Frequently Asked Questions

Registering a vessel

1. What is the Canadian Register of Vessels?
2. What forms do I need for a first registration?
3. Where can I get the registration forms I need?
4. Where can I find a tonnage measurer?
5. What are the marking requirements?
6. How do I pay the required fees?
7. Why is the ownership of a registered vessel divided into 64 indivisible shares?
8. What is a joint owner?
9. How do I report a change of ownership?
10. What can I do if I have lost or misplaced my Certificate of Registry?
11. What is a bare-boat chartered vessel?
12. Do I need to renew my Certificate of Registry?
13. When a vessel is either suspended or closed, is the name available?
14. Why are owner's names and addresses visible?
15. What is a suspended vessel?
16. Where can I find information on a vessel with the number 50E12345?
17. How do I report a change of address?

Mortgages

1. What is a mortgage?
2. I am buying a used boat. How can I tell if it is registered?

Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs)

1. How do I obtain the Application form to register a commercial ACV?
2. How is tonnage determined for the registration of an ACV?

Publications and Queries

1. How do I obtain the List of Ships Volume I & II (Blue Books) and the cost?
2. How do I make a historical query
    

Registering a vessel

1. What is the Canadian Register of Vessels?

The Canadian Register of Vessels is the official register of all registered or listed vessels, vessels under construction and bare-boat charters. It contains information on each vessel, such as ownership and mortgage details, vessel characteristics, such as tonnage, construction material and type.

2. What forms do I need for first registration?

To apply for a first registration of a vessel, you must send the following forms to the Registrar at your Port of Registry:

• Application for Registry;
• Declaration of Ownership - Each owner must complete a separate form;
• Appointment of an Authorized Representative:
  • This form is required if there is more than one owner and must be completed and signed by all of the owners appointing one of themselves as "Authorized Representative".
  • This form is also required if a foreign corporation is the owner. The form must be completed by the owner (foreign corporation) appointing a Canadian representative as the "Authorized Representative".
• The appropriate fee – please refer to the Vessels Registry Fees Tariff for information on the costs associated with registration or contact your Port of Registry.
• For additional information and the documents required, please refer to the Procedures for Registration in Canada.

3. Where can I get the registration forms I need?

All required forms are available from any Port of Registry across Canada, or online by selecting Vessel Registration Forms or from Transport Canada's Forms Catalogue.

4. Where can I find a tonnage measurer?

You can either contact your Port of Registry or refer to Tonnage Measurements. If your vessel is equal to or less than 15 gross tons, you may not need to employ a measurer. For more details, please refer to the Simplified Method of Tonnage Measurement for monohull vessels or the Tonnage Measurement of a Simple Multihull Vessel for simple multihull vessels.

5. What are the marking requirements?

Your Certificate of Registry is not valid until the vessel has been marked in accordance with the following marking requirements:

• Name and Port of Registry:
  For pleasure craft and air cushion vehicles, both the name and port of registry must be marked together on a clearly visible exterior part of the hull. For commercial vessels, the vessel name must be marked on each bow and the vessel name and port of registry must be marked on the stern. If the vessel has a square bow, the name may be marked on a clearly visible exterior part of the bow in order to avoid obliteration. The markings may be made by the use of any means and materials that result in durable markings. All must be at least 10 cm in height, made in clearly legible letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals. Port of registry marking may consist of the port only, or may include both the port and the province. Only the province may be abbreviated by using the two letter Canada Post symbol.

• Registered tonnage and official number:
  Both the official number and registered tonnage shown on the Certificate of Registry must be marked in block-type Arabic numerals at least 4 cm high on a clearly visible interior structural part of the hull. The registered tonnage must be preceded by the abbreviation "N.R.T." and the official number by the abbreviation "O.N.". These numbers must be permanently affixed so that alteration, removal, or replacement would be obvious and cause some scarring or damage to the surrounding hull area.

6. How do I pay the required fees?

All fees must be paid by a cheque or money order and be made payable to the RECEIVER GENERAL FOR CANADA and sent to the appropriate Port of Registry. Fees are also payable by VISA or MasterCard at most of Ports of Registry. Please refer to the Vessels Registry Fees Tariff for information on the costs associated with registration or contact your Port of Registry.

7. Why is the ownership of a registered vessel divided into 64 indivisible shares?

For registration purposes, the property in a vessel is divided into 64 indivisible shares. The origin of this practice has not been definitely established although various theories have been advanced. Here are three of the more credible:

1. That for the convenience of practical men, the binary system was used, where the shares in the vessel were halved until the whole was reduced to 64 parts;

2. That the custom grew out of the fact that in olden days, most vessels had 64 ribs;

3. That during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, vessel owners were taxed to pay for naval protection and to secure this tax the Crown took 36 of the original 100 shares in each vessel, leaving the owner with 64 shares. Although the tax was later remitted, the custom of vesting absolute title through 64 shares has persisted.

8. What is a joint owner?

For registration purposes, the property in a vessel is divided into 64 indivisible shares. Up to five people may register as joint owners of each of these 64 shares. Joint owners are considered as one unit, although all of the names of the joint owners are listed in the Canadian Register of Vessels.

You can sell a share only when all joint owners act together to sell it Bill of Sale.

Upon the death of a joint owner, the shares of the deceased are passed to the surviving joint owners. Such a change must be reported to the Registrar at the vessel's Port of Registry, with the following documents:

• Death certificate;
• Burial certificate or a presumption of death issued by a court or appropriate authority (e.g., RCMP);
• Declaration of Transmission.

There is no fee for a change of ownership upon the death of a joint owner.

9. How do I report a change of ownership?

A change of ownership must be sent to the Registrar at your Port of Registry, which must include the following documents:

• Original Bill of Sale;
• Declaration of Ownership;
• Appointment of an Authorized Representative if required
• Payment of the appropriate fee. Please refer to the Vessels Registry Fees Tariff for information on the costs associated with a change of ownership.

If an original document, such as a Bill of Sale or a Declaration of Ownership by an interim owner cannot be produced, you must complete a statutory declaration. Please contact the Registrar at your Port of Registry for further details.

10. What can I do if I have lost or misplaced my Certificate of Registry?

You must submit a letter providing details of the loss to the Registrar at your Port of Registry, which should include the Official Number and vessel's name, along with payment of the appropriate fee. Please refer to the Vessels Registry Fees Tariff for information on the costs associated with the replacement of a Certificate of Registry.

11. What is a bare-boat chartered vessel?

"Bare-boat Charter" means a vessel charter agreement under which the charterer has complete possession and control of the vessel, including the right to appoint its master and crew.

Bare-boat Charter (IN)
A vessel registered in a foreign country that is bare-boat chartered exclusively to a qualified person may be listed as a bare-boat chartered vessel if, for the duration of the charter, the registration is suspended in respect of the right to fly the flag of that country. The form required is the Application for Bare-boat Charter Registry.

Bare-boat Charter (OUT)
A vessel registered in Canada applying for bare-boat charter will have its registration suspended in respect of the right to fly the Canadian flag while the vessel is shown on the registry of a foreign country as a bare-boat chartered vessel.

12. Do I need to renew my Certificate of Registry?

A Certificate of Registry is valid for a period of three (3) years. A Renewal Certificate of Registry is issued to the owner or the owner's authorized representative 30 days prior to the expiration date. In the event that the Renewal Certificate of Registry is not received at least two weeks prior to the date of expiration, it is important to immediately contact the Registrar at your Port of Registry, as a valid Certificate of Registry must be kept on board the vessel at all times.

To ensure that your certificate remains valid, any change(s) to the information shown on the certificate, including a change of address, must be reported, in writing, to the Registrar at your Port of Registry within 30 days of the changes being made. Failure to report may result in the suspension or cancellation of the registry of your vessel and rendering your Certificate of Registry invalid. Anyone operating a vessel with an invalid document is in contravention of the Canada Shipping Act and liable to prosecution.

13. When a vessel is either suspended or closed, is the name available?

If a vessel is suspended from registry in Canada, the name of the vessel is not readily available to the public. If a vessel is closed, the name is available to the public.

14. Why are owner's names and addresses visible?

Under section 76 of the Canada Shipping Act 2001 provides access to the Canadian Register of Vessels as a public register and a person may examine or obtain copies of any entries in the Register with respect to a vessel.

15. What is a suspended vessel?

A suspended vessel is a vessel which has been temporarily removed from active registry status. The registry of a vessel is suspended as a result of an owner/authorized representative's failure in keeping the registry current by not reporting changes. You may wish to refer to Section 60 of the Canada Shipping Act, 2001.

16. Where can I find information on a vessel with the number 50E12345?

If there is a number-letter combination on the boat's bow, (e.g., 50E12345, BC12345), it is a licensed pleasure craft. Pleasure craft licences are issued by Service Canada Centres on behalf of Transport Canada, Office of Boating Safety. For more information on pleasure craft licensing, please visit your local Service Canada Centre or by calling toll-free at 1-800-622-6232. You may also contact the Office of Boating Safety at their website.

17. How do I report a change of address?

A change of address must be sent in writing (via e-mail, mail or facsimile) to the Registrar at your ship's Port of Registry and should include the following information:

• name of vessel
• official number
• port of registry
• owner's name

There is no fee for a change of address.

For any information regarding your vessel, you should contact the Registrar at your Port of Registry.
North American toll-free telephone number: 1-877-242-8770.

Mortgages

1. What is a mortgage?

A mortgage is a legal document that creates a security for a loan or other financial consideration, whereby, the registered vessel or share or a share of it is used as security. The person using the vessel as security and receiving the loan is called the mortgagor. The person taking the vessel as security and usually giving the loan is called the mortgagee.

Only registered vessels can have mortgages recorded against them. For information on whether a registered vessel has a mortgage, please contact the Registrar at its Port of Registry. A certified or uncertified Transcript of Registry can also be requested from the port. For information on the appropriate fees, please refer to the Vessels Registry Fees Tariff. If the vessel has a name and a port written on the stern, it is a registered vessel. A mortgage is not permitted on licensed vessels.

2. I am buying a used boat. How can I tell if it is registered or licensed?

If there is a number-letter combination on the boat's bow, (e.g., 32E 00000, BC00000), it is a licensed pleasure craft.

Vessels whose numbers begin with a number (e.g., 32E 00000 or BC000000) are pleasure craft whose licences are issued by Service Canada Centres on behalf of Transport Canada, Office of Boating Safety. For more information on pleasure craft licensing, please visit your local Service Canada Centre or by calling toll-free at 1-800-622-6232.

A vessel whose number begins with the letter "C" (e.g., C00000BC) is a Small Commercial Vessel, which was either licensed prior to July 1, 2007, or registered as of July 1, 2007 in the Small Vessel Register, and is the responsibility of Transport Canada. These licenses or Certificates of Registry (Small Commercial Vessel Register) are issued by the Vessel Registration Office in the National Capital Region. For more information on a specific licence or certificate, please contact the Vessel Registration office in the National Capital Region by calling toll-free at 1-877-242-8770.

Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs)

1. How do I obtain the Application form to register a commercial Air Cushion Vehicle (ACV)?

Registration of Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs) is done in the National Capital Region only. You will be required to complete an Application for Registry form or an Application for Registry (Small Vessel Register) form. Both forms are available from any Port of Registry across Canada, or online by selecting Vessel Registration Forms or from Transport Canada's Forms Catalogue. Further information is available from the Vessel Registration office by calling toll-free at 1-877-242-8770 or by facsimile at 613-998-0637.

2. How is tonnage determined for the registration of an Air Cushion Vehicle (ACV)?

A weight determination has been established to assess whether an ACV should be registered in the Canadian Register of Vessels or the Small Vessel Register.

A commercial ACV equal to or less than 4,500 kg/4.5 metric tons All-Up Weight (AUW) can registered either in the Canadian Register of Vessels or the Small Vessel Register.

A commercial ACV greater than 4,500 kg/4.5 metric tons AUW must be registered in the Canadian Register of Vessels.

For more information, please call the Vessel Registration office toll-free at 1-877-242-8770.

Publications and Queries

1. How do I obtain the List of Ships Volume I & II (Blue Books) and the cost?

You may purchase The 2003 List of Ships, volumes 1 and 2 from the Government of Canada Publications web site, by selecting the links below:

• Volume I - Ships on Register in Canada other than Fishing Vessels, Catalogue no. T34-1/2003-1, $34.95
• Volume II - Fishing Vessels on Register in Canada, Catalogue no. T34-1/2003-2, $29.95

Canada Government Publishing
Ottawa, ON K1A 0S9
By phone: 613-941-5995
Orders only: 1-800-635-7943 (Canada and U.S.A.)
Facsimile: 613-954-5779 or 1-800-565-7757 (Canada and U.S.A.)

Please note that hard copies of the List of Ships were no longer published after 2003.

For further information, please contact the Vessel Registration office by calling toll-free at 1-877-242-8770 or by facsimile at 613-998-0637.

2. How do I make a historical query?

In order to make a historical query, you must provide at least two of the following:

• Official Number
• Vessel's Name
• Vessel's Owner

This query should be sent either to the Registrar at your Port of Registry or the Vessel Registration office in the National Capital Region, by calling toll-free at 1-877-242-8770 or by facsimile at 613-998-0637. Please refer to the Vessels Registry Fees Tariff for information on the associated costs.