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Small Vessel Regulations (SOR/2010-91)

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

PART 4Passenger-Carrying Vessels of Not More than 15 Gross Tonnage that Carry Not More than 12 Passengers (continued)

Safety Equipment (continued)

Firefighting Equipment

  •  (1) A passenger-carrying vessel of a length set out in column 1 of the table to this subsection shall carry on board the firefighting equipment set out in column 2 as indicated in that column.

    table

    Column 1Column 2
    ItemLengthFirefighting Equipment
    1not more than 6 m
    • (a) a 1A:5B:C portable fire extinguisher; and

    • (b) a 1A:5B:C portable fire extinguisher, if the vessel is equipped with a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance

    2more than 6 m but not more than 9 m
    • (a) a 2A:10B:C portable fire extinguisher;

    • (b) a 2A:10B:C portable fire extinguisher, if the vessel is equipped with a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance; and

    • (c) a 10B:C portable fire extinguisher at the entrance to the engine space

    3more than 9 m but not more than 12 m
    • (a) a 2A:10B:C portable fire extinguisher;

    • (b) a 2A:10B:C portable fire extinguisher at each access to a space fitted with a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance;

    • (c) a 10B:C portable fire extinguisher at the entrance to the engine space;

    • (d) a fire axe; and

    • (e) a fire bucket

    4more than 12 m
    • (a) a 2A:20B:C portable fire extinguisher;

    • (b) a 2A:20B:C portable fire extinguisher at the following locations:

      • (i) at each access to a space fitted with a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance, and

      • (ii) at the entrance to each accommodation space;

    • (c) a 20B:C portable fire extinguisher at the entrance to the engine space;

    • (d) a manual or power-driven fire pump, located outside the engine space, that conforms to the construction standards;

    • (e) a fire hose and nozzle from which a jet of water can be directed into any part of the vessel;

    • (f) a fire axe; and

    • (g) two fire buckets

  • (2) A passenger-carrying vessel that is not power-driven and is not equipped with an electrical system is not required to carry on board the portable fire extinguisher set out in paragraph (a) of items 1 to 4 of the table to subsection (1).

  • (3) The portable fire extinguishers set out in the table to subsection (1) shall be mounted with a clamp or bracket that provides a quick and positive release.

  • (4) A portable fire extinguisher intended for use in an accommodation space, or stored in an accommodation space, shall not contain a gas extinguishing agent.

  •  (1) A passenger-carrying vessel that is not more than 6 m in length and that has an enclosed engine space shall have provision for discharging a portable fire extinguisher directly into the engine space without the need to open the primary access to that space.

  • (2) The provision for direct discharge shall be marked in accordance with the construction standards to clearly indicate its firefighting purpose.

  • (3) The provision for direct discharge shall be capable of accommodating the discharge nozzle of the fire extinguisher and shall be arranged so that the fire extinguisher may be discharged in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

  • (4) If the passenger-carrying vessel is fitted with a fixed fire extinguishing system in accordance with section 741, a provision for direct discharge is not required.

 A portable fire extinguisher that is intended to be discharged directly into an enclosed engine space shall

  • (a) contain 1.2 kg of carbon dioxide per cubic metre of gross enclosed engine space volume or, if it does not contain carbon dioxide, contain a sufficient quantity of a clean agent to provide the same protection as carbon dioxide;

  • (b) if it contains carbon dioxide, be able to be completely discharged in not more than 60 seconds and if it contains a clean agent, in not more than 10 seconds; and

  • (c) be in addition to the portable fire extinguishers required by section 414.

  • SOR/2013-235, s. 33(E)

 A passenger-carrying vessel that is more than 6 m in length and that has provision for discharging a portable fire extinguisher directly into the engine space in accordance with paragraph 741(1)(b), instead of being fitted with a fixed fire extinguishing system in accordance with paragraph 741(1)(a), shall carry on board the portable fire extinguisher referred to in section 416.

  •  (1) A passenger-carrying vessel that is not more than 6 m in length shall be fitted with

    • (a) in each engine space, a heat detector that

      • (i) is hard-wired to a red visual alarm and to an audible alarm of at least 84 dB, both of which are to be located at the operating position,

      • (ii) has a green light indicating power at the detector, and

      • (iii) is powered by the vessel’s electrical system; and

    • (b) in each accommodation and service space, other than in low risk spaces such as washrooms and void spaces, a fire detector that

      • (i) is certified by a product certification body,

      • (ii) has a built-in audible alarm of at least 84 dB, and

      • (iii) may be powered with an internal battery.

  • (2) Paragraph (1)(a) does not apply in respect of a vessel in which the engine is enclosed in such a manner that a fire would be immediately apparent to a person at the operating position.

Equipment Stowage

 The equipment required by this Part shall be protected from damage and securely stowed and, if stowed in a locker or container, the outside of the locker or container shall be clearly marked to indicate its contents.

Emergency Procedures

 The owner and the operator of a passenger-carrying vessel shall ensure that

  • (a) procedures are established for the use of the vessel’s life-saving appliances and fire extinguishing equipment in case of an emergency; and

  • (b) the crew practises the procedures so as to be at all times proficient in carrying them out.

PART 5Workboats of Not More than 15 Gross Tonnage

Application

  •  (1) This Part applies in respect of a workboat of not more than 15 gross tonnage.

  • (2) Sections 502 to 521 do not apply in respect of a workboat that meets the safety equipment requirements of another country and that is

    • (a) registered in that country as having the right to fly the flag of that country; or

    • (b) licensed in that country and not principally maintained and operated in Canada.

General Requirements

  •  (1) A workboat shall be designed and equipped to operate safely in its area of operation.

  • (2) No person shall operate a workboat under circumstances that exceed its design limitations, if any.

 The owner of a workboat shall not operate or permit another person to operate the workboat unless, before it is first put into service, the owner has informed the Minister, in a form determined by the Minister, of

  • (a) the intention to operate the workboat or permit its operation;

  • (b) the physical characteristics of the workboat; and

  • (c) the nature of its operation.

 The owner of a workboat shall submit to the Minister, on request, information respecting the physical characteristics of the workboat and the nature of its operation.

Safety Equipment

First Aid Kit

 A workboat shall carry on board a first aid kit.

Life-Saving Appliances

Personal Life-Saving Appliances

 If a lifejacket that must be carried on board a workboat is to be worn by a person less than 16 years of age, it shall be inherently buoyant.

  •  (1) A workboat shall carry on board

    • (a) a lifejacket of an appropriate size for each person on board;

    • (b) a reboarding device, unless the vertical height that must be climbed in order to reboard the workboat is not more than 0.5 m; and

    • (c) for the length of workboat set out in column 1 of the table to this subsection, the additional personal life-saving appliances set out in column 2.

      table

      Column 1Column 2
      ItemLengthAdditional Personal Life-Saving Appliances
      1not more than 6 ma buoyant heaving line of not less than 15 m in length
      2more 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

      3more 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

      4more than 12 m
      • (a) a buoyant heaving line of not less than 15 m in length; and

      • (b) a lifebuoy that is equipped with a self-igniting light or attached to a buoyant line of not less than 15 m in length

  • (2) The buoyant heaving line set out in the table to subsection (1) 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
  •  (1) A workboat of a length set out in column 1 of the table to this subsection shall carry on board the visual signals set out in column 2.

    table

    Column 1Column 2
    ItemLengthVisual Signals
    1not more than 6 m
    • (a) a watertight flashlight; and

    • (b) three pyrotechnic distress signals other than smoke signals

    2more than 6 m but not more than 9 m
    • (a) a watertight flashlight; and

    • (b) six pyrotechnic distress signals other than smoke signals

    3more than 9 m
    • (a) a watertight flashlight; and

    • (b) twelve pyrotechnic distress signals, not more than six of which are smoke signals

  • (2) When operating within a recognized log booming ground, a tug that is not more than 6 m in length is not required to carry on board the visual signals set out in the table to subsection (1).

Life Rafts
  •  (1) A workboat that is more than 12 m in length shall carry on board one or more life rafts with a total capacity sufficient to carry all persons on board the vessel.

  • (2) If the water temperature is more than 15°C, the vessel may carry on board a buoyant apparatus instead of a life raft.

  • (3) A buoyant apparatus shall be of a type that has been approved by the United States Coast Guard and the information contained in the nameplate shall be in English and French.

Life-Saving Appliances — Additional Requirements for Tugs

  •  (1) If there are two or more persons on board a tug that is more than 8.5 m in length, it shall carry on board one or more life rafts with a total capacity sufficient to carry all the persons on board.

  • (2) A tug that engages in voyages beyond the limits of a near coastal voyage, Class 2 shall not carry on board a coastal life raft unless it carried such a life raft on board before the day on which these Regulations came into force.

  • (3) For the purposes of subsection (2), near coastal voyage, Class 2 has the same meaning as in section 1 of the Vessel Safety Certificates Regulations.

Vessel Safety Equipment

  •  (1) A workboat of a length set out in column 1 of the table to this subsection shall carry on board the vessel safety equipment set out in column 2.

    table

    Column 1Column 2
    ItemLengthVessel Safety Equipment
    1not more than 9 m
    • (a) either

      • (i) a manual propelling device, or

      • (ii) an anchor, and not less than 15 m of cable, rope or chain or any combination of them; and

    • (b) a bailer or manual bilge pump

    2more than 9 m but not more than 12 m
    • (a) an anchor, and not less than 30 m of cable, rope or chain or any combination of them; and

    • (b) a manual bilge pump

    3more than 12 m
    • (a) an anchor, and not less than 50 m of cable, rope or chain or any combination of them; and

    • (b) a manual bilge pump

  • (2) A bailer or manual bilge pump is not required to be carried on board a workboat that cannot retain a sufficient quantity of water to make it capsize or whose compartments are sealed and are not readily accessible.

  • (3) When operating within a recognized log booming ground, a tug that is not more than 6 m in length is not required to carry on board the manual propelling device or anchor set out in the table to subsection (1).

 

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