[ Skip over navigation ]

Queen's University Wordmark Kingston Wordmark Ontario Wordmark Canada Wordmark Environmental Health and Safety Wordmark Queen's University Logo
[ Main site navigation starts here ]
[ Page content starts here ]

Boating Safety Course

The Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft Regulations require operators of pleasure craft fitted with a motor and used for recreational purposes to have proof of competency on board at all times. These requirements are being phased in over ten years (see table).

How this applies to operators of pleasure craft fitted with a motor and used for recreational purposes Date at which proof of competency required on board
All operators born after April 1, 1983 September 15, 1999
All operators of craft under 4 m in length, including personal watercraft September 15, 2002
All operators September 15, 2009

Proof of competency can take 1 of 3 forms:

  • proof of having successfully completed a boating safety course in Canada prior to April 1, 1999
  • a pleasure craft operator card issued following the successful completion of a Canadian Coast Guard accredited test
  • a completed rental-boat safety checklist (for power-driven rental boats).

The operator card is good-for-life. 

Vessels/boats used for research purposes would be classified as commercial vessels and the ‘Marine Personnel Regulations' would come into effect.

PCOC training is sufficient if you meet either of the following criteria:
  • The vessel is not more than 8m in overall length, and that it is not a passenger-carrying vessel. PCOC is applicable to sheltered waters and voyages less than 2 nautical miles from shore.
  • A vessel that is not more than 8m in overall length, that carries six or fewer passengers and is engaged on a sheltered water voyage.

Sheltered waters in Eastern Ontario are defined as:
  • All inland lakes and rivers
  • East of the West tip of Wolfe Island, South to Amherst Island and East to Montreal.

If you don't meet this criteria, training such as MEDA3 is required. The department of EH&S does not offer this training.The following site lists some companies that are accredited MEDA3 trainers.
http://www.tc.gc.ca/publications/bil/tp10655/pdf/hr/tp10655b.pdf

We are offering a Boating Safety Course on May 10 & 12, 2011 from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm each evening. The cost of the course is $70.00, payable by cheque (made payable to Kingston Power and Sail Squadron) or cash. The course will be held in the Faculty and Staff Learning Facility, Room B176 Mac-Corry (Lecture Theatre).

The course will be limited to a maximum of 25 people.

At the end of the course, participants will write the Canadian Coast Guard accredited test, which will be marked immediately, and temporary operator's cards issued (Permanent cards will be issued shortly thereafter.)

To register for the course go to https://www.queensu.ca/safety/courses/boatreg.htm

Rainbow Line

Queen’s is committed to an inclusive campus community with accessible goods, services, and facilities that respect the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities. The above Adobe Acrobat (pdf) files are available in an accessible format or with appropriate communication supports upon request.

Please contact John Bullock in one of the following ways: