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Chapter 1 - General

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General

1.1 Reference to Act and Regulations

  1. The Marine Personnel Regulations were made by the Governor in Council under section 100 of the Canada Shipping Act, 2001, in order to specify the crewing and certification requirements on board vessels.
  2. Section 16 of the Act provides for the Minister to specify the manner Canadian Maritime Documents (including certificates of competency) are issued, and to set the examinations a person must undergo in order to obtain such a certificate. Section 17 provides for the Minister to specify the period of validity of every maritime document.

1.2 Purpose

The purpose of this publication is therefore to define the conditions set for issuance of certificates of competency and other measures taken by the Minister under sections 16 and 17 of the Act. It also contains tables to summarize some points of the regulations, for use as a quick reference. It is not intended as a substitute to any other document, and must be consulted in conjunction with the Act and the Regulations. In case of doubt or apparent inconsistency, the Act and the Regulations always prevail.

1.3 Related reference material

International Marine Organization STCW Convention and STCW Code.

1.4 Period of validity of certificates

  1. Pursuant to Section 17 of the Act, the Minister has established the following periods of validity: a) five years from the date of issue in the case of certificates or endorsements referred to in the Marine Personnel Regulations, paragraphs 100
    1. to (ff), (jj), (kk), (nn) to (qq), (yy) to (eee); 102(1)(c) to (g);
    2. two years from the date of issue for the certificates referred to in the Marine Personnel Regulations, paragraphs 100(rr) and (ss),
    3. unlimited in the case of certificates or endorsements referred to in the Marine Personnel Regulations, paragraphs 100(gg) to (ii), (tt) to (xx); 102 (1)(h) to (s).
    4. unlimited in the case of certificates or endorsements referred to in the Marine Personnel Regulations, paragraphs 100(ll) and (mm); 102(1)(a) and (b) when they are issued to a rating;
    5. five years from the date of issue in the case of endorsements referred to in the Marine Personnel Regulations, paragraphs 102(1)(a) and (b) when they are issued to a deck officer or to an engineer officer;
    6. a maximum of two years from the date of issue in the case of a medical certificate, except where the seafarer is less than 18 years of age, in which case the maximum period of validity is one year.
  2. Pursuant to Section 273 of the Act, Canadian maritime documents issued under Part II, III or V of the Canada Shipping Act, chapter S-9 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, remain in force for the purpose for which they were issued.

1.5 Application for examination

1) Under section 110 of the Marine Personnel Regulations, the examiner may postpone the examination an applicant seeks to take if the applicant does not provide the examiner with an application and the required documentation at least two weeks before the date set for the examination.

2) Where a document submitted in support of an application appears to have been falsified or tampered with, the examiner will retain the document pending proof of its authenticity. If the applicant cannot obtain or provide proof of authenticity, the Minister may refuse to issue a certificate of competency, pursuant to section 16 of the Act.

3) Where, for any reason, an examiner refuses a person admittance to an examination, the examiner will notify the applicant by letter and report the matter to the Director, Marine Personnel Standards and Pilotage in Ottawa.

1.6 Replacement of documents

1) If a certificate has been lost, stolen or damaged, application for a replacement may be made to any Marine Safety examination centre. The applicant must fill the application form and pay the appropriate fee as per section 122 of the Regulations.

2) Where the lawful holder of a certificate legally changes his name, he must make an application for a certificate in the new name to a Marine Safety examination centre and pay the appropriate fee.

1.7 Forms

1) With reference to section 92 of the Canada Shipping Act, 2001, the certificate of discharge to be provided by the authorized representative is normally in the form of a record of sea service (discharge book), however when the seafarer does not hold such a record, the form Certificate or testimonial of sea service may be used. The form is available from the Transport Canada web site or from a Marine safety office.

2) With reference to Schedules 3, 4 and 5 to part 1 of the Marine Personnel Regulations, (testimonials of service) the following forms have been prepared for the convenience of applicants and may be obtained from the Transport Canada web site or from a Marine safety office. In the absence of these forms, any other format may be used, as long as it contains all the information and, where applicable, the declarations specified in the Regulations’ schedules.

Steering Testimonial (Large version)

steering testimonial

Testimonial Of Sea Service - Deck Department (Large version)

testimonial of sea service - deck department

Testimonial Of Sea Service - Engine Department (Large version)

Testimonial Of Sea Service - Engine Department

1.8 Inquiries

Requests for information concerning the Examination and Certification of Seafarers may be directed to a Marine Safety examination centre.

List of Marine Safety Examination Centres

Transport Canada
Marine Safety
Marine Personnel Standards and Pilotage
112 Kent Street, 4th Floor, Suite 450
Ottawa, Ontario
Tel.: 613-991-3120
Fax: 613-990-1538

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
800 Burrard Street, suite 810
Vancouver, BC V6Z 2J8
Tel.: 604-666-0834
Fax: 604-666-9177

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
501-1230 Government Street
Victoria, BC V8W 1Y3
Tel.: 250-363-0394
Fax: 250-363-0330

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
60 Front Street
Room 208, Federal Building
Nanaimo, BC
V9R 5H7
Tel.: 250-754-0244
Fax: 250-754-0245

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
400-309 2nd Ave. West
Prince Rupert, BC V8J 3T1
Tel.: 250-627-3045
Fax: 250-624-9305

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
Prairie & Northern Region
344 Edmonton St.
Winnipeg, MA R3P 0P6
Tel.: 204-983-7498
Fax: 204-984-8417

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
Canada Place, 11th Floor
1100-9700 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5J 4E6
Tel.: 780-495-4023
Fax: 780-495-6472

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
100 Front St. South
Sarnia, ON N7T 2M4
Tel.: 519-383-1826
Fax: 519-383-1997

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
31 Hyperion Court, 2nd Floor
Kingston, ON K7K 7G3
Tel.: 613-545-8676
Fax: 613-545-8714

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
Landmark Building
43 Church Street, 7th Floor
St. Catharines, ON L2R 7E1
Tel.: 905-688-4360
Fax: 905-688-6285

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
P. O. Box 247
44 Hurontario Street, 2nd. Floor
Collingwood, ON L9Y 3Z5
Tel.: 705-445-3320
Fax: 705-445-9531

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
103-33 S. Court Street
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 2W6
Tel.: 807-345-6953
Fax: 807-345-0521

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
4900 Yong Street, 4th Floor
North York, ON M2N 6A5
Tel.: 416-952-1018
Fax: 416-973-8133

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
901 Cap Diamant, 4th Floor
Quebec, QC G1K 4K1
Tel.: 418-648-3234
Fax: 418-648-5106

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
800 West René Lévesque Blvd Suite 620
Montréal, QC H3B 1X9
Tel.: 514-283-7056
Fax: 514-283-6595

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
180 de la Cathédrale Street
Rimouski, QC G5L 5H9
Tel.: 418-722-3040
Fax: 418-722-3332

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
P.O. Box 1013
45 Alderney Drive Queen Square, 14th Floor
Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4K2
Tel.: 902-426-9321
Fax: 902-426-6657

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
Federal Arts Building, 2nd. Floor
196 George Street
Sydney, NS B1P 1J3
Tel.: 902-564-7002
Fax: 902-564-7648

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
P.O. Box 850
248 Pleasant Street
Yarmouth, NS B5A 4K5
Tel.: 902-742-6860
Fax: 902-742-6866

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
811 Reeves Street, Unit 1
Shediac Plaza,
Port Hawkesbury, NS B9A 2S4
Tel.: 902-625-0803
Fax: 902-625-1722

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
97 Queen Street, 2nd Floor,
Dominion Building Box 1270
Charlottetown, PEI C1A 7M8
Tel.: 902-566-7987
Fax: 902-566-7991

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
189 Prince William Street, 1st Floor
Saint John, NB E2L 2B9
Tel.: 506-636-4748
Fax: 506-636-4756

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
P.O. Box 1207
275 Main Street, 5th Floor
Bathurst, NB E2A 4J1
Tel.: 506-548-7491
Fax: 506-548-7180

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
P.O. Box 1300
10 Barter`s Hill, 9th Floor
Cabot Bldng, Tower 2
St. John’s, NL A1C 6H8
Tel.: 709-772-5166
Fax: 709-772-0210

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
P.O. Box 1143
E.K. Jerret Building
Marystown, NL A0E 2M0
Tel.: 709-279-2201
Fax: 709-279-1188

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
Herald Towers
P.O. Box 22
Corner Brook, NL A2H 6C3
Tel.: 709-637-4390
Fax: 709-637-4391

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
P.O. Box 237
122 Main Street Chipman Complex
Lewisporte, NL AOG 3AO
Tel.: 709-535-2503
Fax: 709-535-8297

Marine Safety
Transport Canada
C.P. 596 701, Boul. Laure, Suite 205
Sept-Îles (Québec) G4R 4K7
Tel.: (418) 968-4991
Fax: (418) 968-5516

Career as a Ship’s Officer

1.9 How to become a deck officer

  1. Good physical fitness is necessary for a career as a ship's officer in the deck department. The first step should be a medical examination, including eyesight and hearing, as stated in the Marine Personnel Regulations.
  2. Applicants must produce a proof of Canadian citizenship or landed immigrant status under the Immigration Act before a certificate of competency or an endorsement can be issued.
  3. Two career paths are open to aspiring mates and masters.
    1. An approved cadet Cooperative Training Program:

      Application should be made to one of the Recognized Institutions listed in TP-10655 offering this type of program. Entrance qualifications and financial support vary from school to school.

      All existing, approved courses last from 36 to 42 months, and include studies ashore and on board ships.

      During periods on board ship, the cadet must complete assignments set by the institution and keep a record of work and studies. This will be scrutinized by a school’s instructor after each sea period and by the examiner when the cadet first applies for a certificate of competency.

      These periods at sea are intended to expose the cadet to the full range of master and mate responsibilities. A cadet must be prepared to perform all types of manual labor, as well as navigation and executive tasks.

      The trainee is sometimes relatively poorly paid, but this route puts the graduate in the most favorable position to obtain the highest qualifications.

    2. Part-time study combined with service as deck rating:

      The prospective officer must first obtain employment in the deck department. The seafarer is eligible to be examined for a certificate after completing the sea service specified for that certificate in the Marine Personnel Regulations.

      The method of study is optional except for prescribed courses in first aid, marine emergency duties, simulated electronic navigation and electronic chart display and information systems. Several nautical schools offer short upgrading courses to assist part-time students in reaching certification standards (refer to TP-10655).

      Shipboard employment can be obtained by applying to the Seafarer’s International Union of Canada, Canada Manpower offices in the principal sea or Great Lakes ports, or directly to employers. When employment has been secured, a Discharge Book should be obtained from a Marine Safety office. Thereafter, an accurately documented record of all discharges and testimonials referred to in section 1.7 must be maintained.

  4. The Marine Personnel Standards and Pilotage Directorate of Marine Safety issues certificates on behalf of the Minister of Transport. Examinations for deck rating and deck officer certificates are held at Marine Safety examination centres across Canada.

1.10 How to become an engineer officer

  1. Good physical fitness, including hearing and normal eyesight, are necessary for a career as a ship's officer in the engineering department. The first step, therefore, should be a medical examination including sight and hearing tests conducted to standards as stated in the Marine Personnel Regulations. While success in the medical examination is no guarantee that difficulties will not be encountered at later stages, it will assure the new entrant that an insurmountable problem does not exist at the outset.
  2. Applicants must produce a proof of Canadian citizenship or landed immigrant status under the Immigration Act before a certificate of competency or an endorsement can be issued.
  3. Two routes are open to the aspiring marine engineer.
    1. An approved training program in marine engineering

      Application should be made to one of the Recognized Institutions listed in TP-10655 offering this type of program. Entrance qualifications and financial support vary from school to school.

      All existing, approved programs last from 36 to 45 months, and include studies ashore and on board ship.

      During periods on board ship, the trainee must complete assignments set by the institution and keep a record of the work and studies. This will be scrutinized by a school’s instructor after each sea period and by the examiner when the cadet first applies for a certificate of competency as a marine engineer.

      These periods at sea are intended to expose the cadet to the full range of the marine engineer’s responsibilities, shipboard systems and personal relationships. For this reason, the trainee must be prepared to perform all types of manual labor as well as skilled tasks. The trainee is normally not expected to engage in repetitive work without further educational value.

      The trainee is sometimes relatively poorly paid, but this route puts the graduate in the most favorable position to obtain the highest qualifications.

    2. Part-time study combined with service as engine room rating:

      The prospective engineer must first obtain employment in the engine department or in a related field. Then, after completing three years of service and related training, the trainee will become eligible to be examined for the Fourth-class engineer certificate.

      The three years of service must include the successful completion of a Practical Skills for Marine Engineers training course at a recognized institution (refer to TP 10655), which will be considered as the equivalent of six months of service. The service must also include the satisfactory completion of a Marine Safety approved Training Record Book for Applicants to the Fourth-class Engineer Certificate before being examined for the STCW-endorsed fourth-class engineer certificate. Applicants who do not complete the above training and record book will be eligible to receive a restricted certificate, valid on near coastal voyages.

      The STCW-endorsed fourth-class certificate is a prerequisite to the third- and second-class certificates. The second-class certificate is a prerequisite to the first-class certificate, and the 18-month qualifying service must be acquired while holding a second-class certificate.

      Method of study is optional except for the prescribed courses in first aid, marine emergency duties and propulsive plant simulator training. Nautical schools offer short upgrading courses to assist part-time students in reaching certification standards (refer to TP 10655).

      Shipboard employment can be obtained by applying to the Seafarer’s International Union of Canada, Canada Manpower offices in the principal sea or Great Lakes ports, or directly to employers. When employment has been secured, a Discharge Book should be obtained from any Transport Canada, Marine Safety office. Thereafter, the applicant must keep an accurately documented record of all discharges, including testimonials of sea service, which outline the service, hours of work or watch, and particulars of the ship on board which the service was performed.

  4. The Marine Personnel Standards and Pilotage Directorate of Marine Safety issues certificates on behalf of the Minister of Transport. Examinations for engine-room rating and marine engineer officer certificates are held at Marine Safety examination centres across Canada

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Date modified:
2010-01-21