Fishing Vessels - Certification and Training (2011) - TP 15117 E

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Marine Personnel Regulations

 

 

The Marine Personnel Regulations (MPR) came into force on July 1, 2007. They require the master and the watchkeeping officer of any fishing vessel to hold :

  • a certificate of competency or a certificate of service;
  • a Small Vessel Operator Proficiency (SVOP) training certificate;
  • a Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC); or
  • a Declaration of at least seven fishing seasons as master of a fishing vessel of up to 15 gross tonnage or not more than 12 meters in length overall.

Requirements depend on the gross tonnage and length overall of a vessel and the type of voyage it makes.

What Certificate Do I Need to Operate My Fishing Vessel?

You can learn what certificate you need by using the guide "What requirements apply to you?" at this web site:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/mpsp-fvmwomenu-3500.htm

What should a Fishing Vessel master or watchkeeping officer know?

  • Required certification for master and watchkeeping officer;
  • Dates of entry into force;
  • Types of certificates;
  • Classes of voyages;
  • Marine Emergency Duties (MED) training requirements; and
  • First Aid training requirements.

To learn more, please visit this web site:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/mpsp-fvmwomenu-3500.htm

What Training does my Crew Need?

On-board Familiarization and Safety Training
As the Master of a fishing vessel, you must make sure that all persons with an assigned function on your vessel receive on-board familiarization and safety training before they start to work on board.

Marine Emergency Duties Training (MED)
The MPR require all members of the minimum complement of a vessel to hold a training certificate in Marine Emergency Duties. The members of the minimum complement are listed in the vessel's Safe Manning Document. Here are the Marine Emergency Duties requirements for fishing vessels:

  • For fishing vessels making a voyage beyond 25 nautical miles, members of the minimum complement must hold a training certificate in MED A1.
  • For fishing vessels of up to 15 gross tonnage or not more than 12 meters in length overall that do not have a minimum manning document, the master and at least one other crew member must hold at least a training certificate in MED A3, if the master does not fish alone.
  • For fishing vessels of more than 15 gross tonnage and up to 150 gross tonnage, that fish within 25 nautical miles from shore, members of the minimum complement must hold at least a training certificate in MED A3.

First Aid Training
The  MPR require that at least one person be designated to provide first aid on board each fishing vessel. This person must hold at least a valid Marine Basic First Aid training certificate or a valid certificate from a two-day first aid course recognized by a province or a territory.

What Is A Safe Manning Document?

Issued by Transport Canada, a Safe Manning Document states :

  • the minimum number of members of the complement ;
  • the certificates that members of the complement must hold ;
  • any endorsements, conditions or limitations that apply to the certificates required to be held by the members of the complement ;
  • the voyages that the vessel is authorized to make ; and
  • the number of passengers that the vessel is authorized to have on board, if this applies.

A Safe Manning Document is valid for five years after the day it is issued.

Which Vessels Require a Safe Manning Document?

  • All vessels of more than 15 gross tonnage; and
  • Vessels of 15 gross tonnage or less that carry more than 12 passengers.

To learn more, please contact your local Transport Canada Marine Safety Centre and visit this web site:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/regions.htm