Development of Stability Info Notice for small Vessels Operators (Fishing and non-Fishing)

The new Small Vessel Regulations and the proposed Fishing Vessel Safety Regulations contain requirements to have stability assessed on all small vessels. These requirements may vary from a simplified TC standard, to an assessment using an ISO Stability standard up to a full stability analysis. Many operators of these small vessels have limited knowledge of stability. It has been recognized through various consultations, research reports and Transportation Safety Board investigation reports that there is a need to present stability information in a simple manner that would be easily understood by the master and all crewmembers. As stated in TSB recommendation M94-33: “The Department of Transport establish guidelines for stability booklets so that the information they contain is presented in a simple, clear and practicable format for end-users. (M90L3033)” TC's update, dated March 2010, indicated that with regards to stability booklets, work continues on a simplified format for instructions to masters regarding stability assessments of their vessels conducted under the proposed new Fishing Vessel Safety Regulations.

Objectives of the Requirement

The objective of this project is to develop and refine a new way to present stability data that can easily and rapidly be interpreted by the vessel’s master and crew; in the form of pictograms, ideograms and summary notes. The purpose of this new Stability Information Notice is to improve communication, awareness and respect of the stability limits of a vessel. The notice will be permanently fixed in a given location(s) (for example in the wheelhouse) such that all on board are aware of it and can consult and understand it at a glance.

Period: The work is to be performed during the period commencing upon contract award to March 31, 2015.