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Boat Collisions: Prevention and Canadian Regulations

Boat collisions and accidents can cause major damages to your vessel and lead to serious injuries or death. Collisions occur when a boat or personal watercraft (PWC) collides with another vessel or objects like docks, rocks and logs.

It is the responsibility of all pleasure craft operators to avoid collisions. If you do not do what is legally required to avoid a collision, you could face severe penalties and even imprisonment.

Key takeaways

• Canada’s rules and regulations related to boat collisions state that all boaters are responsible for avoiding collisions at all times.
• Boaters are responsible for knowing what to do as the stand-on vessel and what to do as the give-way vessel.
• They are also responsible for knowing what to do to avoid a collision with a larger vessel and when boating in poor visibility.
• Operating at safe speeds, using correct navigation lights, avoiding tugboats and never boating while impaired are key ways to avoid a collision.
• If you are in a collision, immediately call the authorities (Channel 16 on your VHF radio or 911 on your phone).

Table of contents

• Collision Regulations in Canada: Rules for Avoiding Boat Collisions
  • The Stand-On Vessel and the Give-Way Vessel
  • What should the stand-on vessel do?
  • What should the give-way vessel do?
  • General guidelines
• 6 Ways to Avoid a Boat Collision
  • 1. Keep a watchful eye
  • 2. Keep away from shipping lanes
  • 3. Give room to tugboats and other vessels towing or pushing
  • 4. Maintain a safe speed
  • 5. Keep yourself visible at all times
  • 6. Do not go boating if you are tired or impaired
• What to Do if You Are in a Boat Collision in Canada
• Frequently Asked Questions

Collision Regulations in Canada: Rules for Avoiding Boat Collisions

Canadian waterways are governed by rules outlined in the Canadian Collision Regulations. These nautical Rules of the Road, as they are known, regulate any and all crafts on all bodies of water in Canada.

Regulations state that a pleasure craft operator must take immediate and substantial action to prevent a collision with another vessel.

The Stand-On Vessel and the Give-Way Vessel

The Collision Regulations identify the stand-on vessel and the give-way vessel when boats are:

• Crossing
• Meeting
• Overtaking

They then indicate which actions to take, according to your position. 

To understand these rules, boat operators need a solid understand of the difference between port and starboard. 

Following these actions will significantly reduce the likelihood of a boat collision.

Consult the screenshot from Transport Canada’s Safe Boating Guide:

What should the stand-on vessel do?

The stand-on vessel should stay course and speed. 

What should the give-way vessel do?

A give-way vessel should manoeuvre out of the way of the stand-on vessel.

General guidelines

• Give-way vessels should act early to move out of the way. 
• Stand-on vessels should stay alert and take evasive action if the give-way vessel does not follow the rules.

6 Ways to Avoid a Boat Collision

In addition to following the rules of the road outlined in the Collision Regulations, the following tips will help you avoid damage, injury or worse resulting from a boat collision.

1. Keep a watchful eye

Pleasure craft operators must navigate safely and share the waterways to avoid creating situations that are risky or potentially dangerous to other boaters, swimmers, wildlife and the environment.

A boat that navigates in a narrow channel or driveway must stay as close to the outer edge of the channel or fairway as possible so long as it is safe and convenient.

An operator must always keep an eye out for hazards or distress signals from other boaters. The Criminal Code of Canada also contains this provision.

2. Keep away from shipping lanes

Commercial vessels travel along predetermined shipping lanes. These vessels always have the right of way, because it is hard for theme to change course or stop quickly. Boaters must therefore never interfere with the passage of large vessels in a shipping lane.

Passing a larger vessel is also risky. It is very difficult for the crews of these vessels to see small boats on the water since they are standing high above the water line.

3. Give room to tugboats and other vessels towing or pushing

Tugboats often tow boats behind them with long tow lines. Tow lines can sometimes be so long that they hang below the surface of the water and are almost invisible. Never get between a tugboat and its tow line.

In the event your boat hits a submerged tow line, the collision may cause it to capsize or cause serious damage to your vessel, putting everyone on board at risk.

4. Maintain a safe speed

Since a safe speed depends on the craft and prevailing conditions, the Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations do not specify speed limits.

Even if you are not within sight of other vessels and in or near restricted visibility areas, you must still navigate at a safe speed at all times, adapting to the circumstances and conditions to avoid collisions.

5. Keep yourself visible at all times

A small boat is difficult to detect, especially by a large ship, in poor weather conditions or at night. Minimize the risks of collision by displaying accurate navigation lights and by using a radar reflector at night and during periods of restricted visibility.

6. Do not go boating if you are tired or impaired

Boating under the influence (BIU) is just as dangerous (and illegal) as driving under the influence. Legal repercussions apply to intoxication by alcohol, and impaired driving due to drugs’ boaters’ fatigue, and any other factors that lead to irresponsible or dangerous boat operation.

What to Do if You Are in a Boat Collision in Canada

If you are in a boat collision, you must immediately stop your vessel, verify that passengers are all safe (check for injuries, put on PFDs), and exchange identification/contact information with the other party.

Call the Canadian Coast Guard VHF Channel 16 or 911 on your phone to report the accident and request help.

You are legally required to render assistance to your fellow boaters if you are able. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

• Transport Canada Safe Boating Guide [PDF]. https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2011/tc/T34-24-2011-eng.pdf 

• Government of Canada Collision Regulations (C.R.C., c. 1416) Department of Justice. https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/c.r.c.,_c._1416/page-2.html
• Government of Canada Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations SOR/2008-120 Department of Justice. https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-2008-120/page-1.html#h-743015

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