SVOP

1. Understand the scope, purpose and limitations of the Small Vessel Operator Proficiency certificate

2. Define vessel, passenger and pleasure craft and understand applicable requirements when a vessel in not considered a pleasure craft

3. Know who requires a Small Vessel Operator’s Proficiency certificate

4. Know Transport Canada’s Small Vessel Inspections and Monitoring Program

5. Master’s responsibility - safety (life, environment and property) and commercial aspects

1. Definitions used to describe direction, locations and structural components of a small vessel

2. Know the basic terminology used in small vessel construction

1. Knowledge of the nature of displacement and planing hulls

2. Describe:

   1. an open vessel

   2. an enclosed hull vessel

   3. an inflatable rescue craft

   4. a catamaran

   5. other hull types

1. Describe the various propulsion systems available for small vessels, including:

   1. outboard motors

   2. stern drives

   3. inboard engines

   4. jet drives

2. Explain basic engine starting and shut down procedures

3. Describe engine and propulsion systems surveillance and monitoring required and actions to be taken in case of emergency, fault or alarm

1. Understand the role of ropes, lines, knots and splices in the marine industry

2. Explain the different construction methods and properties and limitations of synthetic and natural ropes

3. List the names of the common mooring lines and how to properly secure a vessel to a dock (floating and non-floating wharves)

4. Understand the role and when to use fenders

5. Demonstrate basic knots, bends and hitches

A basic understanding of the Collision Regulations and Canadian modifications with particular reference to:

1. The terms “making way”, “underway”, “risk of collision”, “stand on vessel”, “give way vessel” and “safe speed”

2. Responsibilities for collision avoidance

3. The need to keep a proper lookout

4. Recognition of the signs, lights and shapes carried by vessels encountered in the area of operation

5. International and Canadian distress signals

6. The benefit and requirement to use a radar reflector

7. Actions to be taken in sight or out of sight of other vessels in good visibility and in reduced visibility

8. Navigation lights

   1. Describe navigation lights for small vessels including masthead light, sidelights and the stern light

   2. Understand the role and use of all-round navigation lights

   3. Understand the role and use of anchor lights

9. Sound signals

10. The role and use of shapes on own vessel and observed

1. Understand the hazards of Free Surface Effect

2. Understand the hazards of loose water (or fish) on deck

3. Understand the principles of vessel stability and precautions when loading and unloading weights (passengers, equipment, fish or cargo)

4. Know the effects associated with vessel load distribution and trim

5. Know the hazards associated during icing conditions

6. Understand the principles of freeboard and effects of fresh and salt water including Fresh Water Allowance

7. Know the importance of maintaining watertight integrity

8. Understand the requirement for proper stowage of equipment and cargo

9. Understand the concept and the importance of reserve buoyancy

1. Understand the necessity for keeping the vessel shipshape

2. Know the hazards within the marine workplace

3. Precautions necessary when working aloft

4. Precautions to be taken when entering confined spaces

5. Demonstrate the signals for directing winch or crane operations

6. Know the standard industry procedures for safe refuelling operations

7. Care of life jackets, PFD ’s anti-exposure suits and other lifesaving equipments

8. Care of fire detection and extinguishing equipment

9. Flares: types, safe use, storage and disposal

10. Safety in towing (distress assistance)

1. Understand the origin and reliability of a marine forecast and where one can be obtained

2. State the marine wind speed categories

3. Understand the significance and difference of the marine weather warnings, small craft warnings, gale, and storm warnings

4. Association between wind shift and the movement of a barometer

5. Know small vessel operating procedures in bad weather

6. Understand the significance of the various sea states and how they affect small vessel operation including land effects and deflection

7. Understand the danger associated with thunderstorms, squall line recognition

8. Understand the conditions that lead to Icing

9. Associate the forecasted weather effect with loading a small vessel

1. Knowledge of the basic principle of radar and its functioning:

   1. Start-up procedure

   2. Function and effect of main commands

   3. Interpretation of the radar image

2. Ability to use radar for positioning:

   1. Identification of radar marks useful for navigation

   2. Bearing-taking and distance measurement by radar

3. Understanding the use of radar for collision avoidance

IDemonstrate ability to plot a position on the nautical chart

1. Understand the requirement to carry nautical charts on board

2. Demonstrate basic nautical chart reading, course and position plotting

3. Demonstrate the use of nautical publications (List of Lights, Canadian Tide and Current Tables, Notices to Mariners)

1. Understand the Canadian buoy system

2. Demonstrate using vessel models (or equivalent) how to navigate a channel marked by lateral buoys

3. Demonstrate using vessel models (or equivalent) how to navigate a waterway marked by day beacons

4. Explain fairway, bifurcation, cautionary, isolated and special purpose buoys

5. Explain how cardinal buoys indicate the preferred passage

6. Understand the significance of Scuba diving buoys and the “diver’s flag”

1. Be able to identify measures to be taken in emergency situations such as:

   1. Collision

   2. Grounding

   3. Flooding

   4. Fire

   5. Man overboard

   6. Release of a polluting substance or liquid

2. Measures to be taken to ensure protection and safety of crew members and passengers in emergency situations

3. The master’s obligation with regard to initial and subsequent reports to be made in case of a marine occurrence

1. Know the Search and Rescue resources available in area of operation

2. Know the Marine SAR coordination system in the operational area

3. Understand what happens after an “operator” initiates a distress call

4. Know the spoken Distress, Urgency and Routine prefixes on VHF radio

5. Understand the responsibilities when hearing or responding to a distress call

1. Basic knowledge of the Canada Shipping Act, 2001

2. A basic understanding of the provisions of the:

   1. Small vessel regulations or Fishing vessel safety regulations, as applicable

   2. Parks and Marine mammals Protection legislations if applicable

   3. Prevention of Pollution from ships and for Dangerous Chemicals Regulations