ScubaSteve
Wow.....what a DB
After the incident involving Rob Murphy, I decided to try to find out what the actual law stated about dive flags here in ontario. This is the exact email from the government which I received in response to my request:
Hi Stephen:
There are many emails to respond, sorry for the delay in getting back to you.
Reference to the requirement for a vessels engaged in diving operations is found in the Collision Regulations, Rule 27 (e)
(e) Whenever the size of a vessel engaged in diving operations makes it impracticable to exhibit all lights and shapes prescribed in paragraph (d) of this Rule, the following shall be exhibited:
(i) three all-round lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen. The highest and lowest of these lights shall be red and the middle light shall be white,
(ii) a rigid replica of the International Code flag Ţ not less than one metre in height. Measures shall be taken to ensure its all-round visibility.
In provinces where the Contravention Act is in place, authorities can ticket offenders on the spot for offences such as careless operation. Boaters could also be charged with dangerous operation under the Criminal Code (Section 249) in more serious situtations where someone may have been injured for example.
Section 15 of the Vessel Operations Restriction Regulations is as follows:
[SOR/2008-120, err., Vol. 142, No. 10]
15. (1) A person who operates a vessel shall do so in a safe manner and
(a) shall take into account any circumstances that could pose a danger to the vessel or to other vessels; and
(b) shall avoid endangering the safety of persons involved in any activity in any waters.
Also, Section 43 of the Small Vessel Regulations is as follows:
Prohibition against Careless Operation
43. No person shall operate a small vessel in a careless manner, without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons.
SOR/99-54, s. 11; SOR/2000-311, s. 12.
Should you require further information, feel free to give me a call.
Acting Manager/Gestionnaire intñÓimaire
Operator Competency Program/Programme de la compñÕence des conducteurs
Marine Safety/SñÄurit maritime
Transport Canada/Place de Ville, Ottawa (Ontario) K1A 0N5
Government of Canada/Gouvernement du Canada
Telephone/TñÍñÑhone: 613-xxx-xxxx
Facsimile/TñÍñÄopieur: 613-xxx-xxxx
E-mail/Courrier ñÍectronique: hidden
This does not say everything as far as I am concerned however it looks like it may be better than in other areas. As for what is on the boater's exam, I could only come up with this:
This is taken from page 46 from this PDF file http://www.boaterexam.com/canada/education/pdf/StudyGuide.pdf
I am not sure if perhaps there is another exam or not, but this is terrible as far as I am concerned.
Hi Stephen:
There are many emails to respond, sorry for the delay in getting back to you.
Reference to the requirement for a vessels engaged in diving operations is found in the Collision Regulations, Rule 27 (e)
(e) Whenever the size of a vessel engaged in diving operations makes it impracticable to exhibit all lights and shapes prescribed in paragraph (d) of this Rule, the following shall be exhibited:
(i) three all-round lights in a vertical line where they can best be seen. The highest and lowest of these lights shall be red and the middle light shall be white,
(ii) a rigid replica of the International Code flag Ţ not less than one metre in height. Measures shall be taken to ensure its all-round visibility.
In provinces where the Contravention Act is in place, authorities can ticket offenders on the spot for offences such as careless operation. Boaters could also be charged with dangerous operation under the Criminal Code (Section 249) in more serious situtations where someone may have been injured for example.
Section 15 of the Vessel Operations Restriction Regulations is as follows:
[SOR/2008-120, err., Vol. 142, No. 10]
15. (1) A person who operates a vessel shall do so in a safe manner and
(a) shall take into account any circumstances that could pose a danger to the vessel or to other vessels; and
(b) shall avoid endangering the safety of persons involved in any activity in any waters.
Also, Section 43 of the Small Vessel Regulations is as follows:
Prohibition against Careless Operation
43. No person shall operate a small vessel in a careless manner, without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons.
SOR/99-54, s. 11; SOR/2000-311, s. 12.
Should you require further information, feel free to give me a call.
Acting Manager/Gestionnaire intñÓimaire
Operator Competency Program/Programme de la compñÕence des conducteurs
Marine Safety/SñÄurit maritime
Transport Canada/Place de Ville, Ottawa (Ontario) K1A 0N5
Government of Canada/Gouvernement du Canada
Telephone/TñÍñÑhone: 613-xxx-xxxx
Facsimile/TñÍñÄopieur: 613-xxx-xxxx
E-mail/Courrier ñÍectronique: hidden
This does not say everything as far as I am concerned however it looks like it may be better than in other areas. As for what is on the boater's exam, I could only come up with this:
Diving Buoyit is used to mark an area where scuba or other such diving activity is in progressspeed.
it is coloured white and it carries a red flag not less than 50 centimetres square
with a white diagonal stripe extending from the tip of the hoist to the bottom of the fly
if it carries a light the light shall be yellow and flash once every 4 seconds
Particular care must be taken when boating in waters where there are divers. A vessel engaged in diving
must display a blue and white flag (International Code A Flag, see left). A red and white flag carried on a
buoy is used to mark areas where diving is in progress, although divers may stray from the boundaries of
the marked areas.
Be sure you know what the ÁÅiver down flags look like. If you see either flag, keep well clear of the vessel and diving site, and move at slow
This is taken from page 46 from this PDF file http://www.boaterexam.com/canada/education/pdf/StudyGuide.pdf
I am not sure if perhaps there is another exam or not, but this is terrible as far as I am concerned.