Fishing Vessel Safety Regulations (C.R.C., c. 1486)

Life-saving Appliances

Personal Life-saving Appliances

Marginal note:Lifejacket

• 3.25 (1) A fishing vessel shall carry on board a lifejacket of an appropriate size for each person on board, but the lifejacket shall not be a Class 2 lifejacket or a small vessel lifejacket if the vessel is engaged on a voyage beyond the limits of a near coastal voyage, Class 2.

• Marginal note:Replacement of a lifejacket — near coastal voyage, Class 2

  (2) Instead of the lifejacket referred to in subsection (1), a fishing vessel that has a hull length of not more than 12 m and that is engaged on a near coastal voyage, Class 2, may carry on board a personal flotation device that meets the requirements of section 3.2 if

  • (a) the personal flotation device

    • (i) provides at least 100 N of buoyancy and has a turning capability, or

    • (ii) is designed to provide thermal protection; and

  • (b) in the case of a fishing vessel that has no deck or deck structure and that is underway, the personal flotation device is worn by everyone on board or, in the case of a fishing vessel that has a deck or deck structure and that is underway, it is worn by the persons on deck or in the cockpit.

• Marginal note:Replacement of a lifejacket — near coastal voyage, Class 2, etc.

  (3) Instead of the lifejacket referred to in subsection (1), a fishing vessel that has a hull length of not more than 12 m and that is engaged on a near coastal voyage, Class 2, restricted to 2 nautical miles, or a sheltered waters voyage, may carry on board a personal flotation device that meets the requirements of section 3.2 if

  • (a) in the case of a fishing vessel that has no deck or deck structure and that is underway, the personal flotation device is worn by everyone on board; or

  • (b) in the case of a fishing vessel that has a deck or deck structure and that is underway, it is worn by the persons on deck or in the cockpit.

Marginal note:Additional personal life-saving appliances

• 3.26 (1) A fishing vessel shall carry on board the following additional personal life-saving appliances:

  • (a) a reboarding device;

  • (b) an apparatus that can be used to retrieve a person who has fallen overboard without the assistance of the person overboard, unless the vessel carries a recovery boat or the operator of the vessel is the only person on board; and

  • (c) in the case of a fishing vessel that has a hull length set out in column 1 of the table to this paragraph, the additional personal life-saving appliances set out in column 2.

    	Column 1	Column 2
    Item	Hull Length	Additional Personal Life-saving Appliances
    1	Not more than 6 m	a buoyant heaving line of not less than 15 m in length
    2	More than 6 m but not more than 9 m	(a) a buoyant heaving line of not less than 15 m in length; or (b) a lifebuoy attached to a buoyant line of not less than 15 m in length
    3	More than 9 m but not more than 12 m	(a) a buoyant heaving line of not less than 15 m in length; and (b) a lifebuoy attached to a buoyant line of not less than 15 m in length
    4	More than 12 m but not more than 15 m	(a) a buoyant heaving line of not less than 30 m in length; and (b) a SOLAS lifebuoy that is equipped with a self-igniting light or that is attached to a buoyant line of not less than 30 m in length
    5	More than 15 m	(a) a buoyant heaving line of not less than 30 m in length; (b) a SOLAS lifebuoy attached to a buoyant line of not less than 30 m in length; and (c) a SOLAS lifebuoy that is equipped with a self-igniting light

• Marginal note:Buoyant heaving line

  (2) A buoyant heaving line set out in the table to paragraph (1)(c) shall be fitted at one end with a buoyant mass that will assist in carrying out the end of the line when the line is thrown.

Visual Signals

Marginal note:Requirement to carry on board

• 3.27 (1) A fishing vessel that has a hull length set out in column 1 of the table to this subsection shall carry on board the visual signals set out in column 2.

  	Column 1	Column 2
  Item	Hull length	Visual Signals
  1	Not more than 6 m	(a) a watertight flashlight; and (b) three pyrotechnic distress signals other than smoke signals
  2	More than 6 m but not more than 9 m	(a) a watertight flashlight; and (b) the following visual signals: (i) for a voyage that is not beyond the limits of a near coastal voyage, Class 2, six pyrotechnic distress signals other than smoke signals, or (ii) for a voyage that is beyond the limits of a near coastal voyage, class 2, six pyrotechnic distress signals — other than smoke signals — of which at least two are rocket parachute flares
  3	More than 9 m but not more than 12 m	(a) a watertight flashlight; (b) the following visual signals: (i) for a voyage that is not beyond the limits of a near coastal voyage, Class 2, six pyrotechnic distress signals of which not more than three are smoke signals, or (ii) for a voyage that is beyond the limits of a near coastal voyage, class 2, six pyrotechnic distress signals of which at least two are rocket parachute flares and not more than three are smoke signals, which shall be buoyant smoke signals; and (c) a signalling mirror
  4	More than 12 m but not more than 15 m	(a) a watertight flashlight; (b) the following visual signals: (i) for a voyage that is not beyond the limits of a near coastal voyage, Class 2, twelve pyrotechnic distress signals of which not more than six are smoke signals, or (ii) for a voyage that is beyond the limits of a near coastal voyage, class 2, twelve pyrotechnic distress signals of which at least four are rocket parachute flares and not more than six are smoke signals, which shall be buoyant smoke signals; and (c) a signalling mirror
  5	More than 15 m	(a) a watertight flashlight; (b) the following visual signals: (i) for a voyage that is not beyond the limits of a near coastal voyage, Class 2, twelve pyrotechnic distress signals of which not more than six are smoke signals, or (ii) for a voyage that is beyond the limits of a near coastal voyage, class 2, twelve pyrotechnic distress signals of which at least six are rocket parachute flares and not more than six are smoke signals, which shall be buoyant smoke signals; and (c) a signalling mirror

• Marginal note:Exception

  (2) A fishing vessel is not required to carry on board pyrotechnic distress signals if the vessel is equipped with a two-way radio communication system that makes it possible to maintain communication and the vessel is operated

  • (a) on a river, canal or lake where it cannot at any time be more than one nautical mile from the closest shore;

  • (b) exclusively within the confines of a manned aquaculture facility; or

  • (c) within 500 m from shore.

• Marginal note:Expiry

  (3) A pyrotechnic distress signal expires four years after its date of manufacture.