Specifications

SMALL VESSEL COMPLIANCE PROGRAM (SVCP) TP 15111E
Detailed Compliance Report and Guidelines Page 2 of 20
SECTION 1: REGISTRATION
QUESTION 1
Section 46 of the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 (CSA 2001) requires that all vessels (with the exception of those listed below) be
registered in either the Canadian Register of Vessels or in the Small Vessel Register. This includes government vessels. No vessel
shall be operated without a valid Certificate of Registry if that vessel is required to be registered.
The following vessels are NOT required to be registered:
a) Vessels used solely for pleasure (pleasure craft may need to be licensed – see the Office of Boating Safety Web site for more
information – www.boatingsafety.ca).
b) Vessels registered in another country.
c) Sailing vessels and small vessels (including government vessels) fitted with propulsion motors less than 7.5kW (10 horsepower).
Registration of your vessel can be done by one of two methods.
1) Registration in the Small Vessel Register. For this option all registration documentation must be sent to Ottawa (Transport
Canada, Vessel Registration, Marine Safety, 330 Sparks Street, Ottawa, ON K1A 0N8, 1-877-242-8770). This address is
indicated on Forms 19 and 20.
2) The second way to register your vessel is to apply for registration at one of the Ports of Registry in the Canadian Register of
Vessels. (Each region has several Ports of Registry – please contact your local Transport Canada office or click here for more details).
Applicable Registration Forms (Small Vessel Register)
Note 1 A ‗Bill of Sale‘ is a document attesting to the sale of the vessel from a legally qualified vendor and that you are identified as
the purchaser. If you do not have the bill of sale, you must provide an Affidavit/Declaration (a sample can be found on the
Registration of Small Commercial Vessels Web site).
Note 2 Provided that all vessels are 5 gross tons or less and all applications are received together, registration of 2 or more vessels
is $50 total (see CSA 2001 section 75.01 and 75.02).
For additional information regarding Vessel Registration call 1-877-242-8770. For any additional documents required, please refer to
the Procedures for Registration in Canada at the Transport Canada Web site: www.tc.gc.ca/vessel-registry.
QUESTION 2
Your Certificate of Registry is not valid until the vessel has been marked in accordance with the instructions on the Certificate of Registry.
If your vessel is registered in the Small Vessel Register, it must be marked with the Official Number (C Number, example:
C12345AB) in block characters not less than 75 millimetres high and in a colour that is in contrast with the background. This
Registration number must be located on each side of the bow of the vessel, or on a board permanently attached to the vessel as close to
the bow as practicable.
If your vessel is registered in the Canadian Register of Vessels, it must be marked with the name of the vessel and Port of Registry in
clearly legible letters (Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals) at least 10 centimetres in height, on some clearly visible exterior
part of the hull such as the bow and the stern. The Official Number (example: O.N. 897654) and registered tonnage must be marked
on some clearly visible interior part of the hull in block-type Arabic numerals at least 4 centimetres in height.
Form 20
Registration
Form 3
Statement of
Qualification
Form 4A or 4B
Tonnage
Form 14
Authorized
Representative
Form 19
Registration
(Govt. Vessels)
Bill of Sale or
Affidavit
(note 1)
Fee
Fleet of 2 or
more vessels
(note 2)
Individual
Yes
Yes
Yes
If more than
1 owner
No
Yes
$50
Yes
Company
Yes
Yes
Yes
If more than
1 owner
No
Yes
$50
Yes
Federal
Government
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
$50
No
Provincial
Government
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
$50
No
Municipal
Government
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
$50
No