Transport Canada Survey on Domestic Vessel Safety and Oversight Procedures
Transport Canada is doing a domestic vessel oversight review. Recent accidents highlighted that Transport Canada needs to improve how they inspect small vessels that are less than 150 gross tonnage or less than 24 metres in length, including small fishing vessels, passenger vessels, and non-passenger vessels (like tugs and workboats), to help reduce accidents. Below is the email that has details on the current oversight system and the proposed pilot projects that some survey questions are about.
As part of our focus on promoting safety at sea under the Oceans Protection Plan, Transport Canada is reviewing how we oversee small domestic vessels (commercial vessels and not pleasure craft). We invite you to complete a survey that will help us improve vessel safety and how we deliver oversight.
Regulations and standards have helped address safety risks for vessels along Canada’s coasts for decades. We’ve made great progress in improving safety with larger vessel oversight. Recent accidents have highlighted that we need to improve how we inspect small vessels, including small fishing vessels, to help reduce accidents. You can find statistics on marine incidents in reports from the Transportation Safety Board.
Given the size and scope of the Canadian fleet, Transport Canada is looking for new ways to oversee Canadian vessels below 150 gross tonnage or less than 24 metres in length, including:
fishing vessels
passenger vessels
non-passenger vessels (like tugs and workboats)
We want oversight activities conducted by Transport Canada to target the areas of highest risk and reduce the likelihood of small vessel incidents. This could mean reallocating our resources to focus more on areas or vessel types with the highest levels of risk.
As part of this review, we hired an independent research group to complete reports and give us recommendations. These recommendations included:
using private marine surveyors (third-party marine surveyors) for certain aspects of domestic vessel oversight
developing a communications strategy based on user needs
implementing a risk rating to prioritize inspections
incorporating Indigenous ways, methods, and/or symbols into the oversight regime
We’re also completing an internal review to develop pilot projects to test new approaches. So far, we’re considering pilot projects that change the length of time between inspections and assign some parts of oversight to private marine surveyors. These pilot projects would consider vessel risk factors such as past deficiencies and Transportation Safety Board incidents. The risk model we are developing is building on another independent research group’s report on the Risk Analysis of the Canadian Maritime Fleet.
Our current small vessel oversight activities include, but are not limited to:
regular inspections for small vessels greater than 15 gross tonnage or carrying more than 12 passengers (those requiring a safety certificate to operate)
risk-based inspections for small vessels 15 gross tonnage or less, including vessels carrying 12 passengers or less (those that don’t require a safety certificate to operate)
We want to hear ways you think we could improve our small domestic vessel oversight system.
We will carefully examine your input and use it to help determine options for a path forward. We won’t publicly name individuals or organizations in reference to these consultations in future presentations or discussions. Your participation is voluntary.
These questions will take 10 to 15 minutes to complete. The survey is available for 60 days and will close on Friday, December 13th.
PLEASE COMPLETE THE SURVEY HERE.
We will also be asking for feedback from the public on this initiative through a separate consultation on our Let’s Talk Transportation platform. This will launch in the coming weeks and be available for 60 days.
For any questions, please email tc.opp2.0dvroreview-ppo2.0examendusrbc.tc@tc.gc.ca.
Thank you for your participation!
OPP 2.0 Domestic Vessels Oversight Review
Domestic Vessel Regulatory Oversight
Marine Safety & Security | Transport Canada | Government of Canada