Passenger Pay, Guests Don’t
If anyone aboard is paying for their transport, they are deemed passengers. As such, the vessel then has to be registered with Transport Canada.
Even if the owner receives compensation indirectly or from another source (such as someone not on the vessel during the trip), those on board are still classified as passengers.
On the other hand, if the vessel is used solely for pleasure, and the individuals are guests with no exchange of money or any form of remuneration, they are not considered passengers. They’re guests.
In that case, the vessel would be a “pleasure craft.”
For instance, if an owner invites friends for a recreational outing on their vessel with no commercial purpose or profit motive, the trip remains within the realm of pleasure craft use. This is true even if the guests give you money for gas or something similar.
Use this link for the Transport Canada vessel registry.
Use this link for a Transport Canada pleasure craft license.
Transport Canada Vessel Registry and Licencing Help For You (as Well as Your Guests and Passengers)
Here at the National Vessel Registry Center Corp., we take the stress out of handling Canadian vessel registration and licensing forms.
For pleasure crafts or vessels on the Small or Large Vessel Register, we offer a straightforward and efficient solution to manage your documentation.
Whether it’s acquiring a license, renewing it, or transferring ownership, our online services make every step easier. Our goal is to simplify the process so you can focus on enjoying your vessel.
The laws below may apply to your vessel’s documentation or licensing needs:
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.
Marginal note:
Provisional certificates
- 55 (1) The Chief Registrar may, on application, issue a provisional certificate in respect of a vessel that is required or entitled to be registered under this Part if
- (a) the vessel is in a foreign port and a person intends to register it under this Part; or
- (b) the vessel is in a port in Canada and the Chief Registrar is satisfied that permission to operate the vessel should be granted before a certificate of registry can be issued.
- Marginal note:
- Issuance
(2) The Chief Registrar may, on application, issue a provisional certificate in respect of a vessel that is not required or entitled to be registered under this Part if the Chief Registrar is satisfied that the vessel needs to undergo sea trials. - Marginal note:
- Validity
(3) A provisional certificate is valid for the purpose and the period specified by the Chief Registrar. - Marginal note:
- Application
(4) An application for a provisional certificate must be made in the form and manner, include the information and be accompanied by the documents specified by the Chief Registrar.
Marginal note:
Lost certificates
56 If a certificate of registry or provisional certificate is mislaid, lost or destroyed, the Chief Registrar must issue a replacement certificate of registry or provisional certificate, as the case may be, on application made by the authorized representative or owner in the form and manner and including the information and accompanied by the documents specified by the Chief Registrar.
- 2001, c. 26, s. 56
- 2023, c. 26, s. 366
Previous Version
Marginal note:
Refusal to issue, renew or amend certificate
56.1 Despite any other provision of this Act, the Chief Registrar may refuse to issue, in respect of a vessel, a certificate of registry, a provisional certificate or a replacement certificate of registry or provisional certificate, or to renew a certificate of registry or to amend one under paragraph 73(b), if the applicant for, or holder of, the certificate is in default of payment of a required fee, charge, cost or expense under this Act or the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act in respect of that vessel.
- 2023, c. 26, s. 366
Marking
Marginal note:
Marking
- 57 (1) The authorized representative of a Canadian vessel shall, in the form and manner specified by the Chief Registrar, mark the vessel with its official number and any other information that the Chief Registrar specifies.
- Marginal note:
- Validity of certificate of registry
(2) A vessel’s certificate of registry is not valid until the vessel has been marked in accordance with subsection (1). - Marginal note:
- Maintenance of markings
(3) The authorized representative shall ensure that the vessel is kept marked. - Marginal note:
- Defacing, etc., markings
(4) No person shall wilfully deface, alter, conceal or remove the markings of a Canadian vessel.
Notifying Chief Registrar
Marginal note:
Notification of changes
- 58 (1) The authorized representative of a Canadian vessel shall notify the Chief Registrar within 30 days after any of the following occurs:
- (a) the vessel is lost, wrecked or removed from service;
- (b) there has been a change in the owner’s, the authorized representative’s or a registered mortgagee’s name or address;
- (c) the information provided with the application under section 51 has changed; or
- (d) in the case of a vessel described in section 48 (a bare-boat chartered vessel),
- (i) the right to fly the flag of the foreign state is reinstated, or
- (ii) the charterer ceases to have complete control and possession of the vessel.
- Marginal note:
- Notification of alterations
(2) If a Canadian vessel is altered to the extent that it no longer corresponds with its description or particulars set out on the certificate of registry, the authorized representative shall, within 30 days after the alteration, notify the Chief Registrar and provide the Chief Registrar with the relevant information and documents. - Marginal note:
- Notification of changes
(3) If for any reason a Canadian vessel does not have an authorized representative, its owner shall- (a) notify the Chief Registrar of that fact as soon as possible in the circumstances; and
- (b) notify the Chief Registrar within 30 days after any event referred to in subsection (1) or (2) occurs.
- Marginal note:
- Notification of completion of construction
(4) Within 30 days after completion of the construction of a vessel that is recorded as being built in Canada, the person in whose name the vessel is recorded shall notify the Chief Registrar of that fact and of the name and address of its owner.
- 2001, c. 26, s. 58
- 2011, c. 15, s. 41(F)