Miscellaneous Transport Regulations Amendments

Summary#

Regulations Amending Certain Department of Transport Regulations (Miscellaneous Program): SOR/2023-105 makes a number of technical and wording fixes across several marine safety rules. The changes are mostly clarifications, corrections to French/English wording, and updates to classification names. The amendments took effect on June 7, 2023.

What it does#

• Fixes wording mismatches and unclear terms in the Special-purpose Vessels Regulations (for example, clearer wording about thermal-protection clothing and some label/word changes).
• Corrects ship ice-class names and adds a note about “Type E” vessels in the Arctic Shipping Safety and Pollution Prevention Regulations so the listed classes match current classification society notations.
• Replaces references to “Notice to Shipping” with Navigational Warning in the Collision Regulations, matching current practice by the Canadian Coast Guard.
• Removes a reference to a non-existent subsection in the Load Line Regulations.
• Fixes drafting errors in the Navigation Safety Regulations, 2020, including restoring an exemption for certain vessels related to VHF radios with DSC and updating a reference to the renamed Canadian Sailing Directions.
• Clarifies that these are technical/administrative changes and are not intended to add new costs or requirements.

Who's affected#

• Mariners and vessel operators, who rely on clear wording about safety equipment, communications and ice-class rules.
• Classification societies listed in the rules, notably American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), DNV, and Lloyd’s Register, because their ice-class notations are corrected in the text.
• Transport Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), since they publish and enforce some of the referenced notices and publications.
• The Canadian Coast Guard, because its “Navigational Warnings” terminology is now reflected in the Collision Regulations.
• Small businesses and commercial operators are not expected to face new costs, according to the government.

Why it matters#

• The changes reduce confusion by aligning English and French wording and by fixing outdated or incorrect references. That helps people interpret the rules the same way.
• Correct ice-class labels and the added note about Type E make it clearer which vessels the Arctic rules cover. That lowers the risk of misinterpretation for ships operating in ice-prone waters.
• Updating “Notice to Shipping” to Navigational Warning and restoring the VHF exemption reflect how authorities already work in practice. This avoids unintended enforcement surprises.
• Overall, these are housekeeping fixes rather than new policy. They make existing maritime rules easier to understand and apply.