Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020

Marginal note:Standard magnetic compasses

• 106 (1) Every vessel, except the following vessels, must be fitted with a standard magnetic compass, independent of any power supply, that can be used to determine the vessel’s heading and to display the reading at the main steering position:

  • (a) vessels that are 8 m or less in length and navigate within sight of navigation marks; and

  • (b) cable ferries.

• Marginal note:Exception — vessels less than 150 gross tonnage

  (2) Despite subsection (1), a vessel of less than 150 gross tonnage may be fitted with

  • (a) a steering magnetic compass if the vessel is not engaged on an international voyage; or

  • (b) a steering magnetic compass and a gyro-compass if the vessel is engaged on an international voyage.

• Marginal note:Exception — vessels from 150 to 500 gross tonnage

  (3) Despite subsection (1), a vessel that is of 150 gross tonnage or more but less than 500 gross tonnage may be fitted with

  • (a) if the vessel is engaged on a sheltered waters voyage or a near coastal voyage, Class 2 and if the voyage is not an international voyage, a steering magnetic compass; and

  • (b) if the vessel is engaged on a near coastal voyage, Class 1, an unlimited voyage or an international voyage, a steering magnetic compass and a gyro-compass.

• Marginal note:Compensation

  (4) Every magnetic compass must be properly compensated and its table or curve of residual deviations must be available on board in the vicinity of the compass.

• Marginal note:Means of correction

  (5) Every vessel that is fitted with a magnetic compass, except pleasure crafts of less than 150 gross tonnage, must be fitted with a means of correcting heading and bearings to true at all times.

• Marginal note:Means of communication

  (6) Every vessel that is fitted with a standard magnetic compass must be fitted with a means of communication between the standard magnetic compass position and the position from which the vessel is normally navigated.