Vessel Licensing, Registration and Identification Markings

A Licensed Pleasure Craft with its markings is shown above.

A Registered Pleasure Craft with its markings is shown above.

According to the Small Vessel Regulations, all pleasure craft that are under 15 gross tons and powered by an engine 10 horsepower (7.5 kilowatts) or more, must be Licensed or Registered, regardless of where they operate in Canada. 
Operators must identify their vessel properly.  The license number must be displayed on both sides of the bow, above the waterline, not less than 7.5 cm in height, and in a colour that contrasts with the hull.
There is no fee to license your pleasure craft. However, a licence does not constitute proof of ownership.
So, Pleasure Craft Owners may (instead) decide to Register their vessel with the Registrar of Shipping.  (Registered Vessels will carry a unique name, no number.)  Registration does constitute proof of ownership, making travelling across borders, and mortgaging the vessel easier.  There is however, a fee to Register a vessel.

• Vessel Licenses are valid for 10 years.
  
• Remember to licence your dinghy too, no charge!  (It may help you recover it if it becomes lost or stolen)
  
• Contact Service Canada to licence, update your address or change vessel ownership.
  
• Contact Transport Canada to register the name of your Pleasure Craft.
  

Capacity Plate, Conformity Label:

According to the Small Vessel Regulations, all new pleasure craft, 6 metres in length or less, and are capable of being fitted with an engine, are required to carry a capacity plate.  The recommended safe limits of LOAD and engine POWER shown on the plate, are maximums established under fair weather operation.  Overloading is dangerous, so never exceed these limits.
In plain sight, permanently attached (vessels 6 m or less), the capacity plate will show Manufacturing Details and;

• Maximum engine size, POWER for the hull concerned, may be expressed as horsepower (HP) or kilowatts (kW)
  
• Maximum LOAD capacity in kilograms (kg) or pounds (lbs.).  (This will include the total weight including persons, equipment, stores, fuel, motor, etc.)  Load capacity may be expressed as "the equivalent number of persons".
  
• Written  confirmation that the vessel conforms to Canadian Construction Standards.
  

All Canadian pleasure craft (including home-built) must have permanently affixed a  Hull Identification Number (H.I.N.) visible on the outside, starboard side of the transom. (sample shown circled at left).
Missing?  Contact Transport Canada or, Service Canada for information on how to get these labels for your pleasure craft.