, or of any officer or person employed on board the ship, or on board any other ship of the same country that, to the best of his belief and understanding, any seaman or other person is bound to serve on board that ship, according to the law of the country to which that ship belongs, or of the place where the seaman or other person was hired, is evidence that he is legally bound to serve on board that ship within the meaning of this Part, although he has not regularly entered into or signed articles of agreement, and is not bound by articles of indenture in the manner required by law with regard to seamen and others engaged or bound to serve on board Canadian ships.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 709

Marginal note:Jurisdiction of courts

 No judge, provincial court judge or justice of the peace shall

  • (a) entertain or act on any complaint or information under this Part by or against any person belonging to or connected with any foreign merchant ship, who is not a subject of Her Majesty, or

  • (b) exercise jurisdiction under this Part over or at the instance of any such person,

without the consent of both parties to the complaint or information, or the consent in writing of the consul, vice-consul or commercial or other duly accredited agent of the country to which the ship belongs, unless the parties to the complaint or information are subjects or citizens of a country in respect of which, by the terms of treaties in force between Her Majesty and the government of that country, it is stipulated that the assistance of Canadian courts and magistrates shall be granted to the subjects or citizens of that country, or unless one of the parties is a subject or citizen of that country and the other is a subject of Her Majesty.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 637
  • R.S., 1985, c. 27 (1st Supp.), s. 203
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 22

Marginal note:Application of Act to foreign ships

 Where it has been made to appear to the Governor in Council that the government of any foreign country desires that any of the provisions of this Act that do not apply to the ships of that country should so apply, and there are no special provisions in this Act for that application, the Governor in Council may order that any of those provisions specified in the order shall, subject to any limitations contained therein, apply to the ships of that country and to the owners, masters, seamen and apprentices of those ships, when not locally within the jurisdiction of the government of that country, in the same manner in all respects as if those ships were Canadian ships.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 711

Reciprocal Services Relating to British Ships

Marginal note:Duties of courts, etc.

  •  (1) Where by any enactment, before or after August 1, 1936, the Parliament of any Commonwealth country other than Canada has provided, in terms that extend to ships registered in that country while they are in Canada or before or after they have been in Canada or while they are at sea, with relation to any matter touching or concerning those ships, their owners, masters or crews, that any court, officer of a ship belonging to Her Majesty, registrar of British ships, officer of customs, shipping master or other officer or functionary in or of Canada may or shall execute any request, exercise any right or authority or perform any duty or act with relation to those ships, their owners, masters or crews, that court, officer or functionary in or of Canada may and shall execute the request, have the right or authority and perform the duty or act as if the enactment were by this Act enacted.

  • Marginal note:Acts done with relation to Canadian ships

    (2) Where by any enactment, before or after August 1, 1936, the Parliament of any Commonwealth country other than Canada has provided, in terms that extend to Canadian ships while they are in that country, before or after they have been in that country or while they are at sea, that any court, officer of a ship belonging to Her Majesty, registrar of British ships, consular officer, officer of customs, superintendent or other officer or functionary in or of that country may or shall, with relation to Canadian ships, their owners, masters and crews, execute any request, exercise any right or authority or perform any duty or act that this Act makes or purports to make, confer, impose or direct to be done, of, on or by that court, officer or functionary, then all things done by it or him, in form pursuant to any provision of this Act that can be related to the enactment of the other Commonwealth country, shall be deemed to have been done by force of that enactment.

  • Marginal note:Idem

    (3) While every provision of this Act that permits, authorizes, requires or directs any courts, officers, registrars, superintendents or functionaries described in subsection (2) is permissive merely, all things done by them pursuant to this Act shall be deemed to have been validly done for all the purposes of this Act.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 712

Marginal note:Construction before a certain date

 In this Act, references to a ship constructed before or after any date shall be construed as references to a ship the keel of which has been laid before or after that date, as the case may be.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 713

 [Repealed, 1998, c. 16, s. 16]

Transmission and Publication of Documents

Marginal note:Notice, etc., to be in writing

  •  (1) Where by this Act any notice, authority, order, direction or other communication is required or authorized to be given or made by the Minister to any person not being an officer of the Department, it shall be given or made in writing.

  • Marginal note:Notices registered

    (2) Where any notice or demand is by this Act required or authorized to be transmitted or sent, it may be transmitted or sent by registered post.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 715

Documents and Forms

Marginal note:Proof of documents

 All documents purporting to be made, issued or written by or under the direction of the Minister, or, in the case of a certificate, to be signed by one of the officers of the Department, are admissible in evidence in the manner provided by this Act.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 716

Marginal note:Sanctioned by Minister

  •  (1) Subject to any special provisions of this Act, the Minister may prepare, or cause to be prepared, and sanction forms for any book, instrument or paper required under this Act, and may make such alterations in those forms as he thinks fit.

  • Marginal note:Marks and notice of change

    (2) The Minister shall cause every such form to be marked with some distinguishing mark, and before finally issuing any form or making any alteration in a form shall cause public notice thereof to be given in such manner as the Minister thinks requisite in order to prevent inconvenience.

  • Marginal note:Supply of forms

    (3) The Minister shall cause all forms to be supplied at all custom-houses and shipping offices in Canada, free of charge, or at such moderate prices as the Minister may fix, or he may license any persons to print and sell the forms.

  • Marginal note:Offences respecting use of forms

    (4) Every person who prints, sells or uses any document purporting to be a form approved by the Minister, knowing that it is not a form that has been approved for the time being or prepared or issued under the sanction of the Minister, is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding fifty dollars.

  • R.S., c. S-9, s. 717

PART XIV

[Repealed, 2001, c. 6, s. 125]

PART XVPollution Prevention and Response

Interpretation

Marginal note:Definitions

 In this Part,

analyst

analyste

analyst means a person designated as an analyst pursuant to section 661; (analyste)

Commissioner

Commissioner[Repealed, 2005, c. 29, s. 10]

discharge

rejet

discharge of a pollutant from a ship means any discharge of a pollutant from a ship that results, directly or indirectly, in the pollutant entering the water and includes, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, throwing and dumping; (rejet)

oil handling facility

installation de manutention d’hydrocarbures

oil handling facility means a facility, including an oil terminal, that is used in the loading or unloading of oil to or from ships; (installation de manutention d’hydrocarbures)

oil pollution incident

événement de pollution par les hydrocarbures

oil pollution incident means an occurrence, or a series of occurrences having the same origin, that results or is likely to result in a discharge of oil in water; (événement de pollution par les hydrocarbures)

oil tanker

pétrolier

oil tanker means a ship that is constructed or adapted primarily to carry oil in bulk in its cargo spaces; (pétrolier)

OPRC Convention

Convention OPRC

OPRC Convention means the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation, 1990, signed at London on November 30, 1990, as amended from time to time, to the extent that those amendments are in force in respect of Canada; (Convention OPRC)

owner

propriétaire

owner, in relation to a ship, means the person having for the time being, either by law or by contract, the rights of the owner of the ship as regards the possession and use thereof; (propriétaire)

pollutant

polluant

pollutant means

  • (a) any substance that, if added to any waters, would degrade or alter or form part of a process of degradation or alteration of the quality of those waters to an extent that is detrimental to their use by man or by any animal, fish or plant that is useful to man, and

  • (b) any water that contains a substance in such a quantity or concentration, or that has been so treated, processed or changed, by heat or other means, from a natural state that it would, if added to any waters, degrade or alter or form part of a process of degradation or alteration of the quality of those waters to an extent that is detrimental to their use by man or by any animal, fish or plant that is useful to man,

and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes crude oil, fuel oil, heavy diesel oil, lubricating oil, any other persistent oil and any substance or any substance of a class of substances that is prescribed for the purposes of this Part to be a pollutant; (polluant)

Pollution Convention

Convention sur la pollution des mers

Pollution Convention means the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, signed at London on November 2, 1973, and the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, signed at London on February 17, 1978, and any amendments, whenever made, to Protocol I, the Annexes or the Appendices to that Convention; (Convention sur la pollution des mers)

pollution prevention officer

fonctionnaire chargé de la prévention de la pollution

pollution prevention officer means a person designated as a pollution prevention officer pursuant to section 661; (fonctionnaire chargé de la prévention de la pollution)

response organization

organisme d’intervention

response organization means any person or body in Canada in respect of which a certificate of designation is issued by the Minister under subsection 660.4(1); (organisme d’intervention)

ship

navire

ship includes any description of vessel or craft designed, used or capable of being used solely or partly for navigation, without regard to method or lack of propulsion; (navire)

standards

normes

standards includes specifications and technical and operational requirements. (normes)

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 654
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 84
  • 1993, c. 36, s. 3
  • 1998, c. 6, s. 4
  • 2005, c. 29, s. 10

Application of Part

Marginal note:Application of Part

  •  (1) Except where otherwise provided in this Part or in any regulation made thereunder, this Part and any regulations made thereunder apply

    • (a) to all

      • (i) Canadian waters, and

      • (ii) waters in the exclusive economic zone of Canada

      that are not within a shipping safety control zone prescribed pursuant to the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act; and

    • (b) to all ships in waters described in paragraph (a).

  • Marginal note:Exclusion

    (2) This Part does not apply to a discharge that constitutes a spill from a ship that is on location and engaged in exploration or drilling for, or production, conservation or processing of, oil or gas in an area described in paragraph 3(a) or (b) of the Oil and Gas Production and Conservation Act, in so far as the discharge emanates from those activities.

  • Marginal note:Meaning of certain expressions

    (3) For the purposes of subsection (2),

    • (a) “spill” has the same meaning as in subsection 24(1) of the Oil and Gas Production and Conservation Act; and

    • (b) “oil” and “gas” have the same meanings as in section 2 of that Act.

  • Marginal note:Conflicts with foreign rules

    (4) Notwithstanding anything contained therein, a regulation made under this Part does not apply to a Canadian ship in the waters of a country other than Canada where the regulation is inconsistent with a law of that country that, by its terms, applies to the ship when in the waters of that country.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 655
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 84
  • 1996, c. 31, s. 100

Regulations

Marginal note:Regulations prohibiting discharge of pollutants

  •  (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations prohibiting the discharge from ships, except as thereby authorized for the purposes of this Part, of any one or more pollutants specified in the regulations.

  • Marginal note:Discharges permitted under Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999

    (2) Notwithstanding any regulation made under subsection (1), a discharge of a pollutant from a ship is permitted if done in accordance with a permit granted under Division 3 of Part 7 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 656
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 84
  • 1993, c. 36, s. 4
  • 1999, c. 33, s. 345

Marginal note:Regulations relating to pollution

  •  (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations

    • (a) respecting the circumstances in which ships, persons on board ships and operators of oil handling facilities shall report discharges or anticipated discharges of pollutants, the manner of making the reports and the persons to whom the reports shall be made;

    • (b) respecting the fitting, maintenance, testing and use of electronic and other navigational equipment on ships carrying pollutants, in addition to that required under any other provision of this Act or the regulations;

    • (c) prescribing

      • (i) pollutants the carriage of which, in any quantity, is prohibited on board ships, whether as cargo or fuel,

      • (ii) the maximum quantities of any pollutant that may be carried on board a ship, whether as cargo or fuel,

      • (iii) the method of stowage of any pollutant carried on board a ship, whether as cargo or fuel, and

      • (iv) the method of retention of any pollutant carried on board a ship as waste;

    • (d) respecting the supplies and equipment to be carried by and the fittings and installations required on ships carrying pollutants for handling the pollutants and dealing with any discharge thereof;

    • (e) prescribing procedures and practices to be followed by persons on board ships, including the loading and unloading of pollutants, in order to ensure the safety and the safe operation of such ships;

    • (f) prescribing the supplies and equipment to be maintained by the operators of loading and unloading facilities for ships for use in the event of any discharge of a pollutant during the loading or unloading of a ship;

    • (g) respecting the records to be kept on board a ship

      • (i) of any activities on board the ship that result in or may result in the discharge of a pollutant into the water or the atmosphere,

      • (ii) of loadings and unloadings of pollutants to or from the ship at any facilities, and

      • (iii) where the ship is a Canadian ship, of discharges of pollutants by the ship, which discharges, if made in waters to which this Part applies, would be contrary to any regulation made pursuant to subsection 656(1),

      and prescribing the person or persons by whom such records shall be kept;

    • (h) for regulating and preventing the pollution of the air by ships;

    • (i) respecting the design, construction and arrangement of ships carrying pollutants, their stability in a damaged condition and their equipment, fittings and systems;

    • (j) respecting design specifications and operating manuals for ships carrying pollutants and for their equipment, fittings and systems, and respecting the keeping of such design specifications and operating manuals on board the ship and the adherence to those design specifications and operating manuals;

    • (k) respecting the production of plans, documentary evidence and like information necessary to decide whether a ship complies with regulations made under this subsection;

    • (l) respecting fees to be paid in respect of any inspection or survey of a ship carried out pursuant to this Part or any regulation made thereunder;

    • (m) respecting the fees to be charged for issuing certificates required under this Part and the fees to be charged for inspections and surveys in connection with applications for such certificates;

    • (n) requiring the owner or operator of any loading terminal, unloading terminal, port or ship repair facility to provide reception facilities satisfactory to the Minister for oily residues, chemical residues, garbage and sewage; and

    • (o) prescribing anything that by this Part is to be prescribed.

  • Marginal note:Certification of non-Pollution Convention ships

    (2) The Governor in Council may make regulations

    • (a) providing for the inspection and survey of ships to which the Pollution Convention does not apply for the purpose of ascertaining whether the ships comply with regulations made under this Part relating to construction, fittings, installations, equipment and systems;

    • (b) respecting certificates of compliance with regulations referred to in paragraph (a); and

    • (c) governing the use that may be made of any such certificate and the effect that may be given thereto for the purposes of any provision of this Act.

  • Marginal note:Effect of certificate

    (3) A certificate issued pursuant to regulations made under paragraph (2)(b) is not a bar to inspecting or surveying the ship pursuant to regulations made under paragraph (2)(a) if there is evidence of non-compliance.

  • Marginal note:Application of regulations

    (4) In any regulation made pursuant to this section or subsection 656(1), the Governor in Council

    • (a) may designate to which waters, within the waters to which this Part applies, or to which ships or class of ships the regulation applies; and

    • (b) may provide that the regulation applies to such Canadian ships or class of Canadian ships in such waters, outside the waters to which this Part applies, as are designated in the regulation.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 657
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 84
  • 1993, c. 36, s. 5

Marginal note:Ballast water control and management regulations

 The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the control and management of ballast water.

  • 1998, c. 16, s. 18

Pollution Convention

Marginal note:Pollution Convention

 The Governor in Council may make regulations to implement the Pollution Convention.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 658
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 84

Marginal note:Publication of proposed regulations

  •  (1) Subject to subsection (2), a copy of each regulation that the Governor in Council proposes to make under section 658 shall be published in the Canada Gazette at least ninety days before the proposed effective date thereof, and a reasonable opportunity within those ninety days shall be afforded to ship owners, masters, seamen and other interested persons to make representations to the Minister with respect thereto.

  • Marginal note:Exceptions

    (2) Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of a proposed regulation that

    • (a) has previously been published pursuant to that subsection, whether or not it has been changed as a result of representations made pursuant to that subsection, or

    • (b) makes no substantive change to an existing regulation,

    nor does subsection (1) apply where the Governor in Council is satisfied that an emergency situation exists and that compliance with subsection (1) would therefore be prejudicial to the public interest.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 659
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 84

Marginal note:Owner to pay expenses of inspection or survey

 Section 313 applies in respect of inspections or surveys of ships under this Part or under regulations made pursuant to this Part.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 660
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 84

OPRC Convention

 [Repealed, 2005, c. 29, s. 11]

Marginal note:Definitions

  •  (1) For the purposes of this section,

    oil

    hydrocarbures

    oil means petroleum in any form including crude oil, fuel oil, sludge, oil refuse and refined products; (hydrocarbures)

    ship

    navire

    ship

    • (a) means

      • (i) an oil tanker of one hundred and fifty or more tons gross tonnage, and

      • (ii) a ship, other than an oil tanker, of four hundred or more tons gross tonnage that carries oil as cargo or as fuel,

    • (b) includes two or more ships, each of whose gross tonnage is less than that mentioned in subparagraph (a)(i) or (ii), that carry oil as cargo, that are towed or pushed together and whose aggregate tonnage is one hundred and fifty or more tons gross tonnage, and

    • (c) does not include

      • (i) a ship that is not a Canadian ship if it is only transiting in the territorial sea of Canada or the exclusive economic zone of Canada and if it is not engaged in the loading or unloading of oil during transit,

      • (ii) any warship, naval auxiliary ship or ship owned or operated by a state and used only on government non-commercial service, or

      • (iii) a ship that is on location and engaged in the exploration or drilling for, or the production, conservation or processing of, oil or gas in an area described in paragraph 3(a) or (b) of the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act; (navire)

    waters

    eaux

    waters means

    • (a) Canadian waters, and

    • (b) waters in the exclusive economic zone of Canada

    and includes, notwithstanding subsection 655(1), waters that are within a shipping safety control zone prescribed pursuant to the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act. (eaux)

  • Marginal note:Ships — requirements

    (2) Every Canadian ship, whether or not it is in waters and, subject to subsection (3), every ship, other than a Canadian ship, that is in waters, shall

    • (a) comply with regulations respecting the procedures, equipment and resources that a ship must have on board for use in respect of an oil pollution incident respecting the ship, to the extent that such procedures, equipment and resources are not provided for in a shipboard oil pollution emergency plan that it would be required to have pursuant to any regulation made under section 658;

    • (b) have an arrangement with a response organization to which a certificate of designation has been issued pursuant to subsection 660.4(1) in respect of a specified quantity of oil that is at least equal to the total amount of oil that the ship carries, both as cargo and as fuel, to a maximum of ten thousand tonnes, and in respect of waters where the ship navigates or engages in a marine activity; and

    • (c) have on board a declaration, conforming to the regulations, that

      • (i) identifies the name and address of the ship’s insurer, or in the case of a subscription policy, the name and address of the lead insurer who provides pollution insurance coverage in respect of the ship,

      • (ii) confirms that the arrangement referred to in paragraph (b) has been made, and

      • (iii) identifies every person who is authorized, in accordance with the regulations, to implement the arrangement referred to in paragraph (b) and the shipboard oil pollution emergency plan.

  • Marginal note:Certain provisions not to apply — ships

    (3) Paragraph (2)(b) and subparagraphs (2)(c)(ii) and (iii) do not apply in respect of

    • (a) a Canadian ship that is not in waters, as that term is defined in subsection (1); and

    • (b) a ship that is in waters north of the sixtieth parallel of north latitude.

  • Marginal note:Oil handling facilities — requirements

    (4) The operator of an oil handling facility that is designated pursuant to subsection (8) shall

    • (a) comply with regulations respecting the procedures, equipment and resources that an oil handling facility must have on site for use in respect of an oil pollution incident at the oil handling facility, where the incident arises out of the loading or unloading of oil to or from a ship at the oil handling facility;

    • (b) have an arrangement with a response organization to which a certificate of designation has been issued pursuant to subsection 660.4(1) in respect of a specified quantity of oil that is at least equal to the total quantity of oil, as determined by regulation, that is, at any particular time, involved in the loading or unloading of oil to or from a ship at the oil handling facility, to a maximum of ten thousand tonnes, and in respect of the place where the oil handling facility is located;

    • (c) have on site a declaration, conforming to the regulations, that

      • (i) describes the manner in which the operator will comply with the regulations made under paragraph 657(1)(a),

      • (ii) confirms that the arrangement referred to in paragraph (b) has been made, and

      • (iii) identifies every person who is authorized, in accordance with the regulations, to implement the arrangement referred to in paragraph (b) and the oil pollution emergency plan referred to in paragraph (d);

    • (d) have on site an oil pollution emergency plan that conforms to the regulations and that lists the procedures, equipment and resources referred to in paragraph (a); and

    • (e) have on site an oil pollution prevention plan required by the regulations.

  • Marginal note:Provision not to apply — oil handling facilities

    (5) Subsection (4) does not apply to an oil handling facility that is located in the territorial sea of Canada or the exclusive economic zone of Canada.

  • Marginal note:Certain provisions not to apply — oil handling facilities

    (6) Paragraph (4)(b) and subparagraphs (4)(c)(ii) and (iii) do not apply in respect of an oil handling facility that is in waters north of the sixtieth parallel of north latitude.

  • Marginal note:Exemption

    (7) Subject to any conditions that the Minister considers appropriate, the Minister may exempt for a specified period any ship or class of ships or any operator of an oil handling facility from the application of any provision of this section if the Minister is of the opinion that the exemption is in the interest of preventing damage to property or the environment or is in the interest of public health or safety. Notice of every exemption must be published in the Canada Gazette.

  • Marginal note:Designation

    (8) The Minister may designate any oil handling facility as a facility the operator of which is required to comply with subsection (4), and shall cause every such designation to be published in the Canada Gazette.

  • 1993, c. 36, s. 6
  • 1996, c. 31, s. 101
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 19

Marginal note:Duty to take reasonable measures — ships

  •  (1) Every ship shall take reasonable measures to implement the shipboard oil pollution emergency plan that it is required to have pursuant to regulations made under section 658, in respect of an oil pollution incident.

  • Marginal note:Duty to take reasonable measures — oil handling facilities

    (2) Every operator of an oil handling facility shall take reasonable measures to implement the oil pollution emergency plan that the operator is required to have pursuant to paragraph 660.2(4)(d), in respect of an oil pollution incident.

  • 1993, c. 36, s. 6

Marginal note:Certificate of designation

  •  (1) The Minister may, in respect of any geographic area and in respect of a specified quantity of oil, issue a certificate of designation as a response organization to a person or body that makes an application and submits to the Minister

    • (a) a response plan that conforms to the regulations respecting the procedures, equipment and resources for use with respect to a spill of a specified quantity of oil in the geographic area; and

    • (b) a declaration that confirms that the procedures, equipment and resources referred to in the response plan are available to the person or body in conformity with the regulations.

  • Marginal note:Proposed fees

    (2) A person or body that applies for a certificate of designation as a response organization shall, at the time of applying, file with the Minister a list of the fees that it proposes to charge in relation to an arrangement referred to in paragraph 660.2(2)(b) or (4)(b).

  • Marginal note:Publication

    (3) The Minister shall cause a copy of each list of proposed fees to be published in the Canada Gazette.

  • Marginal note:Notice of objection

    (4) Any interested person who has reason to believe that a proposed fee is not fair and equitable may file a notice of objection that contains the reasons for the objection with the Minister no later than thirty days after the publication of the proposed fee.

  • Marginal note:Appointment of investigator

    (5) Where a notice of objection is filed, the Minister shall appoint a person to investigate whether the charging of the proposed fee would be fair and equitable, if, the Minister is of the opinion that to do so would be desirable.

  • Marginal note:Powers of investigator

    (6) A person appointed to hold an investigation has all the powers of a commissioner under Part I of the Inquiries Act.

  • Marginal note:Report to Minister

    (7) The person who holds an investigation shall send a report of the investigation to the Minister when it is completed.

  • Marginal note:Power of Minister

    (8) The Minister may, by order, approve or amend a proposed fee, either as recommended by the report or otherwise, the response organization shall establish its fee accordingly and the Minister shall cause a copy of the fee to be published in the Canada Gazette.

  • Marginal note:Amendment of fee

    (9) Where a response organization proposes to charge a new fee or proposes to amend a fee already charged, it shall file the proposed new or amended fee with the Minister and subsections (3) to (8) apply, with such modifications as the circumstances require, to the proposed new or amended fee.

  • Marginal note:Fee to be charged during procedure

    (10) Where a response organization has proposed an amended fee, the existing fee continues to apply until the procedure set out in subsections (3) to (8) is completed and the Minister has approved an amount for the amended fee.

  • Marginal note:Fee retroacts to proposal date

    (11) After the Minister has approved a new fee or an amended fee, the fee shall be applicable from the date of publication of the proposal for it in the Canada Gazette.

  • 1993, c. 36, s. 6

Marginal note:Revocation

 The Minister may revoke any certificate of designation issued pursuant to subsection 660.4(1) if

  • (a) the Minister believes on reasonable grounds that the response plan no longer complies with the regulations referred to in that subsection;

  • (b) there have been amendments to the regulations referred to in that subsection and the response plan no longer meets the regulations as amended;

  • (c) any charges or fees for processing an application for, or for performing an inspection in relation to the issuance of, the certificate are unpaid; or

  • (d) the Minister believes on reasonable grounds that the procedures, equipment and resources referred to in subsection 660.4(1) are not available within the meaning of paragraph 660.4(1)(b).

  • 1993, c. 36, s. 6

Marginal note:Standards

  •  (1) The Minister may issue standards

    • (a) respecting the matters referred to in paragraph 660.2(2)(a) or (c) or subsection 660.2(4) or 660.4(1); and

    • (b) respecting the designation of oil handling facilities pursuant to subsection 660.2(8).

  • Marginal note:Standards not regulations

    (2) For greater certainty, standards issued by the Minister under this section are not regulations within the meaning of the Statutory Instruments Act.

  • 1993, c. 36, s. 6

Marginal note:Examination of proposed standards

 The Minister shall send a copy of each proposed standard to the Minister of Justice for examination to ensure that an incorporation of the standard by reference in a regulation made under subsection 660.9(1)

  • (a) would be authorized by section 660.9;

  • (b) would not constitute an unusual or unexpected use of the authority in that subsection; and

  • (c) would not trespass unduly on existing rights and freedoms and would not, in any case, be inconsistent with the purposes and provisions of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Canadian Bill of Rights.

  • 1993, c. 36, s. 6

Marginal note:Notice of proposed standards

  •  (1) The Minister shall cause notice to be published in the Canada Gazette of each standard proposed to be issued by the Minister under subsection 660.6(1), together with notice of the place at which the proposed standard is available, at least thirty days before the proposed effective date of the standard, and any interested person may make representations with respect to the proposed standard to the Minister within those thirty days.

  • Marginal note:Issuance of standards

    (2) After the Minister considers any representations made by interested persons with respect to a proposed standard, the Minister may issue the standard.

  • Marginal note:Notice of standards

    (3) The Minister shall cause notice of each standard that the Minister issues, together with notice of the place at which the standard is available, to be published in the Canada Gazette.

  • Marginal note:Exception

    (4) The Minister need not comply with subsections (1) to (3) in respect of a proposed standard that

    • (a) has previously been published pursuant to subsection (1), whether or not it has been changed as a result of representations made pursuant to that subsection; or

    • (b) makes no substantive change to an existing standard.

  • Marginal note:Emergency

    (5) If the Minister is satisfied that an emergency situation exists and that compliance with subsections (1) to (3) would therefore be prejudicial to the public interest, the Minister need not comply with those subsections.

  • 1993, c. 36, s. 6

Marginal note:Regulations

  •  (1) The Governor in Council may make regulations

    • (a) implementing the OPRC Convention;

    • (b) respecting the matters referred to in paragraph 660.2(2)(a) or (c) or subsection 660.2(4) or 660.4(1);

    • (c) respecting the designation of oil handling facilities pursuant to subsection 660.2(8); and

    • (d) prescribing how standards to be incorporated by reference into the regulations are to be made public.

  • Marginal note:Incorporation of reference

    (2) Regulations made under subsection (1) may incorporate standards by reference, including standards issued by the Minister under subsection 660.6(1), as the standards are amended from time to time.

  • 1993, c. 36, s. 6

Marginal note:Advisory councils

  •  (1) The Minister shall establish one advisory council in respect of each geographic area: Pacific, Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes Basin, Atlantic and Arctic.

  • Marginal note:Other advisory councils

    (2) The Minister may establish other advisory councils if he or she considers them necessary.

  • Marginal note:Members

    (3) Each advisory council is composed of no more than seven members who reside in the geographic area in respect of which the advisory council is established, who are appointed to the advisory council by the Minister and who, in the opinion of the Minister, represent the various interests likely to be involved in matters referred to in sections 660.2 to 660.9.

  • Marginal note:Idem

    (3.1) The members referred to in subsection (3) shall include persons who can represent the general public interest or persons with a knowledge and experience in marine environmental matters.

  • Marginal note:Term

    (4) Each member of an advisory council shall be appointed to hold office on good behaviour for a term that does not exceed three years and a member is eligible for reappointment.

  • Marginal note:President

    (5) The advisory council shall elect one of the members of each advisory council to be its president.

  • Marginal note:Remuneration

    (6) Members of each advisory council shall be paid, in connection with their work for the advisory council, the remuneration that may be fixed by the Governor in Council.

  • Marginal note:Travel, living and other expenses

    (6.1) Members of each advisory council are entitled to be reimbursed, in accordance with Treasury Board directives, the travel, living and other expenses incurred in connection with their work for the advisory council while absent, in the case of full-time members, from their ordinary place of work or, in the case of part-time members, from their ordinary place of residence.

  • Marginal note:Recommendations and response

    (7) Each advisory council shall advise and may make recommendations to the Minister, and may report to any standing committee of either House of Parliament that normally considers matters relating to transportation or the environment, and shall receive a response to the report within 30 days or, if that House is not sitting, within 14 days after it resumes sitting.

  • Marginal note:Meetings in public

    (8) All regular meetings of the advisory councils shall be conducted in public.

  • 1993, c. 36, s. 6
  • 1996, c. 31, s. 102
  • 2005, c. 29, s. 12

Marginal note:Review and report by Minister

  •  (1) The Minister shall no later than one year after the coming into force of this Act and thereafter every two years,

    • (a) review the operation of sections 660.2 to 660.10 and, in particular, the capability of the response organizations to meet the arrangements that ships and operators of oil handling facilities are required to have, as set out in paragraphs 660.2(2)(b) and (4)(b); and

    • (b) cause a report setting out the results of that review to be laid before each House of Parliament.

  • Marginal note:Idem

    (2) The report laid before Parliament pursuant to subsection (1) stands permanently referred to such committee of Parliament as is established to review such matters.

  • 1993, c. 36, s. 6
  • 2005, c. 29, s. 13

Pollution Prevention Officers and Analysts

Marginal note:Appointment

  •  (1) The Minister may, for the purposes of this Part,

    • (a) designate any person, either by name or by title of office, as a pollution prevention officer; and

    • (b) designate any person by name as an analyst.

  • Marginal note:Powers of pollution prevention officers

    (2) A pollution prevention officer has such of the powers set out in sections 662 and 672 as are specified in the certificate of his designation.

  • Marginal note:Certificate of designation

    (3) A pollution prevention officer shall be furnished with a certificate of his designation specifying the powers set out in sections 662 and 672 that are vested in him, and a pollution prevention officer, on exercising any such power, shall, if so required and if the circumstances permit, produce the certificate to any person in authority who is affected thereby and who requires him to do so.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 661
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 84

Marginal note:Powers of pollution prevention officer

  •  (1) A pollution prevention officer may

    • (a) direct

      • (i) any Canadian ship, whether within or outside waters to which this Part applies, or

      • (ii) any other ship that is about to enter or is within waters to which this Part applies,

      to provide him with reasonable information concerning the condition of the ship, its equipment, radio equipment or machinery, the nature and quantity of its cargo and fuel and the manner in which and the locations in which the cargo and fuel of the ship are stowed and any other reasonable information that he considers appropriate for the administration of this Part;

    • (b) go on board any Canadian ship, whether within or outside waters to which this Part applies, and conduct such inspections of the ship as will enable him to determine whether the ship complies with any regulations made under this Part or under paragraph 562.1(1)(a) or (b) that are applicable to the ship;

    • (c) go on board any foreign ship to which the Pollution Convention does not apply that is within waters to which this Part applies that he believes on reasonable grounds is bound to or from a place in Canada or that is moored at a place in Canada, and conduct such inspections of the ship as will enable him to determine whether the ship complies with any regulations made under this Part or under paragraph 562.1(1)(a) or (b) that are applicable to the ship;

    • (d) go on board a foreign ship to which the Pollution Convention applies, inspect it in accordance with the provisions of the Pollution Convention and take action consequent on such inspection in accordance with the provisions of that Convention;

    • (e) go on board any ship within waters to which this Part applies that he believes on reasonable grounds has discharged a pollutant in contravention of this Part or any regulation made thereunder, and take samples of any pollutant carried on that ship in respect of which he believes on reasonable grounds the contravention has occurred;

    • (f) direct any ship that is within or about to enter waters to which this Part applies

      • (i) to proceed to such place within waters to which this Part applies as he may select, by such route and in such manner as he may direct, and to moor, anchor or remain at that place for such reasonable time as he may specify,

      • (ii) to proceed out of waters to which this Part applies by such route and in such manner as he may direct, or

      • (iii) to remain outside waters to which this Part applies,

      if the pollution prevention officer believes on reasonable grounds that the ship fails to comply with any provision of this Part or of any regulations made under this Part or under paragraph 562.1(a) or (b) that is or may be applicable to it, or if that officer is satisfied, by reason of weather, visibility, ice or sea conditions, the condition of the ship or any of its equipment, or any deficiency in its complement or the nature and condition of its cargo, that such a direction is justified to prevent the discharge of a pollutant;

    • (g) direct any ship that is within or about to enter waters to which this Part applies and that he believes on reasonable grounds is carrying a pollutant to proceed through those waters by such route, and at a rate of speed not in excess of such rate, as he may specify;

    • (h) where he is informed that a substantial quantity of a pollutant has entered or been discharged in waters to which this Part applies, or where on reasonable grounds he is satisfied that a grave and imminent danger of a substantial discharge of a pollutant in such waters exists, declare an emergency zone, of an area that is reasonable with regard to the pollution emergency in question, and

      • (i) direct all ships within that emergency zone to report their positions to him,

      • (ii) direct any ship not to enter or not to leave the emergency zone,

      • (iii) direct ships within the emergency zone in respect of routes, speed limits and pilotage and equipment requirements, and

      • (iv) direct any ship within waters to which this Part applies to take part in the clean up of the pollutant or in any action to control or contain the pollutant;

    • (i) direct any ship to provide reasonable information concerning the shipboard oil pollution emergency plan that the ship is required to have pursuant to regulations made under section 658 and direct any operator of any oil handling facility to provide reasonable information concerning the oil pollution emergency plan that the operator is required to have on site pursuant to paragraph 660.2(4)(d);

    • (j) direct any response organization to provide reasonable information concerning the response plan that the response organization is required to have by reason of subsection 660.4(1);

    • (k) go on board any ship and conduct such inspections as will enable the officer to determine whether the ship complies with the requirements of subsection 660.2(2);

    • (l) inspect the installations of any oil handling facility to determine whether it complies with the requirements of subsection 660.2(4);

    • (m) inspect the installations of any person or body that applies for a certificate of designation as a response organization pursuant to subsection 660.4(1) for the purposes of processing an application for a certificate of designation in respect of a response plan; and

    • (n) inspect the installations of a response organization for the purposes of ascertaining whether the procedures, equipment and resources referred to in subsection 660.4(1) are available within the meaning of paragraph 660.4(1)(b).

  • Marginal note:Compensation

    (2) Compensation shall be paid by the Crown for the services of any ship that has complied with an order issued under subparagraph (1)(h)(iv).

  • Marginal note:Ships must obey directions

    (3) Every ship shall obey directions given by a pollution prevention officer under paragraph (1)(a), (f), (g), (h), (i) or (j).

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 662
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 84
  • 1993, c. 36, s. 7

Marginal note:Assistance to pollution prevention officer

  •  (1) The master of any ship boarded pursuant to paragraph 662(1)(b), (c), (d), (e) or (k) and every person on board the ship, the operator of every oil handling facility whose installations are inspected pursuant to paragraph 662(1)(l) and every person working at those installations, and every response organization whose installations are inspected pursuant to paragraph 662(1)(m) and every person working at those installations shall give a pollution prevention officer all reasonable assistance to enable the officer to carry out duties and functions under this Part and shall furnish the officer with such information as may be reasonably required.

  • Marginal note:Obstruction, false statements

    (2) No person shall obstruct or hinder a pollution prevention officer engaged in carrying out his duties and functions under this Part, or knowingly make a false or misleading statement, either orally or in writing, to such an officer.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 663
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 84
  • 1993, c. 36, s. 8

Offences

Marginal note:Discharge of pollutants by persons or ships

  •  (1) Any person or ship that discharges a pollutant in contravention of any regulation made under section 656

    • (a) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction and liable

      • (i) in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both, and

      • (ii) in any other case, to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty thousand dollars; or

    • (b) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable

      • (i) in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding one million dollars, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or to both, and

      • (ii) in any other case, to a fine not exceeding one million dollars.

  • Marginal note:Factors to be considered

    (2) In determining the punishment for an offence under subsection (1), the court may have regard to the following factors:

    • (a) the harm or risk of harm caused by the offence;

    • (b) an estimate of the total costs of cleanup, of harm caused, and of best available mitigation measures;

    • (c) the remedial action taken, or proposed to be taken, by the offender to mitigate the harm;

    • (d) whether the pollutant that was discharged was reported on a timely basis as required by regulations made under paragraph 657(1)(a);

    • (e) whether the offence was deliberate or inadvertent;

    • (f) the incompetence, negligence or lack of concern of the offender;

    • (g) any precautions taken by the offender to avoid the offence;

    • (h) any economic benefits accruing to the offender that, but for the offence, the offender would not have received; and

    • (i) any evidence from which the court may reasonably conclude that the offender has a history of non-compliance with legislation designed to prevent or to minimize pollution.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 664
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 84
  • 1993, c. 36, s. 9

Marginal note:Court orders

 Where an offender is convicted of an offence under this Part, in addition to imposing any other punishment that may be imposed under this Act, the court may, having regard to the nature of the offence and the circumstances surrounding its commission, make an order having any or all of the following effects:

  • (a) prohibiting the offender from doing any act or engaging in any activity that may result in the continuation or repetition of the offence;

  • (b) directing the offender to publish the facts relating to the conviction;

  • (c) directing the offender to submit to the Minister, on application by the Minister made within three years after the date of conviction, any information with respect to the offender’s activities that the court considers appropriate and just in the circumstances;

  • (d) directing the offender to pay an amount for the purposes of conducting research into the ecological use and disposal of the pollutant in respect of which the offence was committed; or

  • (e) requiring the offender to comply with any other reasonable conditions that the court considers appropriate and just in the circumstances for securing the offender’s good conduct and preventing the offender from repeating the same offence or committing other offences.

  • 1993, c. 36, s. 9

Marginal note:Failure to carry certificate

 Any ship in respect of which a certificate may be issued pursuant to regulations made under subsection 657(2) that enters or proceeds within any waters to which this Part applies without having such a certificate on board is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred thousand dollars.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 665
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 84

Marginal note:Failure to comply

  •  (1) Any ship or operator of an oil handling facility that fails to comply with subsection 660.2(2) or (4), as the case may be, or section 660.3 is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

  • Marginal note:No conviction

    (2) No ship or operator of an oil handling facility shall be convicted of an offence under subsection (1) that involves non-compliance with a standard incorporated by reference into a regulation mentioned in subsection 660.2(2) or (4) unless it is proved that at the date of the alleged non-compliance

    • (a) the standard had been made public as required by any regulations made under paragraph 660.9(1)(d); and

    • (b) in the case of a standard issued by the Minister under subsection 660.6(1), notice of the standard and notice of the place at which the standard is available had been published in the Canada Gazette.

  • 1993, c. 36, s. 10

Marginal note:Disobeying a pollution prevention officer

  •  (1) Any person or ship that fails to comply with a direction of a pollution prevention officer given under any of paragraphs 662(1)(a), (f), (g), (h,) (i) and (j) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred thousand dollars.

  • Marginal note:Refusing to assist pollution prevention officers

    (2) Any person who contravenes section 663 is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 666
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 84
  • 1993, c. 36, s. 11

Marginal note:Additional offences by persons or ships

 Any person or ship that contravenes any regulation applicable to him or it made under paragraphs 657(1)(a) to (k) and (n) or under section 658 is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred thousand dollars.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 667
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 84

Marginal note:Proof of offence by ship

  •  (1) In a prosecution of a ship for an offence under this Part, it is sufficient proof that the ship has committed the offence to establish that the act or neglect that constitutes the offence was committed by the master of or any person on board the ship, other than a pollution prevention officer, whether or not the person on board the ship has been identified.

  • Marginal note:Idem

    (2) For the purposes of any prosecution of a ship for failing to comply with any requirement, order or direction of a pollution prevention officer, any requirement made or order or direction given by the pollution prevention officer of or to the master or any person on board the ship shall be deemed to have been made of or given to the ship.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 668
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 84

Marginal note:Certificate of analyst

  •  (1) Subject to this section, a certificate of an analyst stating that he has analyzed or examined a sample submitted to him by a pollution prevention officer and stating the result of his analysis or examination is admissible in evidence in any prosecution for a contravention of any regulation made under subsection 656(1) and, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, is proof of the statements contained in the certificate without proof of the signature or the official character of the person appearing to have signed the certificate.

  • Marginal note:Attendance of analyst

    (2) The party against whom a certificate of an analyst is produced pursuant to subsection (1) may, with leave of the court, require the attendance of the analyst for the purposes of cross-examination.

  • Marginal note:Notice

    (3) No certificate shall be admitted in evidence pursuant to subsection (1) unless the party intending to produce it has given to the party against whom it is intended to be produced reasonable notice of that intention together with a copy of the certificate.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 669
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 84

Marginal note:Time limit for prosecuting offences

 Proceedings in respect of an offence under this Part may be commenced within, but not later than, three years after the subject-matter of the offence arose.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 670
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 84

Marginal note:Jurisdiction in relation to offences

  •  (1) Where any person or ship is charged with having committed an offence under this Part, any court in Canada that would have had cognizance of the offence if it had been committed by a person within the limits of its ordinary jurisdiction has jurisdiction to try the offence as if it had been so committed.

  • Marginal note:Service on ship and appearance at trial

    (2) Where a ship is charged with having committed an offence under this Part, the summons may be served by leaving it with the master or any officer of the ship or by posting the summons on some conspicuous part of the ship, and the ship may appear by counsel or agent, but if it does not appear, a summary conviction court may, on proof of service of the summons, proceed ex parte to hold the trial.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 671
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 84

Detention of Ship

Marginal note:Detention of ships

  •  (1) Where a pollution prevention officer believes on reasonable grounds that an offence under this Part has been committed by or in respect of a ship, he may make a detention order in respect of the ship.

  • Marginal note:Geographical application of section

    (2) The power to make a detention order under this section may be exercised in waters described in paragraph 655(1)(a) and also in waters to which the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act applies.

  • Marginal note:Order to be in writing

    (3) A detention order made under subsection (1) shall be in writing and addressed to all persons at any port in Canada where the ship to which the order relates is or will be who are empowered to give a clearance in respect of the ship.

  • Marginal note:Detention order to be served on master

    (4) Where a detention order under this section is made in respect of a ship, notice thereof shall be served on the master of the ship

    • (a) by delivering a copy thereof personally to the master; or

    • (b) if service cannot reasonably be effected in the manner provided in paragraph (a),

      • (i) by leaving a copy thereof for the master on board the ship with the person who is, or appears to be, in command or charge of the ship, or

      • (ii) if the ship is within Canadian waters, by leaving a copy thereof with the owner or agent of the owner of the ship residing in Canada or, where no such owner or agent is known or can be found, by fixing a copy thereof to a prominent part of the ship.

  • Marginal note:Ship under detention not to depart

    (5) Where, during the term of any detention order made against a ship under this section, the master or owner of the ship gives an order for the ship to depart from Canadian waters, the person giving such order for departure is, if notice of the detention order was served on the master under this section, guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars.

  • Marginal note:Duty of persons empowered to give clearance

    (6) Subject to subsection (7), no person to whom a detention order made under subsection (1) is addressed shall, after notice of the order is received by the person, give clearance in respect of the ship to which the order relates.

  • Marginal note:When clearance shall be given

    (7) A person to whom a detention order made under subsection (1) is addressed and who has received notice of the order shall give clearance in respect of the ship to which the order relates where

    • (a) security satisfactory to the Minister in the amount of one hundred thousand dollars is given to Her Majesty in right of Canada;

    • (b) the ship has not been charged with an offence under this Part within thirty days after the making of the detention order; or

    • (c) the ship has been charged with an offence under this Part within the period referred to in paragraph (b) and

      • (i) security, satisfactory to the Minister, for payment of the maximum fine that might be imposed as a result of a conviction of a ship charged with that offence, or in such lesser amount as may be approved by the Minister, is given to Her Majesty in right of Canada, or

      • (ii) proceedings in respect of the alleged offence that gave rise to the making of the detention order are discontinued.

  • Marginal note:Sale of ship where no appearance and no security

    (8) Where a ship has been charged with an offence under this Part within thirty days after the making of the detention order and, thirty days after the day on which the ship was charged with the offence,

    • (a) no one has appeared on behalf of the ship to answer to the charge, and

    • (b) security referred to in paragraph (7)(c) has not been given,

    the Minister may, after giving reasonable notice, sell the ship and may, by bill of sale, give the purchaser a valid title to the ship free from any mortgage or other claim on the ship that is in existence at the time of the sale.

  • Marginal note:Sale of ship where appearance but no security

    (9) Where a ship has been charged with an offence under this Part within thirty days after the making of the detention order and

    • (a) within thirty days after the day on which the ship was charged with the offence, someone has appeared on behalf of the ship to answer to the charge but security referred to in paragraph (7)(c) has not been given, and

    • (b) the ship is convicted and a fine is imposed and not paid forthwith,

    the Minister may, after giving reasonable notice, sell the ship and may, by bill of sale, give the purchaser a valid title to that ship free from any mortgage or other claim on the ship that is in existence at the time of the sale.

  • Marginal note:Surplus to be paid to former owner of ship

    (10) Any surplus remaining from the proceeds of a sale under subsection (8) or (9) after deducting

    • (a) the amount of

      • (i) the maximum fine that could have been imposed for the offence, where subsection (8) applies, or

      • (ii) the fine actually imposed, where subsection (9) applies, and

    • (b) the cost of the detention and sale

    shall be paid over to the former owner of the ship.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 672
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 84

PART XVICivil Liability and Compensation for Pollution

Interpretation

Marginal note:Definitions

 In this Part,

Administrator

administrateur

Administrator means the Administrator of the Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund appointed pursuant to section 704; (administrateur)

Civil Liability Convention

Convention sur la responsabilité civile

Civil Liability Convention means the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, concluded at Brussels on November 29, 1969, as amended by the Protocol of 1976, concluded at London on November 19, 1976, and the Protocol of 1992, concluded at London on November 27, 1992; (Convention sur la responsabilité civile)

Convention ship

navire soumis à l’application de la Convention

Convention ship means a sea-going ship, wherever registered,

  • (a) carrying, in bulk as cargo, crude oil, fuel oil, heavy diesel oil, lubricating oil or any other persistent hydrocarbon mineral oil, or

  • (b) on any voyage following any such carriage of such an oil, unless it is proved that there is no residue of the oil on board; (navire soumis à l’application de la Convention)

discharge

rejet

discharge of a pollutant from a ship means any discharge of a pollutant from a ship that results, directly or indirectly, in the pollutant entering the water and includes, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, throwing and dumping; (rejet)

Fund Convention

Convention sur le Fonds international

Fund Convention means the International Convention on the Establishment of the International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, concluded at Brussels on December 18, 1971, as amended by the Protocol of 1976, concluded at London on November 19, 1976, and the Protocol of 1992, concluded at London on November 27, 1992; (Convention sur le Fonds international)

guarantor

garant

guarantor means a guarantor under a contract of liability insurance or other similar security relating to a ship owner’s liability under section 677; (garant)

in bulk

en vrac

in bulk means in a hold or tank that is part of the structure of the ship, without any intermediate form of containment; (en vrac)

International Fund

Fonds international

International Fund means the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund established by the Fund Convention; (Fonds international)

Limitation of Liability Convention

Convention sur la limitation de responsabilité

Limitation of Liability Convention has the meaning assigned to the word “Convention” by section 574; (Convention sur la limitation de responsabilité)

oil

hydrocarbures

oil, except in sections 716 to 721, means oil of any kind or in any form and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes petroleum, fuel oil, sludge, oil refuse and oil mixed with wastes but does not include dredged spoil; (hydrocarbures)

oil pollution damage

dommages dus à la pollution par les hydrocarbures

oil pollution damage means, in relation to any ship, loss or damage outside the ship caused by contamination resulting from the discharge of oil from that ship; (dommages dus à la pollution par les hydrocarbures)

owner

propriétaire

owner of a ship means

  • (a) in relation to a Convention ship, the person registered as the owner of the ship or, where no person is so registered,

    • (i) the person owning the ship, or

    • (ii) where the ship is owned by a state and operated by a company that is registered as the ship’s operator in that state, the company, or

  • (b) in relation to any other ship, the person having for the time being, either by law or by contract, the rights of the owner of the ship with respect to the possession and use of the ship; (propriétaire)

pollutant

polluant

pollutant means

  • (a) any substance that, if added to any waters, would degrade or alter or form part of a process of degradation or alteration of the quality of those waters to an extent that is detrimental to their use by man or by any animal, fish or plant that is useful to man, and

  • (b) any water that contains a substance in such a quantity or concentration, or that has been so treated, processed or changed, by heat or other means, from a natural state that it would, if added to any waters, degrade or alter or form part of a process of degradation or alteration of the quality of those waters to an extent that is detrimental to their use by man or by any animal, fish or plant that is useful to man,

and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes oil and any substance or any substance of a class of substances that is prescribed for the purposes of Part XV to be a pollutant; (polluant)

pollution damage

dommages par pollution

pollution damage means, in relation to any ship, loss or damage outside the ship caused by contamination resulting from the discharge of a pollutant from that ship; (dommages par pollution)

prescribed

Version anglaise seulement

prescribed means prescribed by regulation; (Version anglaise seulement)

ship

navire

ship includes any description of vessel or craft designed, used or capable of being used solely or partly for navigation, without regard to method or lack of propulsion; (navire)

Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund

Caisse d’indemnisation

Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund means the Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund established by section 702; (Caisse d’indemnisation)

tonne

tonne

tonne means 1 000 kg. (tonne)

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 673
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 84
  • 1993, c. 36, s. 12
  • 1998, c. 6, s. 5

Application of Part

Marginal note:Ships under construction, stranded, etc.

  •  (1) In this Part, “ship” includes

    • (a) a ship in the process of construction from the time that it is capable of floating; and

    • (b) a ship that has been stranded, wrecked or sunk and any part of a ship that has broken up.

  • Marginal note:Exception re drilling activities

    (2) This Part does not apply to a drilling ship that is on location and engaged in the exploration or exploitation of the sea-bed or its subsoil, in so far as the discharge of the pollutant emanates from those activities.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 674
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 84

Marginal note:Geographical application of Part

  •  (1) For ships other than Convention ships, this Part applies in respect of actual or anticipated pollution damage, irrespective of the location of the actual or expected discharge of the pollutant and irrespective of the location where any preventive measures are taken,

    • (a) on the territory of Canada or in Canadian waters; and

    • (b) in the exclusive economic zone of Canada.

  • Marginal note:Geographical application of Part

    (2) For Convention ships, this Part applies, subject to subsection (3), in respect of actual or anticipated oil pollution damage, irrespective of the location of the actual or expected discharge of the oil and irrespective of the location where any preventive measures are taken,

    • (a) on the territory of Canada or in Canadian waters;

    • (b) in the exclusive economic zone of Canada;

    • (c) on the territory or in the territorial sea or internal waters of a state other than Canada that is a party to the Civil Liability Convention; or

    • (d) in the exclusive economic zone of a state referred to in paragraph (c) or, if the state has not established an exclusive economic zone, in an area beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea of that state, and extending not more than 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of its territorial sea is measured.

  • Marginal note:Exception

    (3) Sections 709 and 710 do not apply in respect of actual or anticipated oil pollution damage in an area described in paragraph (2)(c) or (d).

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 675
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 84
  • 1993, c. 36, s. 13
  • 1996, c. 31, s. 103
  • 1998, c. 6, s. 6

Marginal note:Inconsistency with Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act

 Where there is any inconsistency between the provisions of this Part and the provisions of the Arctic Waters Pollution Prevention Act or of any regulations made under that Act, the provisions of this Part prevail to the extent of the inconsistency.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 676
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 84
  • 1993, c. 36, s. 14

 [Repealed, 2001, c. 6, s. 126]

Marginal note:Minister may take necessary measures

  •  (1) Where the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans believes on reasonable grounds that a ship has discharged, is discharging or is likely to discharge a pollutant, he or she may

    • (a) take any measures that he or she considers necessary to repair, remedy, minimize or prevent pollution damage from the ship, including the removal or destruction of the ship and its contents, and may sell or otherwise dispose of the ship and its contents;

    • (b) monitor the measures taken by any person to repair, remedy, minimize or prevent pollution damage from the ship; or

    • (c) if he or she considers it necessary to do so, direct any person to take measures to repair, remedy, minimize or prevent pollution damage from the ship, or prohibit any person from taking those measures.

  • Marginal note:Application of proceeds of sale

    (2) The proceeds from any sale or other disposal of a ship or its contents pursuant to paragraph (1)(a) shall be applied towards meeting the costs and expenses incurred in taking the measures under that paragraph, and any surplus shall be paid to the owner of that ship or to the owner of its contents, as the case may be.

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 678
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 84
  • 1993, c. 36, s. 16
  • 1998, c. 6, s. 9
  • 2005, c. 29, s. 14

Marginal note:Personal liability

  •  (1) A person who is directed to take, or who is prohibited from taking, measures pursuant to paragraph 678(1)(c) is not personally liable, either civilly or criminally, in respect of any act or omission in the course of complying with the direction or doing any thing incidental to it, unless it is shown that the person’s conduct was not reasonable in the circumstances.

  • Marginal note:Personal liability

    (2) No response organization to whom a certificate of designation is issued pursuant to subsection 660.4(1), and no employee or agent of such a response organization, is personally liable, either civilly or criminally, in respect of any act or omission done as a response organization, unless it is shown that the response organization’s, employee’s or agent’s conduct was not reasonable in the circumstances.

  • Marginal note:Exception

    (3) Nothing in subsection (1) exempts the owner of a ship from liability under section 677.

  • 1993, c. 36, s. 17

 [Repealed, 2001, c. 6, s. 127]

Offences

Marginal note:Failure to comply with direction

 Any person who fails to comply with a direction or prohibition of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans pursuant to paragraph 678(1)(c) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred thousand dollars.

  • 1993, c. 36, s. 20
  • 1998, c. 6, s. 24

 [Repealed, 2001, c. 6, s. 128]

PART XVI.1Lower St. Lawrence Pilots’ Pensions

Interpretation

Marginal note:Definitions

 The definitions in this section apply in this Part.

Authority

Administration

Authority means the Laurentian Pilotage Authority established by subsection 3(1) of the Pilotage Act. (Administration)

CPBSL

CPBSL

CPBSL means the Corporation of the Lower St. Lawrence Pilots established by letters patent under Part II of the Canada Corporations Act, chapter 53 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1952, as amended by chapter 52 of the Statutes of Canada, 1964-65, a body corporate contracting with the Authority for the services of pilots under the Pilotage Act, or any successor of the Corporation that carries on similar functions. (CPBSL)

CPHQ

CPHQ

CPHQ means the Corporation of Pilots for and below the Harbour of Quebec, established by chapter 123 of the Statutes of the Province of Canada, 1860 (23 Vict., c. 123). (CPHQ)

eligible pilot

pilote admissible

eligible pilot means a person

  • (a) who became a member of the CPHQ and was licensed by the Authority as a pilot before 1994; or

  • (b) who, on December 31, 1993, was an apprentice pilot and who, during 1994, became a member of the CPHQ and was licensed by the Authority as a pilot. (pilote admissible)

fund

Fonds

fund means the fund established by chapter 12 of the Statutes of the Province of Lower Canada, 1805 (45 George III, c. 12) and continued by chapter 114 of the Statutes of the Province of Canada, 1848-49 (12 Vict., c. 114), as amended. (Fonds)

pension plan

régime de pension

pension plan means the plan established by the CPHQ for the administration of the fund. (régime de pension)

Société

Société

Société means the general partnership composed of the members of the CPBSL and called Les Pilotes du Bas Saint-Laurent, or its successor, and includes any predecessor of the Société that carried on similar functions on behalf of those members. (Société)

  • 1998, c. 16, s. 20

Marginal note:Part III of Canada Corporations Act

  •  (1) The CPHQ is deemed to be a corporation to which section 158 of the Canada Corporations Act, chapter C-32 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1970, applies.

  • Marginal note:Management of fund

    (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of any Act relating to the CPHQ, the CPHQ has, and is deemed to have had at all times, the powers necessary for the administration of the pension plan on behalf of the CPBSL, including the power to

    • (a) determine and receive the amounts payable into the fund by the CPBSL for the purpose of sustaining the fund;

    • (b) manage and invest moneys paid into the fund;

    • (c) determine the persons eligible to receive benefits from the fund, the amount they are to receive as benefits, when the payments of the benefits are to commence and the frequency of the payments; and

    • (d) pay from the fund the benefits so determined and any amounts required for the management of the fund.

  • 1998, c. 16, s. 20

Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985

Marginal note:Application of Act

 The Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985 applies in respect of the pension plan and, for that purpose, the CPBSL is deemed to be the employer of eligible pilots and the administrator of the plan, and eligible pilots are deemed to be employees of the CPBSL.

  • 1998, c. 16, s. 20

Income Tax Act

Marginal note:Status of CPHQ

 For the purposes of paragraph 149(1)(o.1) of the Income Tax Act, the CPHQ is deemed to have been incorporated solely for the administration of a registered pension plan within the meaning of that Act and to have operated at all times solely for that purpose.

  • 1998, c. 16, s. 20

Marginal note:Taxation of pension contributions

 For any taxation year in respect of which the pension plan is a registered pension plan for the purposes of the Income Tax Act, sums paid into the fund by the CPBSL shall not be included in the income of an eligible pilot or in the income of the Société for the purposes of that Act.

  • 1998, c. 16, s. 20

Marginal note:Provisions re registered pension plans

  •  (1) For the purposes of the provisions of the Income Tax Act and the Income Tax Regulations that relate to registered pension plans,

    • (a) the CPBSL is deemed to have been the employer of an eligible pilot and an eligible pilot is deemed to have been an employee of the CPBSL throughout any period, either before or after the coming into force of this Part, during which the eligible pilot was a member of the CPBSL and held a pilot’s licence from the Authority, whether suspended or not, or served as an apprentice pilot to obtain a pilot’s licence for District No. 2 designated by the Authority;

    • (b) an eligible pilot is deemed to have been employed and to have rendered services on a full-time basis throughout any year if the number of pilotage tours credited to the pilot for the year is not less than 90% of the average number of tours for pilots in the year, determined by the Société on the basis of the total number of paid tours for pilots in the year, and is otherwise deemed to have been employed and to have been rendering services on a part-time basis throughout the year, with the proportion of full-time service being determined as the proportion of the number of tours so credited to the average number of tours for pilots;

    • (c) any period authorized by the CPBSL during which an eligible pilot was not available to perform services as a pilot, otherwise than by reason of illness or disability for more than 12 months, is deemed to be a period throughout which the pilot did not render services to the CPBSL by reason of leave of absence;

    • (d) the period of employment of an eligible pilot by the CPBSL includes any period before 1994 during which the pilot

      • (i) was enrolled at the Institut de Marine de Rimouski or any other educational institution accredited by the Authority, or

      • (ii) served as an officer of a ship,

      to the extent that the period was credited under the pension plan before 1994;

    • (e) the fees paid to an eligible pilot by the Société, either before or after the coming into force of this Part, are deemed to have been paid by the CPBSL and to be remuneration of the eligible pilot and, for the purposes of section 147.1 of the Income Tax Act, to be part of the pilot’s compensation;

    • (f) any amount paid to the fund by the CPBSL is deemed to be a contribution made by the CPBSL and not by an eligible pilot;

    • (g) the pension plan is deemed to be a grandfathered plan;

    • (h) for the purposes of paragraph 8503(3)(e) and subsection 8509(3) of the Income Tax Regulations, all benefits provided under the pension plan in respect of periods before 1992 are deemed to be acceptable to the Minister of National Revenue to the extent that

      • (i) the periods were credited under the pension plan before 1994, and

      • (ii) the benefits could have been provided under the terms of the pension plan as they read at the end of 1993;

    • (i) subsection 8504(6) of the Income Tax Regulations does not apply in respect of benefits credited under the pension plan before 1994;

    • (j) the past service pension adjustment (PSPA) of an eligible pilot with respect to the CPBSL for the year in which this Part comes into force shall be determined as if the eligible pilot’s provisional PSPA with respect to the CPBSL that is associated with the registration of the pension plan under section 147.1 of the Income Tax Act were nil, to the extent that the provisional PSPA relates to benefits provided under the pension plan in respect of years after 1993;

    • (k) for each particular year that is after 1993 and before the year in which this Part comes into force,

      • (i) the pension adjustment of an eligible pilot with respect to the CPBSL shall be determined as if the pension plan had been a registered pension plan in that particular year and as if all benefits provided to the pilot for that particular year had accrued on a current-service basis, and

      • (ii) information returns reporting the pension adjustment so determined must be filed, not later than 90 days after the day on which this Part comes into force, with the Minister of National Revenue in the form and manner authorized by that Minister;

    • (l) if the pension plan is registered under section 147.1 of the Income Tax Act within 120 days, or any longer period that is acceptable to the Minister of National Revenue, after the day on which this Part comes into force, the assets of the fund are deemed to have been transferred to the fund from a registered pension plan;

    • (m) the CPHQ shall assume the obligations of the employer under Part LXXXIV of the Income Tax Regulations with respect to eligible pilots; and

    • (n) the requirement of certification under paragraph 147.1(10)(a) of the Income Tax Act does not apply in relation to benefits provided under the pension plan before 1994 in respect of the years 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993.

  • Marginal note:Additional benefits

    (1.1) For greater certainty, paragraph (1)(h) does not apply so as to prevent additional benefits from being provided, by way of an amendment to the pension plan after 1993, in respect of the periods referred to in subparagraph (1)(h)(i).

  • Marginal note:Part X.1 tax

    (2) For the purposes of Part X.1 of the Income Tax Act, the cumulative excess amount of an eligible pilot in respect of registered retirement savings plans at any time before the month immediately following the month in which this Part comes into force shall be determined as if each of the following amounts were nil:

    • (a) any pension adjustment of the pilot referred to in paragraph (1)(k); and

    • (b) the pilot’s provisional PSPA, within the meaning of the Income Tax Regulations, with respect to the CPBSL that is associated with the registration of the pension plan under section 147.1 of the Income Tax Act.

  • 1998, c. 16, s. 20

Regulations

Marginal note:Regulations

 The Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Finance, may make regulations for carrying out the purposes and provisions of this Part.

  • 1998, c. 16, s. 20

PART XVIIComing into Force

Marginal note:Commencement of certain provisions

 The definition “dynamically supported craft” in section 2, and sections 3 and 632 to 632.4, shall come into force on a day or days to be fixed by proclamation.

  • Return to footnote *[Note: The definition “dynamically supported craft” in section 2, and sections 3 and 632 to 632.4 not in force.]

  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, s. 692
  • R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 85

SCHEDULE I

[Repealed, R.S., 1985, c. 6 (3rd Supp.), s. 86]

SCHEDULE II(Section 262)

Particulars to be registered by Master of a Ship concerning a Birth at Sea

Date of birth.

Name (if any) and sex of the child.

Name and surname, rank, profession or occupation of the father.

Name and surname, and maiden surname of the mother.

Nationality and last place of abode of the father and mother.

Particulars to be registered by Master of a Ship concerning a Death at Sea

Date of death.

Name and surname.

Sex.

Age.

Rank, profession or occupation.

Nationality and last place of abode.

Cause of death.

  • R.S., c. S-9, Sch. II

SCHEDULE III(Section 467)

PART I
Statements in the Case of Salvage by Government Ships

  • (1) Particulars to be stated both by the salvor and by the master or other person in charge of the vessel, cargo or property saved:

    • (a) the place, condition and circumstances in which the vessel, cargo or property was at the time when the services were rendered for which salvage is claimed; and

    • (b) the nature and duration of the services rendered.

  • (2) Additional particulars to be stated by the salvor:

    • (a) the proportion of the value of the vessel, cargo and property, and of the freight that he claims for salvage, or the values at which he estimates the vessel, freight, cargo and property respectively, and the several amounts that he claims for salvage in respect of the same; and

    • (b) any other circumstances he thinks relevant to the claim.

  • (3) Additional particulars to be stated by the master or other person in charge of the vessel, cargo or property:

    • (a) a copy of the certificate of registry of the vessel, and of the indorsements thereon, stating any change that, to his knowledge or belief, has occurred in the particulars contained in the certificate; and stating also, to the best of his knowledge and belief, the state of the title to the vessel for the time being, and of the encumbrances and certificates of mortgage or sale, if any, affecting the vessel, and the names and places of business of the owners and encumbrancers;

    • (b) the name and place of business or residence of the freighter (if any) of the vessel, and the freight to be paid for the voyage on which it then is;

    • (c) a general account of the quantity and nature of the cargo at the time the salvage services were rendered;

    • (d) the name and place of business or residence of the owner of the cargo and of the consignee thereof;

    • (e) the values at which the master or person making the statement estimates the vessel, cargo and property, and the freight respectively, or if he thinks fit, in lieu of the estimated value of the cargo, a copy of the vessel’s manifest;

    • (f) the amounts that the master thinks should be paid as salvage for the services rendered;

    • (g) an accurate list of the property saved in cases where the vessel is not saved;

    • (h) an account of the proceeds of the sale of the vessel, cargo or property, in cases where the same or any of them are sold at the port where the statement is made;

    • (i) the number, capacities and condition of the crew of the vessel at the time when the services were rendered; and

    • (j) any other circumstances he thinks relevant to the matters in question.

PART II
Salvage Bond

(N.B. — Any of the particulars not known, or not required, by reason of the Claim being only against the cargo, &c., may be omitted.)

Whereas certain salvage services are alleged to have been rendered by the vessel (names of vessel and of commander), commander, to the merchant vessel (names of vessel and master) master, belonging to (name and place of business or residence of owner of vessel), freighted by (name of the freighter), and to the cargo therein, consisting of (state very shortly the descriptions and quantities of the goods, and the names and addresses of their owners and consignees);

And whereas the vessel and cargo have been brought into the port of (name and situation of port), and a statement of the salvage claim has been sent to (name of the consular officer or judge of any court exercising Admiralty jurisdiction in any Commonwealth country and of the office he fills), and he has fixed the amount to be inserted in this bond at the sum of (state the sum);

Now I, the said (master’s name), do hereby, in pursuance of the Canada Shipping Act, bind the several owners for the time being of the said vessel and of the cargo therein and of the freight payable in respect of that cargo and their respective heirs, executors and administrators, to pay among them such sum not exceeding the said sum of (state the sum fixed), in such proportions and to such persons as (if the parties agree on any other court, substitute the name of it here), the Federal Court shall adjudge to be payable as salvage for the services so alleged to have been rendered as aforesaid.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this (date).

Signed, sealed and delivered by the said (master’s name).

........................

In the presence of (name of consular officer or judge of any court exercising Admiralty jurisdiction in any Commonwealth country and of the office he fills).

  • R.S., c. S-9, Sch. III
  • R.S., c. 10(2nd Supp.), s. 64

SCHEDULE IVForms 1 to 4

[Repealed, 1998, c. 16, s. 21]

FORM 5(Section 473)Fees of Receiver of Wrecks

Maximum Fees To Be Charged By Receivers Of Wrecks In Addition To Expenses Properly And Necessarily Incurred

1For every inquiry instituted by a receiver of wrecks with respect to any shipping casualty, whatever is the number of persons examined, a fee to be charged on the vessel or cargo in respect of which the examination is instituted, not exceeding$8.00
2For furnishing copy of evidence, per one hundred words0.20
3For every salvage dispute heard and determined by the receiver of wrecks, in which the claim does not exceed one hundred dollars, or the value of the property saved does not exceed two hundred and fifty dollars, a sum to be charged on the property saved not exceeding5.00
4For all other cases in which salvage disputes are heard and determined by the receiver of wrecks to be charged on the property saved10.00
5For wreck received or taken by the receiver of wrecks into his custody, a percentage of five per cent on the value thereof:
  But so that in no case shall the whole amount of percentage so payable exceed eighty dollars, to be charged on the wreck or derelict.
6For every sale of wreck conducted by a receiver of wrecks, a sum not exceeding one per cent on the value thereof to be charged on the proceeds of sale.
7For copies of certificates of valuation, when the value of the property is under three thousand dollars, a sum not exceeding4.00
  In other cases, to be charged on the property valued8.00
8In cases where any services are rendered by a receiver of wrecks in respect of any vessel in distress, not being wrecked, or in respect of the cargo or other articles belonging thereto, the following fees instead of a percentage:
  If the vessel with its cargo equals or exceeds in value three thousand dollars, the sum of eight dollars for the first day, and the sum of four dollars for every subsequent day during which the receiver of wrecks is employed on such service, but if the vessel, with its cargo, is less in value than three thousand dollars, one-half of the above mentioned sums;
  But so that in no case shall the whole amount exceed one hundred dollars, to be charged on such vessel or articles.
  • R.S., 1985, c. S-9, Sch. IV
  • 1998, c. 16, s. 21

SCHEDULE V

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON SALVAGE, 1989

THE STATES PARTIES TO THE PRESENT CONVENTION,

RECOGNIZING the desirability of determining by agreement uniform international rules regarding salvage operations,

NOTING that substantial developments, in particular the increased concern for the protection of the environment, have demonstrated the need to review the international rules presently contained in the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules of Law relating to Assistance and Salvage at Sea, done at Brussels, 23 September 1910,

CONSCIOUS of the major contribution which efficient and timely salvage operations can make to the safety of vessels and other property in danger and to the protection of the environment,

CONVINCED of the need to ensure that adequate incentives are available to persons who undertake salvage operations in respect of vessels and other property in danger,

HAVE AGREED as follows:

Chapter I — General Provisions

Article 1
Definitions

For the purpose of this Convention:

  • (a) Salvage operation means any act or activity undertaken to assist a vessel or any other property in danger in navigable waters or in any other waters whatsoever.

  • (b) Vessel means any ship or craft, or any structure capable of navigation.

  • (c) Property means any property not permanently and intentionally attached to the shoreline and includes freight at risk.

  • (d) Damage to the environment means substantial physical damage to human health or to marine life or resources in coastal or inland waters or areas adjacent thereto, caused by pollution, contamination, fire, explosion or similar major incidents.

  • (e) Payment means any reward, remuneration or compensation due under this Convention.

  • (f) Organization means the International Maritime Organization.

  • (g) Secretary-General means the Secretary-General of the Organization.

Article 2
Application of the Convention

This Convention shall apply whenever judicial or arbitral proceedings relating to matters dealt with in this Convention are brought in a State Party.

Article 3
Platforms and drilling units

This Convention shall not apply to fixed or floating platforms or to mobile offshore drilling units when such platforms or units are on location engaged in the exploration, exploitation or production of sea-bed mineral resources.

Article 4
State-owned vessels

1 Without prejudice to article 5, this Convention shall not apply to warships or other non-commercial vessels owned or operated by a State and entitled, at the time of salvage operations, to sovereign immunity under generally recognized principles of international law unless that State decides otherwise.

2 Where a State Party decides to apply the Convention to its warships or other vessels described in paragraph 1, it shall notify the Secretary-General thereof specifying the terms and conditions of such application.

Article 5
Salvage operations controlled by public authorities

1 This Convention shall not affect any provisions of national law or any international convention relating to salvage operations by or under the control of public authorities.

2 Nevertheless, salvors carrying out such salvage operations shall be entitled to avail themselves of the rights and remedies provided for in this Convention in respect of salvage operations.

3 The extent to which a public authority under a duty to perform salvage operations may avail itself of the rights and remedies provided for in this Convention shall be determined by the law of the State where such authority is situated.

Article 6
Salvage contracts

1 This Convention shall apply to any salvage operations save to the extent that a contract otherwise provides expressly or by implication.

2 The master shall have the authority to conclude contracts for salvage operations on behalf of the owner of the vessel. The master or the owner of the vessel shall have the authority to conclude such contracts on behalf of the owner of the property on board the vessel.

3 Nothing in this article shall affect the application of article 7 nor duties to prevent or minimize damage to the environment.

Article 7
Annulment and modification of contracts

A contract or any terms thereof may be annulled or modified if:

  • (a) the contract has been entered into under undue influence or the influence of danger and its terms are inequitable; or

  • (b) the payment under the contract is in an excessive degree too large or too small for the services actually rendered.

Chapter II - Performance of Salvage Operations

Article 8
Duties of the salvor and of the owner and master

1 The salvor shall owe a duty to the owner of the vessel or other property in danger:

  • (a) to carry out the salvage operations with due care;

  • (b) in performing the duty specified in subparagraph (a), to exercise due care to prevent or minimize damage to the environment;

  • (c) whenever circumstances reasonably require, to seek assistance from other salvors; and

  • (d) to accept the intervention of other salvors when reasonably requested to do so by the owner or master of the vessel or other property in danger; provided however that the amount of his reward shall not be prejudiced should it be found that such a request was unreasonable.

2 The owner and master of the vessel or the owner of other property in danger shall owe a duty to the salvor:

  • (a) to co-operate fully with him during the course of the salvage operations;

  • (b) in so doing, to exercise due care to prevent or minimize damage to the environment; and

  • (c) when the vessel or other property has been brought to a place of safety, to accept redelivery when reasonably requested by the salvor to do so.

Article 9
Rights of coastal States

Nothing in this Convention shall affect the right of the coastal State concerned to take measures in accordance with generally recognized principles of international law to protect its coastline or related interests from pollution or the threat of pollution following upon a maritime casualty or acts relating to such a casualty which may reasonably be expected to result in major harmful consequences, including the right of a coastal State to give directions in relation to salvage operations.

Article 10
Duty to render assistance

1 Every master is bound, so far as he can do so without serious danger to his vessel and persons thereon, to render assistance to any person in danger of being lost at sea.

2 The States Parties shall adopt the measures necessary to enforce the duty set out in paragraph 1.

3 The owner of the vessel shall incur no liability for a breach of the duty of the master under paragraph 1.

Article 11
Co-operation

A State Party shall, whenever regulating or deciding upon matters relating to salvage operations such as admittance to ports of vessels in distress or the provisions of facilities to salvors, take into account the need for co-operation between salvors, other interested parties and public authorities in order to ensure the efficient and successful performance of salvage operations for the purpose of saving life or property in danger as well as preventing damage to the environment in general.

Chapter III - Rights of Salvors

Article 12
Conditions for reward

1 Salvage operations which have had a useful result give right to a reward.

2 Except as otherwise provided, no payment is due under this Convention if the salvage operations have had no useful result.

3 This chapter shall apply, notwithstanding that the salved vessel and the vessel undertaking the salvage operations belong to the same owner.

Article 13
Criteria for fixing the reward

1 The reward shall be fixed with a view to encouraging salvage operations, taking into account the following criteria without regard to the order in which they are presented below:

  • (a) the salved value of the vessel and other property;

  • (b) the skill and efforts of the salvors in preventing or minimizing damage to the environment;

  • (c) the measure of success obtained by the salvor;

  • (d) the nature and degree of the danger;

  • (e) the skill and efforts of the salvors in salving the vessel, other property and life;

  • (f) the time used and expenses and losses incurred by the salvors;

  • (g) the risk of liability and other risks run by the salvors or their equipment;

  • (h) the promptness of the services rendered;

  • (i) the availability and use of vessels or other equipment intended for salvage operations;

  • (j) the state of readiness and efficiency of the salvor’s equipment and the value thereof.

2 Payment of a reward fixed according to paragraph 1 shall be made by all of the vessel and other property interests in proportion to their respective salved values. However, a State Party may in its national law provide that the payment of a reward has to be made by one of these interests, subject to a right of recourse of this interest against the other interests for their respective shares. Nothing in this article shall prevent any right of defence.

3 The rewards, exclusive of any interest and recoverable legal costs that may be payable thereon, shall not exceed the salved value of the vessel and other property.

Article 14
Special compensation

1 If the salvor has carried out salvage operations in respect of a vessel which by itself or its cargo threatened damage to the environment and has failed to earn a reward under article 13 at least equivalent to the special compensation assessable in accordance with this article, he shall be entitled to special compensation from the owner of that vessel equivalent to his expenses as herein defined.

2 If, in the circumstances set out in paragraph 1, the salvor by his salvage operations has prevented or minimized damage to the environment, the special compensation payable by the owner to the salvor under paragraph 1 may be increased up to a maximum of 30% of the expenses incurred by the salvor. However, the tribunal, if it deems it fair and just to do so and bearing in mind the relevant criteria set out in article 13, paragraph 1, may increase such special compensation further, but in no event shall the total increase be more than 100% of the expenses incurred by the salvor.

3 Salvor’s expenses for the purpose of paragraphs 1 and 2 means the out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by the salvor in the salvage operation and a fair rate for equipment and personnel actually and reasonably used in the salvage operation, taking into consideration the criteria set out in article 13, paragraph 1(h), (i) and (j).

4 The total special compensation under this article shall be paid only if and to the extent that such compensation is greater than any reward recoverable by the salvor under article 13.

5 If the salvor has been negligent and has thereby failed to prevent or minimize damage to the environment, he may be deprived of the whole or part of any special compensation due under this article.

6 Nothing in this article shall affect any right of recourse on the part of the owner of the vessel.

Article 15
Apportionment between salvors

1 The apportionment of a reward under article 13 between salvors shall be made on the basis of the criteria contained in that article.

2 The apportionment between the owner, master and other persons in the service of each sailing vessel shall be determined by the law of the flag of that vessel. If the salvage has not been carried out from a vessel, the apportionment shall be determined by the law governing the contract between the salvor and his servants.

Article 16
Salvage of persons

1 No remuneration is due from persons whose lives are saved, but nothing in this article shall affect the provisions of national law on this subject.

2 A salvor of human life, who has taken part in the services rendered on the occasion of the accident giving rise to salvage, is entitled to a fair share of the payment awarded to the salvor for salving the vessel or other property or preventing or minimizing damage to the environment.

Article 17
Services rendered under existing contracts

No payment is due under the provisions of this Convention unless the services rendered exceed what can be reasonably considered as due performance of a contract entered into before the danger arose.

Article 18
The effect of salvor’s misconduct

A salvor may be deprived of the whole or part of the payment due under this Convention to the extent that salvage operations have become necessary or more difficult because of fault or neglect on his part or if the salvor has been guilty of fraud or other dishonest conduct.

Article 19
Prohibition of salvage operations

Services rendered notwithstanding the express and reasonable prohibition of the owner or master of the vessel or the owner of any other property in danger which is not and has not been on board the vessel shall not give rise to payment under this Convention.

Chapter IV - Claims and Actions

Article 20
Maritime lien

1 Nothing in this Convention shall affect the salvor’s maritime lien under any international convention or national law.

2 The salvor may not enforce his maritime lien when satisfactory security for his claim, including interest and costs, has been duly tendered or provided.

Article 21
Duty to provide security

1 Upon the request of the salvor a person liable for payment due under this Convention shall provide satisfactory security for the claim, including interest and costs of the salvor.

2 Without prejudice to paragraph 1, the owner of the salved vessel shall use his best endeavours to ensure that the owners of the cargo provide satisfactory security for the claims against them including interest and costs before the cargo is released.

3 The salved vessel and other property shall not, without the consent of the salvor, be removed from the port or place at which they first arrive after the completion of the salvage operations until satisfactory security has been put up for the salvor’s claim against the relevant vessel or property.

Article 22
Interim payment

1 The tribunal having jurisdiction over the claim of the salvor may, by interim decision, order that the salvor shall be paid on account such amount as seems fair and just, and on such terms including terms as to security where appropriate, as may be fair and just according to the circumstances of the case.

2 In the event of an interim payment under this article the security provided under article 21 shall be reduced accordingly.

Article 23
Limitation of actions

1 Any action relating to payment under this Convention shall be time-barred if judicial or arbitral proceedings have not been instituted within a period of two years. The limitation period commences on the day on which the salvage operations are terminated.

2 The person against whom a claim is made may at any time during the running of the limitation period extend that period by a declaration to the claimant. This period may in the like manner be further extended.

3 An action for indemnity by a person liable may be instituted even after the expiration of the limitation period provided for in the preceding paragraphs, if brought within the time allowed by the law of the State where proceedings are instituted.

Article 24
Interest

The right of the salvor to interest on any payment due under this Convention shall be determined according to the law of the State in which the tribunal seized of the case is situated.

Article 25
State-owned cargoes

Unless the State owner consents, no provision of this Convention shall be used as a basis for the seizure, arrest or detention by any legal process of, nor for any proceedings in rem against, non-commercial cargoes owned by a State and entitled, at the time of the salvage operations, to sovereign immunity under generally recognized principles of international law.

Article 26
Humanitarian cargoes

No provision of this Convention shall be used as a basis for the seizure, arrest or detention of humanitarian cargoes donated by a State, if such State has agreed to pay for salvage services rendered in respect of such humanitarian cargoes.

Article 27
Publication of arbitral awards

States Parties shall encourage, as far as possible and with the consent of the parties, the publication of arbitral awards made in salvage cases.

Chapter V - Final Clauses

Article 28
Signature, ratification, acceptance, approval and accession

1 This Convention shall be open for signature at the Headquarters of the Organization from 1 July 1989 to 30 June 1990 and shall thereafter remain open for accession.

2 States may express their consent to be bound by this Convention by:

  • (a) signature without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval; or

  • (b) signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, followed by ratification, acceptance or approval; or

  • (c) accession.

3 Ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument to that effect with the Secretary-General.

Article 29
Entry into force

1 This Convention shall enter into force one year after the date on which 15 States have expressed their consent to be bound by it.

2 For a State which expresses its consent to be bound by this Convention after the conditions for entry into force thereof have been met, such consent shall take effect one year after the date of expression of such consent.

Article 30
Reservations

1 Any State may, at the time of signature, ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, reserve the right not to apply the provisions of this Convention:

  • (a) when the salvage operation takes place in inland waters and all vessels involved are of inland navigation;

  • (b) when the salvage operations take place in inland waters and no vessel is involved;

  • (c) when all interested parties are nationals of that State;

  • (d) when the property involved is maritime cultural property of prehistoric, archaeological or historic interest and is situated on the sea-bed.

2 Reservations made at the time of signature are subject to confirmation upon ratification, acceptance or approval.

3 Any State which has made a reservation to this Convention may withdraw it at any time by means of a notification addressed to the Secretary-General. Such withdrawal shall take effect on the date the notification is received. If the notification states that the withdrawal of a reservation is to take effect on a date specified therein, and such date is later than the date the notification is received by the Secretary-General, the withdrawal shall take effect on such later date.

Article 31
Denunciation

1 This Convention may be denounced by any State Party at any time after the expiry of one year from the date on which this Convention enters into force for that State.

2 Denunciation shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of denunciation with the Secretary-General.

3 A denunciation shall take effect one year, or such longer period as may be specified in the instrument of denunciation, after the receipt of the instrument of denunciation by the Secretary-General.

Article 32
Revision and amendment

1 A conference for the purpose of revising or amending this Convention may be convened by the Organization.

2 The Secretary-General shall convene a conference of the States Parties to this Convention for revising or amending the Convention, at the request of eight States Parties, or one fourth of the States Parties, whichever is the higher figure.

3 Any consent to be bound by this Convention expressed after the date of entry into force of an amendment to this Convention shall be deemed to apply to the Convention as amended.

Article 33
Depositary

1 This Convention shall be deposited with the Secretary-General.

2 The Secretary-General shall:

  • (a) inform all States which have signed this Convention or acceded thereto, and all Members of the Organization, of:

    • (i) each new signature or deposit of an instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession together with the date thereof;

    • (ii) the date of the entry into force of this Convention;

    • (iii) the deposit of any instrument of denunciation of this Convention together with the date on which it is received and the date on which the denunciation takes effect;

    • (iv) any amendment adopted in conformity with article 32;

    • (v) the receipt of any reservation, declaration or notification made under this Convention;

  • (b) transmit certified true copies of this Convention to all States which have signed this Convention or acceded thereto.

3 As soon as this Convention enters into force, a certified true copy thereof shall be transmitted by the Depositary to the Secretary-General of the United Nations for registration and publication in accordance with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations.

Article 34
Languages

This Convention is established in a single original in the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish languages, each text being equally authentic.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned being duly authorized by their respective Governments for that purpose have signed this Convention.

DONE AT LONDON this twenty-eighth day of April one thousand nine hundred and eighty-nine.

Attachment 1

Common Understanding concerning Articles 13 and 14 of the International Convention on Salvage, 1989

It is the common understanding of the Conference that, in fixing a reward under article 13 and assessing special compensation under article 14 of the International Convention on Salvage, 1989 the tribunal is under no duty to fix a reward under article 13 up to the maximum salved value of the vessel and other property before assessing the special compensation to be paid under article 14.

Attachment 2

Resolution requesting the amendment of the York-Antwerp Rules, 1974

THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SALVAGE, 1989,

HAVING ADOPTED the International Convention on Salvage, 1989,

CONSIDERING that payments made pursuant to article 14 are not intended to be allowed in general average,

REQUESTS the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization to take the appropriate steps in order to ensure speedy amendment of the York-Antwerp Rules, 1974, to ensure that special compensation paid under article 14 is not subject to general average.

Attachment 3

Resolution on international co-operation for the implementation of the International Convention on Salvage, 1989

THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SALVAGE, 1989,

IN ADOPTING the International Convention on Salvage, 1989 (hereinafter referred to as “The Convention”),

CONSIDERING IT DESIRABLE that as many States as possible should become Parties to the Convention,

RECOGNIZING that the entry into force of the Convention will represent an important additional factor for the protection of the marine environment,

CONSIDERING that the international publicizing and wide implementation of the Convention is of the utmost importance for the attainment of its objectives,

I RECOMMENDS:

  • (a) that the Organization promote public awareness of the Convention through the holding of seminars, courses or symposia;

  • (b) that training institutions created under the auspices of the Organization include the study of the Convention in their corresponding courses of study.

II REQUESTS:

  • (a) Members States to transmit to the Organization the text of the laws, orders, decrees, regulations and other instruments that they promulgate concerning the various matters falling within the scope of application of the Convention;

  • (b) Member States, in consultation with the Organization, to promote the giving of help to those States requesting technical assistance for the drafting of laws, orders, decrees, regulations and other instruments necessary for the implementation of the Convention; and

  • (c) the Organization to notify Member States of any communication it may receive under paragraph II(a).

  • 1993, c. 36, s. 21

SCHEDULE VI(Sections 574 and 576)

Part I

Text of Articles 1 to 15 of the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976, as amended by the Protocol of 1996 to amend the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976

CHAPTER 1. THE RIGHT OF LIMITATION

Article 1
Persons entitled to limit liability

1. Shipowners and salvors, as hereinafter defined, may limit their liability in accordance with the rules of this Convention for claims set out in Article 2.

2. The term “shipowner” shall mean the owner, charterer, manager and operator of a seagoing ship.

3. Salvor shall mean any person rendering services in direct connexion with salvage operations. Salvage operations shall also include operations referred to in Article 2, paragraph 1(d), (e) and (f).

4. If any claims set out in Article 2 are made against any person for whose act, neglect or default the shipowner or salvor is responsible, such person shall be entitled to avail himself of the limitation of liability provided for in this Convention.

5. In this Convention the liability of a shipowner shall include liability in an action brought against the vessel herself.

6. An insurer of liability for claims subject to limitation in accordance with the rules of this Convention shall be entitled to the benefits of this Convention to the same extent as the assured himself.

7. The act of invoking limitation of liability shall not constitute an admission of liability.

Article 2
Claims subject to limitation

1. Subject to Articles 3 and 4 the following claims, whatever the basis of liability may be, shall be subject to limitation of liability:

  • (a) claims in respect of loss of life or personal injury or loss of or damage to property (including damage to harbour works, basins and waterways and aids to navigation), occurring on board or in direct connexion with the operation of the ship or with salvage operations, and consequential loss resulting therefrom;

  • (b) claims in respect of loss resulting from delay in the carriage by sea of cargo, passengers or their luggage;

  • (c) claims in respect of other loss resulting from infringement of rights other than contractual rights, occurring in direct connexion with the operation of the ship or salvage operations;

  • (d) claims in respect of the raising, removal, destruction or the rendering harmless of a ship which is sunk, wrecked, stranded or abandoned, including anything that is or has been on board such ship;

  • (e) claims in respect of the removal, destruction or the rendering harmless of the cargo of the ship;

  • (f) claims of a person other than the person liable in respect of measures taken in order to avert or minimize loss for which the person liable may limit his liability in accordance with this Convention, and further loss caused by such measures.

    2. Claims set out in paragraph 1 shall be subject to limitation of liability even if brought by way of recourse or for indemnity under a contract or otherwise. However, claims set out under paragraph 1(d), (e) and (f) shall not be subject to limitation of liability to the extent that they relate to remuneration under a contract with the person liable.

Article 3
Claims excepted from limitation

The rules of this Convention shall not apply to:

  • (a) claims for salvage, including, if applicable, any claim for special compensation under article 14 of the International Convention on Salvage 1989, as amended, or contribution in general average;

  • (b) claims for oil pollution damage within the meaning of the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, dated 29 November 1969 or of any amendment or Protocol thereto which is in force;

  • (c) claims subject to any international convention or national legislation governing or prohibiting limitation of liability for nuclear damage;

  • (d) claims against the shipowner of a nuclear ship for nuclear damage;

  • (e) claims by servants of the shipowner or salvor whose duties are connected with the ship or the salvage operations, including claims of their heirs, dependants or other persons entitled to make such claims, if under the law governing the contract of service between the shipowner or salvor and such servants the shipowner or salvor is not entitled to limit his liability in respect of such claims, or if he is by such law only permitted to limit his liability to an amount greater than that provided for in Article 6.

Article 4
Conduct barring limitation

A person liable shall not be entitled to limit his liability if it is proved that the loss resulted from his personal act or omission, committed with the intent to cause such loss, or recklessly and with knowledge that such loss would probably result.

Article 5
Counterclaims

Where a person entitled to limitation of liability under the rules of this Convention has a claim against the claimant arising out of the same occurrence, their respective claims shall be set off against each other and the provisions of this Convention shall only apply to the balance, if any.

CHAPTER II. LIMITS OF LIABILITY

Article 6
The general limits

1. The limits of liability for claims other than those mentioned in article 7, arising on any distinct occasion, shall be calculated as follows:

  • (a) in respect of claims for loss of life or personal injury,

    • (i) 2 million Units of Account for a ship with a tonnage not exceeding 2,000 tons,

    • (ii) for a ship with a tonnage in excess thereof, the following amount in addition to that mentioned in (i):

      for each ton from 2,001 to 30,000 tons, 800 Units of Account;

      for each ton from 30,001 to 70,000 tons, 600 Units of Account; and

      for each ton in excess of 70,000 tons, 400 Units of Account,

  • (b) in respect of any other claims,

    • (i) 1 million Units of Account for a ship with a tonnage not exceeding 2,000 tons,

    • (ii) for a ship with a tonnage in excess thereof, the following amount in addition to that mentioned in (i):

      for each ton from 2,001 to 30,000 tons, 400 Units of Account;

      for each ton from 30,001 to 70,000 tons, 300 Units of Account; and

      for each ton in excess of 70,000 tons, 200 Units of Account.

      2. Where the amount calculated in accordance with paragraph 1(a) is insufficient to pay the claims mentioned therein in full, the amount calculated in accordance with paragraph 1(b) shall be available for payment of the unpaid balance of claims under paragraph 1(a) and such unpaid balance shall rank rateably with claims mentioned under paragraph 1(b).

      3. However, without prejudice to the right of claims for loss of life or personal injury according to paragraph 2, a State Party may provide in its national law that claims in respect of damage to harbour works, basins and waterways and aids to navigation shall have such priority over other claims under paragraph 1(b) as is provided by that law.

      4. The limits of liability for any salvor not operating from any ship or for any salvor operating solely on the ship to, or in respect of which he is rendering salvage services, shall be calculated according to a tonnage of 1,500 tons.

      5. For the purpose of this Convention the ship’s tonnage shall be the gross tonnage calculated in accordance with the tonnage measurement rules contained in Annex I of the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969.

Article 7
The limit for passenger claims

1. In respect of claims arising on any distinct occasion for loss of life or personal injury to passengers of a ship, the limit of liability of the shipowner thereof shall be an amount of 175,000 Units of Account multiplied by the number of passengers which the ship is authorized to carry according to the ship’s certificate.

2. For the purpose of this Article “claims for loss of life or personal injury to passengers of a ship” shall mean any such claims brought by or on behalf of any person carried in that ship:

  • (a) under a contract of passenger carriage, or

  • (b) who, with the consent of the carrier, is accompanying a vehicle or live animals which are covered by a contract for the carriage of goods.

Article 8
Unit of Account

1. The Unit of Account referred to in Articles 6 and 7 is the Special Drawing Right as defined by the International Monetary Fund. The amounts mentioned in Articles 6 and 7 shall be converted into the national currency of the State in which limitation is sought, according to the value of that currency at the date the limitation fund shall have been constituted, payment is made, or security is given which under the law of that State is equivalent to such payment. The value of a national currency in terms of the Special Drawing Right, of a State Party which is a member of the International Monetary Fund, shall be calculated in accordance with the method of valuation applied by the International Monetary Fund in effect at the date in question for its operations and transactions. The value of a national currency in terms of the Special Drawing Right, of a State Party which is not a member of the International Monetary Fund, shall be calculated in a manner determined by that State Party.

2. Nevertheless, those States which are not members of the International Monetary Fund and whose law does not permit the application of the provisions of paragraph 1 may, at the time of signature without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval or at the time of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession or at any time thereafter, declare that the limits of liability provided for in this Convention to be applied in their territories shall be fixed as follows:

  • (a) in respect of article 6, paragraph 1(a) at an amount of:

    • (i) 30 million monetary units for a ship with a tonnage not exceeding 2,000 tons;

    • (ii) for a ship with a tonnage in excess thereof, the following amount in addition to that mentioned in (i):

      for each ton from 2,001 to 30,000 tons, 12,000 monetary units;

      for each ton from 30,001 to 70,000 tons, 9,000 monetary units; and

      for each ton in excess of 70,000 tons, 6,000 monetary units; and

  • (b) in respect of article 6, paragraph 1(b), at an amount of:

    • (i) 15 million monetary units for a ship with a tonnage not exceeding 2,000 tons;

    • (ii) for a ship with a tonnage in excess thereof, the following amount in addition to that mentioned in (i):

      for each ton from 2,001 to 30,000 tons, 6,000 monetary units;

      for each ton from 30,001 to 70,000 tons, 4,500 monetary units; and

      for each ton in excess of 70,000 tons, 3,000 monetary units; and

  • (c) in respect of article 7, paragraph 1, at an amount of 2,625,000 monetary units multiplied by the number of passengers which the ship is authorized to carry according to its certificate.

    Paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 6 apply correspondingly to subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this paragraph.

    3. The monetary unit referred to in paragraph 2 corresponds to sixty-five and a half milligrammes of gold of millesimal fineness nine hundred. The conversion of the amounts referred to in paragraph 2 into the national currency shall be made according to the law of the State concerned.

    4. The calculation mentioned in the last sentence of paragraph 1 and the conversion mentioned in paragraph 3 shall be made in such a manner as to express in the national currency of the State Party as far as possible the same real value for the amounts in Articles 6 and 7 as is expressed there in units of account. States Parties shall communicate to the depositary the manner of calculation pursuant to paragraph 1, or the result of the conversion in paragraph 3, as the case may be, at the time of the signature without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval, or when depositing an instrument referred to in Article 16 and whenever there is a change in either.

Article 9
Aggregation of claims

1. The limits of liability determined in accordance with Article 6 shall apply to the aggregate of all claims which arise on any distinct occasion:

  • (a) against the person or persons mentioned in paragraph 2 of Article 1 and any person for whose act, neglect or default he or they are responsible; or

  • (b) against the shipowner of a ship rendering salvage services from that ship and the salvor or salvors operating from such ship and any person for whose act, neglect or default he or they are responsible; or

  • (c) against the salvor or salvors who are not operating from a ship or who are operating solely on the ship to, or in respect of which, the salvage services are rendered and any person for whose act, neglect or default he or they are responsible.

    2. The limits of liability determined in accordance with Article 7 shall apply to the aggregate of all claims subject thereto which may arise on any distinct occasion against the person or persons mentioned in paragraph 2 of Article 1 in respect of the ship referred to in Article 7 and any person for whose act, neglect or default he or they are responsible.

Article 10
Limitation of liability without constitution of a limitation fund

1. Limitation of liability may be invoked notwithstanding that a limitation fund as mentioned in Article 11 has not been constituted. However, a State Party may provide in its national law that, where an action is brought in its Courts to enforce a claim subject to limitation, a person liable may only invoke the right to limit liability if a limitation fund has been constituted in accordance with the provisions of this Convention or is constituted when the right to limit liability is invoked.

2. If limitation of liability is invoked without the constitution of a limitation fund, the provisions of Article 12 shall apply correspondingly.

3. Questions of procedure arising under the rules of this Article shall be decided in accordance with the national law of the State Party in which action is brought.

CHAPTER III. THE LIMITATION FUND

Article 11
Constitution of the fund

1. Any person alleged to be liable may constitute a fund with the Court or other competent authority in any State Party in which legal proceedings are instituted in respect of claims subject to limitation. The fund shall be constituted in the sum of such of the amounts set out in Articles 6 and 7 as are applicable to claims for which that person may be liable, together with interest thereon from the date of the occurrence giving rise to the liability until the date of the constitution of the fund. Any fund thus constituted shall be available only for the payment of claims in respect of which limitation of liability can be invoked.

2. A fund may be constituted, either by depositing the sum, or by producing a guarantee acceptable under the legislation of the State Party where the fund is constituted and considered to be adequate by the Court or other competent authority.

3. A fund constituted by one of the persons mentioned in paragraph 1(a), (b) or (c) or paragraph 2 of Article 9 or his insurer shall be deemed constituted by all persons mentioned in paragraph 1(a), (b) or (c) or paragraph 2, respectively.

Article 12
Distribution of the fund

1. Subject to the provisions of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Article 6 and of Article 7, the fund shall be distributed among the claimants in proportion to their established claims against the fund.

2. If, before the fund is distributed, the person liable, or his insurer, has settled a claim against the fund such person shall, up to the amount he has paid, acquire by subrogation the rights which the person so compensated would have enjoyed under this Convention.

3. The right of subrogation provided for in paragraph 2 may also be exercised by persons other than those therein mentioned in respect of any amount of compensation which they may have paid, but only to the extent that such subrogation is permitted under the applicable national law.

4. Where the person liable or any other person establishes that he may be compelled to pay, at a later date, in whole or in part any such amount of compensation with regard to which such person would have enjoyed a right of subrogation pursuant to paragraphs 2 and 3 had the compensation been paid before the fund was distributed, the Court or other competent authority of the State where the fund has been constituted may order that a sufficient sum shall be provisionally set aside to enable such person at such later date to enforce his claim against the fund.

Article 13
Bar to other actions

1. Where a limitation fund has been constituted in accordance with Article 11, any person having made a claim against the fund shall be barred from exercising any right in respect of such claim against any other assets of a person by or on behalf of whom the fund has been constituted.

2. After a limitation fund has been constituted in accordance with Article 11, any ship or other property, belonging to a person on behalf of whom the fund has been constituted, which has been arrested or attached within the jurisdiction of a State Party for a claim which may be raised against the fund, or any security given, may be released by order of the Court or other competent authority of such State. However, such release shall always be ordered if the limitation fund has been constituted:

  • (a) at the port where the occurrence took place, or, if it took place out of port, at the first port of call thereafter; or

  • (b) at the port of disembarkation in respect of claims for loss of life or personal injury; or

  • (c) at the port of discharge in respect of damage to cargo; or

  • (d) in the State where the arrest is made.

    3. The rules of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall apply only if the claimant may bring a claim against the limitation fund before the Court administering that fund and the fund is actually available and freely transferable in respect of that claim.

Article 14
Governing law

Subject to the provisions of this Chapter the rules relating to the constitution and distribution of a limitation fund, and all rules of procedure in connexion therewith, shall be governed by the law of the State Party in which the fund is constituted.

CHAPTER IV. SCOPE OF APPLICATION

Article 15

1. This Convention shall apply whenever any person referred to in Article 1 seeks to limit his liability before the Court of a State Party or seeks to procure the release of a ship or other property or the discharge of any security given within the jurisdiction of any such State. Nevertheless, each State Party may exclude wholly or partially from the application of this Convention any person referred to in Article 1 who at the time when the rules of this Convention are invoked before the Courts of that State does not have his habitual residence in a State Party or does not have his principal place of business in a State Party or any ship in relation to which the right of limitation is invoked or whose release is sought and which does not at the time specified above fly the flag of a State Party.

2. A State Party may regulate by specific provisions of national law the system of limitation of liability to be applied to vessels which are:

  • (a) according to the law of that State, ships intended for navigation on inland waterways;

  • (b) ships of less than 300 tons.

    A State Party which makes use of the option provided for in this paragraph shall inform the depositary of the limits of liability adopted in its national legislation or of the fact that there are none.

    3. A State Party may regulate by specific provisions of national law the system of limitation of liability to be applied to claims arising in cases in which interests of persons who are nationals of other States Parties are in no way involved.

    3bis. Notwithstanding the limit of liability prescribed in paragraph 1 of Article 7, a State Party may regulate by specific provisions of national law the system of liability to be applied to claims for loss of life or personal injury to passengers of a ship, provided that the limit of liability is not lower than that prescribed in paragraph 1 of Article 7. A State Party which makes use of the option provided for in this paragraph shall inform the Secretary-General of the limits of liability adopted or of the fact that there are none.

    4. The Courts of a State Party shall not apply this Convention to ships constructed for, or adapted to, and engaged in, drilling:

  • (a) when that State has established under its national legislation a higher limit of liability than that otherwise provided for in Article 6; or

  • (b) when that State has become party to an international convention regulating the system of liability in respect of such ships.

    In a case to which sub-paragraph (a) applies that State Party shall inform the depositary accordingly.

    5. This Convention shall not apply to:

  • (a) air-cushion vehicles;

  • (b) floating platforms constructed for the purpose of exploring or exploiting the natural resources of the sea-bed or the subsoil thereof.

Part II

Text of Article 18 of the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976, as amended by the Protocol of 1996 to amend the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976, and of Articles 8 and 9 of that Protocol

Article 18
Reservations

1. Any State may, at the time of signature, ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, or at any time thereafter, reserve the right:

  • (a) to exclude the application of article 2, paragraphs 1(d) and (e);

  • (b) to exclude claims for damage within the meaning of the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea, 1996 or of any amendment or Protocol thereto.

    No other reservations shall be admissible to the substantive provisions of this Convention.

    2. Reservations made at the time of signature are subject to confirmation upon ratification, acceptance or approval.

    3. Any State which has made a reservation to this Convention may withdraw it at any time by means of a notification addressed to the Secretary-General. Such withdrawal shall take effect on the date the notification is received. If the notification states that the withdrawal of a reservation is to take effect on a date specified therein, and such date is later than the date the notification is received by the Secretary-General, the withdrawal shall take effect on such later date.

Article 8
Amendment of limits

1. Upon the request of at least one half, but in no case less than six, of the States Parties to this Protocol, any proposal to amend the limits specified in article 6, paragraph 1, article 7, paragraph 1 and article 8, paragraph 2 of the Convention as amended by this Protocol shall be circulated by the Secretary-General to all Members of the Organization and to all Contracting States.

2. Any amendment proposed and circulated as above shall be submitted to the Legal Committee of the Organization (the Legal Committee) for consideration at a date at least six months after the date of its circulation.

3. All Contracting States to the Convention as amended by this Protocol, whether or not Members of the Organization, shall be entitled to participate in the proceedings of the Legal Committee for the consideration and adoption of amendments.

4. Amendments shall be adopted by a two-thirds majority of the Contracting States to the Convention as amended by this Protocol present and voting in the Legal Committee expanded as provided for in paragraph 3, on condition that at least one half of the Contracting States to the Convention as amended by this Protocol shall be present at the time of voting.

5. When acting on a proposal to amend the limits, the Legal Committee shall take into account the experience of incidents and, in particular, the amount of damage resulting therefrom, changes in the monetary values and the effect of the proposed amendment on the cost of insurance.

6.(a) No amendment of the limits under this article may be considered less than five years from the date on which this Protocol was opened for signature nor less than five years from the date of entry into force of a previous amendment under this article.

  • (b) No limit may be increased so as to exceed an amount which corresponds to the limit laid down in the Convention as amended by this Protocol increased by six per cent per year calculated on a compound basis from the date on which this Protocol was opened for signature.

  • (c) No limit may be increased so as to exceed an amount which corresponds to the limit laid down in the Convention as amended by this Protocol multiplied by three.

7. Any amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 4 shall be notified by the Organization to all Contracting States. The amendment shall be deemed to have been accepted at the end of a period of eighteen months after the date of notification, unless within that period not less than one-fourth of the States that were Contracting States at the time of the adoption of the amendment have communicated to the Secretary-General that they do not accept the amendment, in which case the amendment is rejected and shall have no effect.

8. An amendment deemed to have been accepted in accordance with paragraph 7 shall enter into force eighteen months after its acceptance.

9. All Contracting States shall be bound by the amendment, unless they denounce this Protocol in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 of article 12 at least six months before the amendment enters into force. Such denunciation shall take effect when the amendment enters into force.

10. When an amendment has been adopted but the eighteen-month period for its acceptance has not yet expired, a State which becomes a Contracting State during that period shall be bound by the amendment if it enters into force. A State which becomes a Contracting State after that period shall be bound by an amendment which has been accepted in accordance with paragraph 7. In the cases referred to in this paragraph, a State becomes bound by an amendment when that amendment enters into force, or when this Protocol enters into force for that State, if later.

Article 9

1. The Convention and this Protocol shall, as between the Parties to this Protocol, be read and interpreted together as one single instrument.

2. A State which is Party to this Protocol but not a Party to the Convention shall be bound by the provisions of the Convention as amended by this Protocol in relation to other States Parties hereto, but shall not be bound by the provisions of the Convention in relation to States Parties only to the Convention.

3. The Convention as amended by this Protocol shall apply only to claims arising out of occurrences which take place after the entry into force for each State of this Protocol.

4. Nothing in this Protocol shall affect the obligations of a State which is a Party both to the Convention and to this Protocol with respect to a State which is a Party to the Convention but not a Party to this Protocol.

  • 1998, c. 6, s. 26

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