Vessel Fire Safety Rules Clarified

Summary#

These are final amendments to the Vessel Fire Safety Regulations that took effect the day they were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II — November 23, 2022. The changes clarify which SOLAS fire-safety rules apply to a vessel based on when it was built and add clear international standards for firefighters’ outfits and breathing equipment on covered Canadian vessels.

What it does#

• Clarifies how to apply the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS — Chapter II-2) rules based on a vessel’s construction date by incorporating the text of SOLAS II-2/1.2 into the regulations.
• Adds accepted technical standards for firefighters’ protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Operators can comply with:
  • For firefighter outfits: Directive 2014/90/EU or NFPA 1971.
  • For SCBA: Directive 2014/90/EU, NFPA 1981, or Title 42, chapter I, subchapter G, part 84 of the Code of Federal Regulations (NIOSH approval).
• Confirms the amendments came into force on the publication day (November 23, 2022).

Who's affected#

• Vessels covered by Part 1 of the Vessel Fire Safety Regulations, including many passenger and larger cargo vessels (not pleasure craft or fishing vessels). The regulations list the exact types by size and use; it’s unclear from this summary whether any specific vessel you operate is affected without checking those rules.
• Transport Canada inspects and enforces these rules.
• Industry context and numbers from the regulatory analysis:
  • 25 Canadian vessels built since 2017 are within the scope and benefit from the clarified wording.
  • 9 vessels underwent unnecessary retrofits before Transport Canada clarified the rule in 2018.
  • An estimated 500 vessels are required to carry firefighter outfits and breathing apparatuses.
• In rare cases, vessel owners using substandard equipment may need to replace it. Estimated equipment costs (2021 dollars):
  • $3,500 for a firefighter outfit (jacket, pants, hood, helmet, boots and gloves).
  • $4,500 for one breathing apparatus with a bottle.
  • $8,000 for a combined firefighter outfit plus breathing apparatus unit.
• Noncompliance can lead to enforcement action, with fines ranging from $260 up to $250,000.

Why it matters#

• It prevents confusion about which SOLAS amendments actually apply to an individual vessel. That reduces the risk of owners doing costly, unnecessary retrofits.
• It makes the equipment rules explicit and aligned with widely used international standards. That helps ensure firefighters on ships have protective clothing and breathing gear that meet modern safety levels.
• Most equipment on the market in North America and Europe already meets these standards, so the changes mainly confirm existing practice. But if a vessel has substandard gear, the owner may need to upgrade to meet the clarified rules.