Two-Year Servicing Restricted for Life Rafts

Summary#

The Regulations Amending the Life Saving Equipment Regulations narrow which vessels can use a 2‑year service interval for inflatable life‑saving gear (like life rafts). The change says the vessel must operate only in months where the local historical average daily minimum air temperature is above 0°C. The amendment took effect six months after publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II (published June 22, 2022), i.e. on December 22, 2022.

What it does#

• Adds a new condition so the extended 2‑year servicing option for inflatable survival equipment is allowed only if the vessel “operates only during months in which the monthly historical average daily minimum air temperature is greater than 0°C,” using data from the nearest weather station compiled by the Department of the Environment.
• Keeps the rest of the servicing rules in the Life Saving Equipment Regulations the same.
• Applies the change to vessels covered by the Life Saving Equipment Regulations, the Fishing Vessel Safety Regulations, and the Small Vessel Regulations.

Who's affected#

• Mostly commercial fishers who use inflatable life rafts in colder regions, especially in the Atlantic provinces and Quebec.
• There are about 15,000 fishing vessels in the Atlantic region and 1,200 in Quebec; the government estimates only a small number will actually lose the two‑year option — roughly 20 vessels (about 18 in the Atlantic and 2 in Quebec).
• The amendment is expected to impose an estimated total incremental cost of $74,845 over the 2022–2031 period for those operators. Typical servicing is estimated at $1,100 per service. Administrative paperwork costs are estimated at $198 in total.
• Many fishing businesses are small: the industry is about 99% small businesses, so affected operators are likely small business owners.

Why it matters#

• Inflatable survival equipment can be damaged by freeze‑thaw cycles: cold makes materials stiff or brittle, and inflation in that state can cause punctures or failure.
• By restricting the 2‑year servicing option to vessels operating only in months above 0°C, the rule reduces the chance that inflatable life rafts will fail when needed in an emergency.
• The change keeps flexibility for vessels that truly operate in mild climates, while adding a small cost burden for a few operators who work in colder months.