High-water alarms required on large fishing vessels

Summary#

This is a proposed change to the Large Fishing Vessel Inspection Regulations published on May 22, 2021. It would make large fishing vessels install high water level detectors and alarms in certain below‑waterline compartments to help detect flooding early. Note: this is a proposal (Part I) and not law yet.

What it does#

• Requires that every watertight compartment that is partially or fully below the load waterline and is not intended to carry liquids be fitted with a high water level detector.
• Requires those detectors to be connected to a visual and audible alarm in the vessel’s control station.
• Applies to large fishing vessels (over 24.4 m in length or 150 gross tonnage).
• The proposed rule would come into force on the first anniversary of the day the regulations are registered.
• This item was published as a proposal and invited comments for 60 days after publication.

Who's affected#

• Owners and operators of large fishing vessels — Transport Canada’s registry showed 154 such vessels in 2020.
• The fleet is grouped as: 104 vessels in Category 1 (over 24.4 m but less than 34 m), 35 in Category 2 (at least 34 m but less than 55 m), and 15 in Category 3 (at least 55 m).
• On average, vessels are estimated to have 4, 5, and 7 watertight compartments below the waterline for Categories 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The analysis assumes existing vessels already have detectors in 2 compartments, so additional detectors would typically be needed as follows: Category 1 — 2 more; Category 2 — 3 more; Category 3 — 5 more.
• Estimated total industry cost (present value) is about $88,170 (discounted to 2021). About $74,680 of that is expected in 2023, with $13,490 spread over future new vessels.
• Small business owners (many owners of single Category 1 vessels) are estimated to bear about $38,900 (about 44% of the total cost).
• Costs are concentrated by region: Atlantic 68%, Pacific 25%, Nunavut 4.5%, Quebec 2%, Manitoba 0.5%.

Why it matters#

• Early detection of flooding can give crews time to fix the problem, move people to safety, call for help, or abandon ship if needed. That reduces the risk of sinking, injuries, and deaths.
• The change responds to a long‑standing safety recommendation from the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (recommendation M94-06) following the 1990 sinking of the fishing vessel Nadine, where undetected flooding was a factor. The TSB recommended water level detectors in below‑waterline compartments in 1994.
• Transport Canada had issued Ship Safety Bulletin 04/2000 as an interim, voluntary measure. This proposal would make the detector requirement mandatory.
• The government’s cost–benefit analysis could not fully quantify benefits because incidents of this exact type have been rare since 2000, so benefits are described qualitatively.
• If adopted, compliance would be checked during normal marine safety inspections under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001.