Question on Canoes as Commercial Vessels - answered by Transport Canada

Question

Hello Brian and Micheal,

A thought from the trip home after the CMAC meeting yesterday.

If kids at a summer camp are doing a canoe trip with an instructor/guide is the canoe then a commercial vessel?

If it is a big canoe and there are more than 6 "passengers" does the instructor/guide need SVOP and MED-A3??

Matt

Answer

Hi Matt,

Good questions that I hope the following will clarify.

Both would be considered commercial vessels however as they are considered human powered vessels they do not require the commercial vessel registration i.e. C12345ON

Nor do they require any official training certificates such as SVOP because again, they are human powered.  This does not however alleviate the owner/operator from their responsibility to ensure everyone is suitably trained (suitable in house training) and the vessels are fitted out as per the Small Vessel Regulations Part 3.

A couple of links to shed some light on this:

Ship Safety Bulletin Interim Registration Guidance for Human-powered Vessels, Small Sailing Vessels, and Small Vessels Fitted with Propulsion Motors Less Than 10 hp (7.5 kW)

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/bulletins-2011-01-eng.htm 

Small Vessel Regulations Part 3 – Human Powered Vessels Other than Pleasure Craft

http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2010-91/

Trust this helps.  If not, please let me know.

Regards,

Brian D. Kennedy

Marine Safety Inspector (Nautical)

Transport Canada (Marine Safety)