Just Ask John: Proposed Changes to the Small Vessel Regulations regarding the Pleasure Craft License.

Marine Safety Fees and Regulations

I get questions about the Pleasure Craft License, what is it and what do I have to do about a Pleasure Craft License for my vessel.

June 7, 2023

I get questions about the Pleasure Craft License, what is it and what do I have to do about a Pleasure Craft License for my vessel.

Lets start with what the Pleasure Craft License is not. It is not the Pleasure Craft Operator’s Certificate (PCOC) that operators of any powered vessel are required to have. The PCOC does not require renewal. It is the license for a powered vessel that has any form of power over7.5 kw (10 hp) or over.

A pleasure craft license is a document issued by Transport Canada which contains a unique license number used to identify a vessel. This number allows authorities and search and rescue personnel to access important information in an emergency. It also supports efforts to maintain accountability and compliance with safety and environmental regulations.

Here are the regulatory changes that are being proposed:
The proposed amendments to the Small Vessel Regulations would enhance the quality of data collected in the Pleasure Craft Electronic Licensing System by: 
• establishing a 5-year validity period for all pleasure craft licenses including those with lifetime licenses 
• reducing the timeframe for license holders to provide a change of information (i.e. name or address) from 90 days to 30 days
• requiring the new owner of a pleasure craft to apply to transfer a pleasure craft license upon purchasing the pleasure craft 

 

• expanding the Pleasure Craft Licensing requirements to include wind-powered pleasure craft above 6 metres in length. These updated requirements would not apply to human-powered pleasure craft, such as kayaks, canoes, and dragon boats
• providing the Minister of Transport with the ability to cancel a pleasure craft licence for non-compliance or upon a licence holder’s request 

The proposed changes would also include: 
• introducing a $24 fee for an initial (new), renewal, transfer, or a replacement pleasure craft license. The proposed fee is different from earlier consultations to reflect the increasing delivery costs of providing the service 
• adjusting the $24 fee to keep pace with inflation 
• formalizing the current practice for Manufacturer Identification Code (MIC) holders to update their contact information within 30 days of the change.

HOW TO PROVIDE COMMENTS:

You can provide your comments using the online commenting feature on the Canada Gazette website. For more information on this new feature, please visit the Canada Gazette information page “How to Comment on Proposed Regulations.” You have until July 12, 2023 to provide comments.

 

Related Articles

Video Gallery

Nimbus 365 Coupe – A real long-stay cruising boat for exploring

By Andy Adams

There is no shortage of fun and exciting new boat designs hitting the market, but for the last few years these have been mainly outboard-powered day boats. Some are day cruisers; some are centre console fishing boats or designed for tow sports. A new live-aboard cabin boat has become a rare item these days.

So when I heard that Pride Marine in Orillia, Ontario, had a Nimbus 365 Coupe in the water, I jumped at the chance to get out on it.

Read More

Destinations

Tahiti—Updates from Paradise

By Zuzana Prochaska

I’ve been to Tahiti seven times—six on charter and once as crew for a couple of yachties. Over the 25 years that I’ve been visiting, it’s changed dramatically. Yet, inexplicably, it has also stayed the same.

Lounging on the flybridge of our Sunsail 454, I had time to think about this dichotomy as I toasted the nighttime skies of Bora Bora and specifically the Southern Cross, a constellation that never fails to hypnotize. As the Crosby, Stills & Nash (1982) tune reminds us:

…you understand now why you came this way.

Read More

Lifestyle