We welcome any attempts to make the marine regulations easier to understand!
However this webpage could have been a bit clearer about Marine Emergency Duties certification requirements and also could have explained a bit more about voyage classifications.
Some excerpts to note:
- “Near coastal, class 2 voyage” = A voyage within 25 nautical miles from shore (click here for full definition)
- “Sheltered waters voyage” = A voyage that is in Canada on a lake or a river above tidal waters – where a vessel can never be further than 2.5 nautical miles from the closest shore. Transport Canada has also designated certain other waters as “sheltered” click here for more info.
- “Near coastal, class 2 voyage” = A voyage within 25 nautical miles from shore (click here for full definition)
Please contact us for more info.
Excerpt below is copied from a recent email to us announcing this webpage from
cmac-ccmc@tc.gc.ca dated August 15, 2025
“We are pleased to announce that the Small Vessel Operator Proficiency webpage has been created. This page provides information on the Small Vessel Operator Proficiency (SVOP) training certificate which allows you to operate a small non-pleasure vessel in near coastal, class 2 and sheltered waters under normal operating conditions, including darkness and restricted visibility. It is an entry level domestic certificate issued by Transport Canada recognized training institutions.
Should you have any questions, please contact your local regional Transport Canada Marine Safety Service Centre (TCMSSC). TCMSSC locations can be found at the following site: http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/regions.htm “