Ship Safety Bulletins (SSB)
RDIMS
No
.: 5129281
Date (
Y-M-D
): 2009-09-29
Subject: Deck Watch Additional Person Requirement on Board a Fishing Vessel Raised from 5 to 15 Gross Tonnage
Purpose
The purpose of this bulletin is to inform stakeholders that the lower cut-off set out in the Marine Personnel Regulations ( MPR ), whereby an additional person for the deck watch is required onboard fishing vessels, has been raised from 5 to 15 gross tonnage.
Scope
This bulletin applies only to a fishing vessel of less than 15 gross tonnage.
Background
Traditionally, many of the smaller size fishing vessels of less than 15 gross tonnage operate with only one or two persons on board.
Since there was no requirement to have certified masters and officers on fishing vessels of up to 60 tons under the previous Crewing Regulations ( CR ), nor to have a safe manning document, not much attention was previously paid to the deck watch requirements for these smaller fishing vessels.
The requirements for an additional person for the deck watch on board all vessels, including fishing vessels, of more than 5 gross tonnage was previously found in the Crewing Regulations, Part 1: Requirements for Canadian vessels, Division 5: Self propelled vessels and has been incorporated in the Marine Personnel Regulations, Part 2: Crewing, Division 2: Canadian vessels (that applies in respect of self-propelled Canadian vessels), with no modification.
Stakeholders have indicated that they want to retain the flexibility to operate with one or two persons on board fishing vessels of less than 15 gross tonnage, when found safe to do so.
Transport Canada Marine Safety had no intention to impose an increase in the minimum manning of these small fishing vessels when it is the current practice to operate with one or two persons and intends to amend the MPR to correct this situation and meanwhile do not want to deprive industry of its normal way to carry out its operations.
Transport Canada Policy
The tonnage at which an additional person is required for the deck watch, as per paragraph 216 (2) (b) of the MPR , on board a fishing vessel has been raised from 5 to 15 gross tonnage and in doing so, a fishing vessel of less than 15 gross tonnage remains authorized to be manned with only one or two persons when found safe and appropriate by its master.
This bulletin does not exempt any vessel from the requirements of carrying a second certified person to perform watchkeeping duties and radio watch duties in cases where the master cannot permanently stand the watch, for example on board a fishing vessel making lengthy voyages and not returning to port every night.
The following document is available for downloading or viewing:
Deck Watch Additional Person Requirement on Board a Fishing Vessel Raised from 5 to 15 Gross Tonnage (112.14 KB )
To access the Portable Document Format ( PDF ) version you must have a PDF reader installed. If you do not already have such a reader, there are numerous PDF readers available for free download or for purchase on the Internet:
2. Deck Watch
3. Fishing Vessel
4. Marine Personnel Regulations
Diane Couture
613-990-1524
Marine Safety
Tower C, Place de Ville
8th Floor, 330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N8
To add or change your address, contact us at: marinesafety-securitemaritime@tc.gc.ca or 613-991-3135.
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