Vessel Traffic Services Zones Regulations (SOR/2025-275)

Interpretation

Marginal note:Definitions

1 The following definitions apply in these Regulations.

Act

Act means the Canada Shipping Act, 2001. (Loi)

berth

berth includes a wharf, pier, lock, anchorage or mooring buoy. (poste d’amarrage)

pollutant

pollutant has the same meaning as in section 185 of the Act. (polluant)

Radio Aids to Marine Navigation

Radio Aids to Marine Navigation means the document entitled Radio Aids to Marine Navigation, published by the Canadian Coast Guard, as amended from time to time. (Aides radio à la navigation maritime)

Marginal note:Incorporated documents — meaning of “ship”

2 For the purpose of interpreting any document that is incorporated by reference into these Regulations, “ship” is to be read as “vessel”.

PART 1General Provisions

Application

Marginal note:Application

• 3 (1) These Regulations apply to the following vessels that are about to enter, leave or proceed within a VTS Zone:

  • (a) vessels of 300 gross tonnage or more;

  • (b) vessels that are engaged in towing or pushing another vessel, if the combined gross tonnage is 500 gross tonnage or more; and

  • (c) vessels that are carrying as cargo a pollutant or dangerous goods, or vessels that are engaged in towing or pushing such a vessel.

• Marginal note:Definition of dangerous goods

  (2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(c), dangerous goods means the substances, materials and articles referred to in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, published by the International Maritime Organization, as amended from time to time.

Marginal note:Prescribed classes

4 The vessels referred to in subsection 3(1) are prescribed as classes of vessels for the purposes of subsections 126(1) and (3) of the Act.

Radio Aids to Marine Navigation

Marginal note:Communication

5 The communication that is required under paragraph 126(1)(b) of the Act must be maintained in accordance with Part 3 of Radio Aids to Marine Navigation.

Marginal note:Content and provision of reports

6 The master of a vessel must ensure that the reports and sailing plans required under these Regulations contain the information set out in Part 3 of Radio Aids to Marine Navigation and are provided to a marine communications and traffic services officer in accordance with that Part.

Establishment of VTS Zones

Marginal note:Establishment of VTS Zones

7 The following VTS Zones are established:

• (a) the Western VTS Zones described in Schedule 1;

• (b) the Eastern VTS Zone described in Schedule 2;

• (c) the Local Eastern VTS Zones described in Schedule 3; and

• (d) the Northern VTS Zone described in Schedule 4.

PART 2Western VTS Zones

Marginal note:Western VTS Zones

8 This Part applies in respect of the Western VTS Zones described in Schedule 1.

Marginal note:Application

• 9 (1) In addition to the vessels referred to in subsection 3(1), sections 11 to 15 apply to the following vessels that are about to enter, leave or proceed within a VTS Zone:

  • (a) a vessel that is 20 m or more in length other than

    • (i) a pleasure craft that is less than 30 m in length, and

    • (ii) a fishing vessel that is less than 24 m in length and not more than 150 gross tonnage; and

  • (b) a vessel that is engaged in towing or pushing another vessel or an object, other than fishing gear, unless the vessel and the other vessel or object being towed or pushed are within a log booming ground, if

    • (i) the combined length of the vessel and the other vessel or object is 45 m or more, or

    • (ii) the length of the other vessel or object is 20 m or more.

• Marginal note:Prescribed classes

  (2) In addition to the vessels referred to in section 4, the vessels referred to in subsection (1) are prescribed classes of vessels for the purposes of subsections 126(1) and (3) of the Act.

Marginal note:Sailing plan — 24 hours

10 If a vessel enters a VTS Zone from outside Canadian waters, the master of the vessel must ensure that a sailing plan is provided at least 24 hours before the vessel enters the VTS Zone, or as soon as feasible before the vessel enters the VTS Zone if the estimated time of arrival of the vessel is less than 24 hours after the time the vessel departed from the last port of call.

Marginal note:Sailing plan — other

11 The master of a vessel must ensure that a sailing plan is provided

• (a) at least 15 minutes before the vessel enters a VTS Zone, except if the vessel was granted a clearance to enter under paragraph 126(3)(a) of the Act;

• (b) at least 15 minutes before the vessel begins a manoeuvre in a VTS Zone that may be detrimental to safe navigation;

• (c) at least 15 minutes before the vessel departs from a berth within a VTS Zone; and

• (d) immediately before the vessel gets underway within a VTS Zone if the vessel has been stranded, has stopped as a result of a breakdown in the main propulsion or steering system or has been involved in a collision.

Marginal note:Position report

12 The master of a vessel must ensure that a position report is provided

• (a) when the vessel arrives at a calling-in-point described in Part 3 of Radio Aids to Marine Navigation;

• (b) as soon as feasible after the manoeuvre referred to in paragraph 11(b) is completed; and

• (c) immediately before the vessel departs from a berth within a VTS Zone.

Marginal note:Final report

13 The master of a vessel must ensure that a final report is provided

• (a) on the arrival of the vessel at a berth within a VTS Zone; and

• (b) immediately before the vessel leaves a VTS Zone, except if the vessel enters any other VTS Zone.

Marginal note:Other reports

14 The master of a vessel must ensure that a report is provided as soon as feasible after the master becomes aware of any of the following circumstances:

• (a) there is a fire or explosion on board the vessel;

• (b) the vessel is involved in a collision, grounding or striking;

• (c) the vessel makes unforeseen contact with the bottom without going aground;

• (d) there is a defect in the vessel’s hull, main propulsion system, steering system, anchor or any equipment that is required under the Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020;

• (e) the vessel’s seaworthiness is affected;

• (f) all or part of the vessel’s cargo shifts or falls overboard;

• (g) another vessel is in apparent difficulty;

• (h) there is an obstruction to navigation;

• (i) in addition to a missing, out of position or malfunctioning aid to navigation that must be reported under subsection 129(2) of the Act, an aid to navigation is damaged;

• (j) there are ice or weather conditions that are hazardous to safe navigation;

• (k) there is a pollutant in the water;

• (l) another vessel may impede the movement of the vessel or of other vessels;

• (m) there is a risk, identified in Part 3 of Radio Aids to Marine Navigation, to the health and well-being of individuals on board the vessel including the crew;

• (n) there is a risk, identified in Part 3 of Radio Aids to Marine Navigation, to marine safety or the marine environment.

Marginal note:Deviation report

15 In the case of a significant change in the information contained in a report, the master must ensure that a deviation report containing the updated information is provided as soon as feasible after the master becomes aware of the change.

PART 3Eastern VTS Zone

Marginal note:Eastern VTS Zone

16 This Part applies in respect of the Eastern VTS Zone described in Schedule 2.

Marginal note:Sailing plan — 24 hours

• 17 (1) If a vessel enters the VTS Zone from outside Canadian waters, the master of the vessel must ensure that a sailing plan is provided at least 24 hours before the vessel enters the VTS Zone, or as soon as feasible before the vessel enters the VTS Zone if the estimated time of arrival of the vessel is less than 24 hours after the time the vessel departed from the last port of call.

• Marginal note:Exception — voyage between two ports

  (2) Despite subsection (1), the master does not need to ensure that the plan is provided if the vessel is on a voyage between two ports in the VTS Zone.

Marginal note:Sailing plan — other

18 The master of a vessel must ensure that a sailing plan is provided

• (a) more than one hour but not more than two hours before the vessel departs from a berth within the VTS Zone unless the vessel is proceeding to another berth in the same port; and

• (b) immediately before the vessel gets underway within the VTS Zone if the vessel has been stranded, has stopped as a result of a breakdown in the main propulsion or steering system or has been involved in a collision.

Marginal note:Position report

19 The master of a vessel must ensure that a position report is provided immediately after the vessel enters the VTS Zone, except if the vessel enters from a Local Eastern VTS Zone described in Schedule 3.

Marginal note:Final report

20 The master of a vessel must ensure that a final report is provided

• (a) on the arrival of the vessel at a berth within the VTS Zone; and

• (b) immediately before the vessel leaves the VTS Zone, except if the vessel enters any other VTS Zone.

Marginal note:Other reports

21 The master of a vessel must ensure that a report is provided as soon as feasible after the master becomes aware of any of the following circumstances:

• (a) there is a fire or explosion on board the vessel;

• (b) the vessel is involved in a collision, grounding or striking;

• (c) the vessel makes unforeseen contact with the bottom without going aground;

• (d) there is a defect in the vessel’s hull, main propulsion system, steering system, anchor or any equipment that is required under the Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020;

• (e) the vessel’s seaworthiness is affected;

• (f) all or part of the vessel’s cargo shifts or falls overboard;

• (g) another vessel is in apparent difficulty;

• (h) there is an obstruction to navigation;

• (i) in addition to a missing, out of position or malfunctioning aid to navigation that must be reported under subsection 129(2) of the Act, an aid to navigation is damaged;

• (j) there are ice or weather conditions that are hazardous to safe navigation;

• (k) there is a pollutant in the water;

• (l) another vessel may impede the movement of the vessel or of other vessels;

• (m) there is a risk, identified in Part 3 of Radio Aids to Marine Navigation, to the health and well-being of individuals on board the vessel including the crew;

• (n) there is a risk, identified in Part 3 of Radio Aids to Marine Navigation, to marine safety or the marine environment.

Marginal note:Deviation report

22 In the case of a significant change in the information contained in a report, the master must ensure that a deviation report containing the updated information is provided as soon as feasible after the master becomes aware of the change.

PART 4Local Eastern VTS Zones

Marginal note:Local Eastern VTS Zones

23 This Part applies in respect of the Local Eastern VTS Zones described in Schedule 3.

Marginal note:Application

• 24 (1) In addition to the vessels referred to in subsection 3(1), sections 26 to 30 apply to the following vessels that are about to enter, leave or proceed within a VTS Zone:

  • (a) a vessel that is 20 m or more in length other than

    • (i) a pleasure craft that is less than 30 m in length, and

    • (ii) a fishing vessel that is less than 24 m in length and not more than 150 gross tonnage; and

  • (b) a vessel that is engaged in towing or pushing another vessel or an object, other than fishing gear, unless the vessel and the other vessel or object being towed or pushed is within a log booming ground, if

    • (i) the combined length of the vessel and the other vessel or object is 45 m or more, or

    • (ii) the length of the other vessel or object is 20 m or more.

• Marginal note:Prescribed classes

  (2) In addition to the vessels referred to in section 4, the vessels referred to in subsection (1) are prescribed classes of vessels for the purposes of subsections 126(1) and (3) of the Act.

Marginal note:Sailing plan — 24 hours

25 If a vessel enters a VTS Zone from outside Canadian waters, the master of the vessel must ensure that a sailing plan is provided at least 24 hours before the vessel enters the VTS Zone, or as soon as feasible before the vessel enters the VTS Zone if the estimated time of arrival of the vessel is less than 24 hours after the time the vessel departed from the last port of call.

Marginal note:Sailing plan — other

26 The master of a vessel must ensure that a sailing plan is provided

• (a) at least 15 minutes before the vessel enters a VTS Zone, except if the vessel was granted a clearance to enter under paragraph 126(3)(a) of the Act;

• (b) at least 15 minutes before the vessel begins a manoeuvre in a VTS Zone that may be detrimental to safe navigation;

• (c) at least 15 minutes before the vessel departs from a berth within a VTS Zone; and

• (d) immediately before the vessel gets underway within a VTS Zone if the vessel has been stranded, has stopped as a result of a breakdown in the main propulsion or steering system or has been involved in a collision.