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

Marginal note:Position report

27 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 26(b) is completed; and

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

Marginal note:Final report

28 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

29 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

30 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 5Northern VTS Zone

Marginal note:Northern VTS Zone

31 This Part applies in respect of the Northern VTS Zone described in Schedule 4.

Marginal note:Sailing plan

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

• (a) 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;

• (b) 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

• (c) 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

• 33 (1) The master of a vessel must ensure that a position report is provided

  • (a) immediately after the vessel enters the VTS Zone; and

  • (b) daily at 1600 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), if a vessel is underway within the VTS Zone, unless the information required by Regulation 19-1 of Chapter V of SOLAS is being transmitted in accordance with that Regulation.

• Definition of SOLAS

  (2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), SOLAS means the International Convention for the Safety of Life At Sea of 1974, and the Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life At Sea of 1974, as amended from time to time.

Marginal note:Final report

34 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.

Marginal note:Other reports

35 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

36 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 6Related Amendments, Repeals and Coming into Force

Related Amendments to the Administrative Monetary Penalties and Notices (CSA 2001) Regulations

37 [Amendments]

38 [Amendments]

Repeals

39 The following Regulations are repealed:

• (a) the Vessel Traffic Services Zones RegulationsFootnote ²;

  • Return to footnote ²SOR/89-98

• (b) the Eastern Canada Vessel Traffic Services Zone RegulationsFootnote ³; and

  • Return to footnote ³SOR/89-99

• (c) the Northern Canada Vessel Traffic Services Zone RegulationsFootnote ⁴.

  • Return to footnote ⁴SOR/2010-127

Coming into Force

Marginal note:Three months after publication

40 These Regulations come into force on the day that, in the third month after the month in which they are published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, has the same calendar number as the day on which they are published or, if that third month has no day with that number, the last day of that third month.