Yes, Knowing the Location of Safety Equipment on a Vessel is Your Responsibility
Passengers as well as operators can and should take proactive steps to promote their own safety during any boat trip.
This starts before you get into the boat. Before heading out, familiarize yourself with the locations of essential safety equipment such as life jackets, life rafts, and other emergency gear. Additionally, be prepared by knowing the appropriate actions to take in case of an emergency.
If you’re bringing children on board, confirm there are enough life jackets available in sizes suitable for them. With these measures in place, everyone can contribute to a safer and more enjoyable experience on the water.
Use this link to apply for Canadian boat registration.
Licencing and Canadian Boat Registration Support for Your Journey
When it comes handling Canadian vessel registration and licensing forms, we’re here to help.
For years, we have assisted with documentation for pleasure crafts as well as vessels on the Small and Large Vessel Registry, making the process simpler for you.
Our site offers a convenient way to acquire, renew, or transfer licenses and registration quickly. With our efficient platform, staying on top of your vessel’s compliance requirements is easy.
These laws below may be applicable to you and your vessel:
Regulations
77 The Governor in Council may, on the recommendation of the Minister, make regulations for carrying out the purposes and provisions of this Part, including regulations
- (a) respecting the registration of vessels and fleets and the listing and recording of vessels;
- (b) respecting the issuance and renewal of certificates of registry;
- (c) respecting the suspension and cancellation of the registration of a Canadian vessel or a fleet, and the suspension and cancellation of the listing of a Canadian vessel;
- (d) respecting the naming and marking of vessels;
- (e) respecting the port of registration;
- (f) respecting the form and manner of notifying the Chief Registrar under sections 58 and 75.1;
- (g) respecting the evidence that owners of vessels previously registered in a foreign state must provide to prove that the vessels are no longer registered in the foreign state;
- (h) respecting the calculation of the tonnage of vessels and the issuance of certificates of tonnage; and
- (h.1) respecting the exemption of vessels or classes of vessels from the registration requirement in subsection 46(1);
- (h.2) authorizing the Minister to exempt, by order, vessels or classes of vessels from the registration requirement in subsection 46(1) for the period specified in the regulations and on any terms and conditions that he or she considers appropriate, if he or she is of the opinion that the exemption is not likely to adversely affect marine safety, and authorizing the Minister to amend or revoke an exemption;
- (h.3) respecting an authorization under paragraph (h.2); and
- (i) prescribing anything that may be prescribed under this Part.
- 2001, c. 26, s. 77
- 2011, c. 15, s. 43
Previous Version
Offences and Punishment
Marginal note:
Contravention of Act or regulations
- 78 (1) Every person commits an offence who contravenes
- (a) subsection 57(4) (wilfully defacing, altering, concealing or removing markings); or
- (b) a provision of the regulations made under paragraph 77(h).
- Marginal note:
- Punishment
(2) Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than one year, or to both.
Marginal note:
Contravention of Act or regulations
- 79 (1) Every person commits an offence who contravenes
- (a) subsection 46(2) (register vessel);
- (b) an order made under subsection 52(4) (renaming of vessel);
- (c) subsection 57(1) (mark vessel);
- (d) subsection 57(3) (maintenance of markings);
- (e) subsection 58(1) (notify of changes — authorized representative);
- (f) subsection 58(2) (notify of alteration — authorized representative);
- (g) subsection 58(3) (notify if no authorized representative — owner);
- (h) subsection 58(4) (notify of completion of construction);
- (i) subsection 63(1) (operation of vessel without a certificate on board);
- (j) subsection 63(2) (deliver certificate to person entitled to operate vessel);
- (k) subsection 63(3) (deliver certificate to Chief Registrar);
- (l) subsection 64(2) (fly Canadian flag);
- (l.1) subsection 75.09(2) (maintenance of markings);
- (l.2) subsection 75.1(1) (notification of changes — name and address);
- (l.3) subsection 75.1(2) (notification of changes — number of vessels);
- (l.4) subsection 75.1(3) (notification of changes — owner);
- (l.5) section 75.13 (delivery of certificate); or
- (m) a provision of the regulations made under any of paragraphs 77(a) to (g).
- Marginal note:
- Punishment
(2) Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than $25,000. - Marginal note:
- Continuing offence
(3) If an offence under paragraph (1)(a) or (c) is committed or continued on more than one day, the person who committed it is liable to be convicted for a separate offence for each day on which it is committed or continued.
- 2001, c. 26, s. 79
- 2011, c. 15, s. 44
- 2023, c. 26, s. 369
Registration, Listing and Recording
Interpretation
Definition of Minister
41 In this Part, Minister means the Minister of Transport.
Canadian Register of Vessels and Registrars
Marginal note:
Appointment of Chief Registrar
42 An officer, to be known as the Chief Registrar, is to be appointed or deployed under the Public Service Employment Act.
Marginal note:
Duties and powers of Chief Registrar
- 43 (1) The Chief Registrar is responsible for establishing and maintaining a register to be known as the Canadian Register of Vessels. The Chief Registrar is to divide the Register into parts, including a small vessel register, for the classes of vessels that the Chief Registrar specifies.
- Marginal note:
- Records
(2) The Register is to contain records of the information and documents specified by the Chief Registrar in respect of a Canadian vessel or a fleet that is registered under this Part, including its description, its official number, the name and address of its owner and, in the case of a vessel that is not registered in the small vessel register, details of all mortgages registered in respect of it.
- 2001, c. 26, s. 43
- 2011, c. 15, s. 38
Previous Version
Marginal note:
Registrars
- 44 (1) The Chief Registrar may appoint the registrars that the Chief Registrar considers necessary.
- Marginal note:
- Duties of registrars
(2) A registrar is to perform the duties and fulfill the responsibilities that the Chief Registrar assigns to the registrar.
Marginal note:
Immunity
45 The Chief Registrar and the registrars are not personally liable for anything they do or omit to do in good faith under this Act.
Registration, Listing and Recording
Marginal note:
Mandatory registration of vessels
- 46 (1) Unless it is exempted under the regulations, a vessel must be registered under this Part if it
- (a) is not a pleasure craft;
- (b) is wholly owned by qualified persons; and
- (c) is not registered, listed or otherwise recorded in a foreign state.
- Marginal note:
- Owner’s obligation
(2) Every owner of a vessel that is required by subsection (1) to be registered under this Part shall ensure that it is so registered. - Marginal note:
- Mandatory registration — government vessels
(3) Every government vessel must be registered under this Part.
- 2001, c. 26, s. 46
- 2011, c. 15, s. 39
Previous Version
Marginal note:
Optional registration
47 Unless they are registered, listed or otherwise recorded in a foreign state, the following vessels may be registered under this Part:
- (a) a pleasure craft that is wholly owned by qualified persons;
- (a.1) a vessel that is exempted under the regulations from the registration requirement in subsection 46(1) and that is wholly owned by qualified persons;
- (b) a vessel that is owned by a corporation incorporated under the laws of a foreign state if one of the following is acting with respect to all matters relating to the vessel, namely,
- (i) a subsidiary of the corporation incorporated under the laws of Canada or a province,
- (ii) an employee or a director in Canada of a branch office of the corporation that is carrying on business in Canada, or
- (iii) a ship management company incorporated under the laws of Canada or a province; and
- (c) a vessel that is in the exclusive possession of a qualified person under a financing agreement under which the person will acquire ownership on completion of the agreement.
- 2001, c. 26, s. 47
- 2011, c. 15, s. 40
Previous Version
Marginal note:
Bare-boat chartered vessels
48 A vessel that is registered in a foreign state and that is bare-boat chartered exclusively to a qualified person may be listed under this Part as a bare-boat chartered vessel for the duration of the charter if, for the duration of the charter, the registration is suspended in respect of the right to fly the flag of that state.
Marginal note:
Vessels under construction
49 A vessel that is about to be built or that is under construction in Canada may be temporarily recorded in the Register as a vessel being built in Canada.
Marginal note:
Vessels built outside Canada
50 Notwithstanding sections 46 to 48, the Minister may direct the Chief Registrar to refuse to register or list a vessel built outside Canada.
Application
Marginal note:
Application
- 51 (1) An application for the registration, listing or recording of a vessel must be made in the form and manner, include the information and be accompanied by the documents specified by the Chief Registrar.
- Marginal note:
- Further evidence
(2) In addition to the specified information and documents, the Chief Registrar may require an applicant to provide evidence, including declarations, that the Chief Registrar considers necessary to establish that a vessel is required or entitled to be registered or is entitled to be listed or recorded.
Names of Vessels
Marginal note:
Before registration or listing
- 52 (1) Every vessel, other than one to be registered in the small vessel register, must be named in the form and manner specified by the Chief Registrar before it is registered or listed.
- Marginal note:
- Approval of names
(2) The Chief Registrar may, on application, approve the name of a vessel before it is registered or listed and approve a change in the name of a Canadian vessel. - Marginal note:
- Disallowance of names
(3) The Chief Registrar must disallow a name if- (a) it is the same as the name of a Canadian vessel;
- (b) it is likely, in the opinion of the Chief Registrar, to be confused with the name of a Canadian vessel or with a distress signal;
- (c) it is likely, in the opinion of the Chief Registrar, to be offensive to members of the public; or
- (d) its use is prohibited under an Act of Parliament.
- Marginal note:
- Requiring renaming
(4) The Minister may order that a Canadian vessel be renamed if the Minister considers that its name would prejudice the international reputation of Canada.
Ownership of Vessels
Marginal note:
Shares
- 53 (1) For the purposes of registration, the property in a vessel is divided into 64 shares.
- Marginal note:
- Registered owners
(2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), only owners or joint owners of a vessel or of one or more shares in a vessel may be registered in the Register as owners of the vessel or shares, as the case may be. - Marginal note:
- Registered owners — financing agreements
(3) In the case of a vessel described in paragraph 47(c) (a vessel subject to a financing agreement), the persons referred to in that paragraph are to be registered in the Register as the owners of the vessel. - Marginal note:
- Bare-boat charterers
(4) In the case of a vessel described in section 48 (a bare-boat chartered vessel), no person may be registered in the Register as an owner of the vessel. - Marginal note:
- Registration of joint owners
(5) No more than five persons may be registered in the Register as joint owners of a vessel or a share in a vessel. - Marginal note:
- Disposition of registered joint interests
(6) A registered jointly owned interest in a vessel or a share in a vessel may be disposed of only by the joint owners acting together. - Marginal note:
- Registration of fractions prohibited
(7) No person may be registered as the owner of a fractional part of a share in a vessel. - Marginal note:
- No effect on beneficial owners
(8) This section does not affect the beneficial interests of a person represented by or claiming through an owner of a vessel or a share in a vessel. - Marginal note:
- Trusts not recognized
(9) No notice of a trust may be entered in the Register.
Certificates
Marginal note:
Certificates of registry
- 54 (1) If the Chief Registrar is satisfied that all of the requirements of registration or listing have been met with respect to a vessel, the Chief Registrar must register or list the vessel, as the case may be, in the Register and issue a certificate of registry.
- Marginal note:
- Information
(2) Every certificate of registry in respect of a vessel must contain the information specified by the Chief Registrar, including- (a) its description;
- (b) its official number; and
- (c) the name and address of
- (i) in the case of a vessel described in paragraph 47(b) (a vessel owned by a foreign corporation), the authorized representative,
- (ii) in the case of a vessel described in section 48 (a bare-boat chartered vessel), the bare-boat charterer, and
- (iii) in any other case, its owner and the authorized representative.
- Marginal note:
Period of validity
(3) Every certificate of registry is valid for the period specified by the Chief Registrar.