NEW for Commercial Vessels - Marine Safety Management System Regulations (MSMSR)

[searun]

Passing this infor along for SFBC members who may not be aware - TC is sending out emails to each vessel owner who has a "C: licensed vessel. If you haven't yet seen the email, check your junk file and if not I have attached the info so you can apply for your CDOC and CSMC certificates. Failure to have these certificates within 6 months, will result in suspension of operating certificates. Note - our vessels are Class 4.

Here's the TC notification:

"The new Marine Safety Management System Regulations (MSMSR) came into force on July 3, 2024. These regulations apply to many small vessels in Canada, including Guide or Charter Operators.

Here’s some info regarding the new Safety Regulations and required applications – there are 2 applications you need to make (CDOC & CSMC). You have 6 months to complete your Vessel Safety Plan.

https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2024-133/page-1.html

https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-tran...-management-systems-marine-sector#what-is-sms

What this means for you​

• Each vessel must follow these regulations by a date determined by its safety certificate (class 1 to 4A) or registration date(class 4B and 5).
• After that date, you cannot operate unless you have obtained the certificates required by the MSMSR regulations.

What you need to do​

Before your deadline:

1. Apply to Transport Canada for these two certificates:
   • Canadian Document of Compliance. (CDOC)
   • Canadian Safety Management Certificate. (CDMC)

1. Send your application to: TC.PACMSMSRINFORMATIONDESK-BUREAUDEINFORMATIONRSGSM.TC@TC.GC.CA

Your application must be made using the following forms:

• Form 85-0547B – Application for Initial Certification
• Form 85-0547A – Identification of Ship Manager

More information​

• Marine Safety Management System Regulations
• TP 15566 – MSMSR Compliance Guide
• Safety Management Systems in Marine Sector
• SSB 06/2025 - MSMSR first anniversary
• SSB 20/2024 - Coming into force of the MSMSR

The attached document, together with the TP 15566 referred above, will help you create your Safety Management System.

Questions?
You can address them to: TC.PACMSMSRINFORMATIONDESK-BUREAUDEINFORMATIONRSGSM.TC@TC.GC.CA

*If you believe you have received this message by error, or if one of your vessels does not meet the definition of the MSMSR class mentioned above, please notify us as soon as possible.

Thank you for your collaboration.

Transport Canada – Marine Safety & Security

 

[Captain PartyMarty]

When did you get this email? Did a quick scan seems pretty involved to get all your documentation in order.... Hopefully somebody comes out with a guide/template for what this all needed for a Charter boat...

 

[wolf]

Yeah well good luck with all the non compliant guys!!!! out there is ALOT of boat on web and social media no blue decal no C numbers ... and last year someone (not me complained) to DOT about someone in sooke the reply back was the owner of boat should make sure his "guides" had all the certs and up to date, so basically so ZERO done.
I have everything C number ,Blue decal all up to date certs etc and why what does it get you ????

 

[Doug]

I think it is a good idea to make all charter boats and operators certified and make the charter business safer for the clients who know nothing about who is and who isn't certified.

TC can make up all the rules they want but with no enforcement they mean nothing.

In Sooke, I know guys who have chartered for 20 years and have web sites and have never had a C # or blue decal. I even know charter guys who never even carried any boat insurance. One guy in Sooke was so POed, he sent a letter TC which listed the charter operators and their web sites who did not comply and TC did nothing.

I guess the operators who do not comply never got TC notice.

I think it is not just a problem in Sooke but most locations too.

 

[Captain PartyMarty]

I think TC doesn't do much enforcement for sure but in my view they don't need to. At the end of the day if you are not compliant with the TC rules and the **** does ever hit the fan and your in court you could be facing criminal charges as well as have your insurance company backing out for not being compliant.

After reading through much of the guidelines link to above it really seems geared towards larger ships and not to the small charter operator. I think many people are going to find it tough to comply just due to the wording of the documents. Hopefully one of guide associations will spend some time digesting all the information down to what's relevant for Charter boats and come up with a simplified/standardized Safety plan that captains can then adapt to there own Operation. At the moment starting from scratch seems like dauting task.

 

[zurk]

you guys can use this one attached based on the USCG one as a template if you want.
i have it on mine. just fill in the blanks.

 

[kingblazer84]

I think it is a good idea to make all charter boats and operators certified and make the charter business safer for the clients who know nothing about who is and who isn't certified.

TC can make up all the rules they want but with no enforcement they mean nothing.

In Sooke, I know guys who have chartered for 20 years and have web sites and have never had a C # or blue decal. I even know charter guys who never even carried any boat insurance. One guy in Sooke was so POed, he sent a letter TC which listed the charter operators and their web sites who did not comply and TC did nothing.

I guess the operators who do not comply never got TC notice.

I think it is not just a problem in Sooke but most locations too.

You should see in fresh water especially in Kelowna there is only one certified charter currently running on Okanagan lake and thats Rodney Reels (Matt owns it) his boat is properly registered and c# etc yet there is about 6 or 7 other companies up and running without proper qualifications or anything just post pics on facebook and instagram and keep collecting cash and undercutting the legit guy or guys. There needs to be major sting operations are boat launches and docks all over BC actually checking and fine the living hell out of the guys who dont comply. Hell id even go as far as to pull the boat and keep it locked up at a compound till either they shut down the business or comply (prove it with legit paperwork and decals prior to releasing the boat).

Im early days still just gathering info and all the proper channels to understand what its gonna take to open another legitimate operation as well. Lots of red tape, Lots of time and dinking around on phone calls etc.