Vessel Management and Disposal Policy
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to establish clear, consistent, and risk-managed criteria for the management and disposal of marine vessels owned and operated by the Navy League of Canada (“the Navy League”). This policy ensures consistent, risk‑managed operation of all marine vessels, in compliance with Transport Canada regulations and organizational insurance requirements, and to ensure safe conditions for youth and volunteers.SCOPE
This policy applies to:All boats, watercraft and related ancillary equipment (e.g. outboard motors, trailers and storage cradles).
All Navy League of Canada Branches, Divisions, and National assets.
This policy does not apply to vessels not yet formally accepted into the national fleet, or to vessels temporarily loaned or rented unless otherwise directed by the National Authority.
This policy applies exclusively to marine vessels and related equipment that are purchased, owned, and insured by The Navy League of Canada.
Marine vessels, watercraft, or ancillary equipment owned by the Department of National Defence (DND), the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), or any other third party are expressly excluded from the scope of this policy, regardless of co location, shared use, storage at Navy League facilities, or use in joint or regional training activities.
Ownership, maintenance, inspection, certification, insurance, operational authorization, and disposal of such excluded vessels remain the sole responsibility of the owning organization and are not obligations of the Navy League of Canada under this policy.
Nothing in this policy shall be interpreted as creating responsibility, liability, or operational authority over non-owned vessels.
NATIONAL AUTHORITY
Final authority for vessel management policy rests with:The National Executive Director, or A designated corporate officer, as delegated by the National Board of Directors.
Branches or Divisions are not authorized to deviate from this policy without prior written approval from the National Authority. Branches may take immediate action where required to mitigate imminent safety risks, provided notification to the National Authority occurs as soon as practicable. Immediate action is limited to measures necessary to mitigate an imminent safety hazard.
NATIONAL FLEET
The National Fleet (“the fleet”) consists of all:- Sailboats
- Powerboats
- Human-powered vessels (kayak, canoe, whaler)
- Rigid or inflatable safety boats and
- Support or utility vessels intended for training, seamanship, safety, or support activities.
ANNUAL CONDITION ASSESSMENT
All vessels in the fleet shall be inspected annually by a qualified marine surveyor or other qualified person to assess:
- Hull condition,
- Machinery and systems,
- Ancillary equipment,
- Sails, rigging and cordage (if appropriate), and
- Safety equipment.
REMEDIATION OF DEFICIENCIES
Safety deficiencies (e.g. missing safety equipment, non-functioning fuel cut-off switches, defective maneuvering controls, defective bilge pumps (when equipped), missing shields and propeller guards, etc.) that are identified at any time must be remediated before the vessel is utilized for any training, seamanship, safety, or support activities.Condition deficiencies should be recorded, and plans for corrective actions should be included in the local fleet maintenance plan.
PROPELLER GUARDS
As of 2018, all outboard motors on vessels owned and insured by the Navy League of Canada must be fitted with a certified prop guard before the vessel is put into service. The specific provisions may be found at Appendix A to the MARINE VESSEL ACCEPTANCE POLICY.MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
Branches are responsible for developing and funding an annual maintenance program for their local fleet.As a minimum, Branches should develop and maintain a local fleet maintenance plan that includes: a start‑of‑season and end‑of‑season checklist for each vessel, and an appropriate vessel winterization program (if relevant).
Branches shall maintain appropriate records of significant deficiencies and the corrective actions taken, consistent with prudent fleet management and applicable legal or insurance requirements. Records may be maintained in any reasonable format that supports safe operation. Records should remain accessible for three years.
OPERATOR QUALIFICATIONS
Branches are responsible for maintaining a register of qualified operators for their local fleet consistent with any Transport Canada requirements that may be promulgated from time to time for the types of vessels resident in the local fleet. Where Transport Canada upgrades standards, Branches must update training.The minimum qualification for general vessel support operations is a valid Pleasure Craft Operators Card1 and some classes of vessel and some activities (e.g. instructional activity) may require additional certifications and licenses.
Operator qualifications shall be verified by a Branch officer annually to confirm continued validity. Proof of qualification shall be made available upon request.
1 – this is the minimum requirement for motorized vessels.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
Vessels with known or suspected environmental risks (e.g., fuel leaks, asbestos, contaminated materials) shall be removed from the fleet until the risk condition can be remediated. If the condition cannot be satisfactorily remediated, the vessel shall be designated for disposal at Branch expense. Planned disposal actions must comply with appropriate provincial hazardous waste regulations and environmental assessments, where applicable.DISPOSAL
Branches are responsible to establish a vessel disposal plan for each vessel in their fleet. The disposal action may result in the transfer of the vessel to another Branch or Division, the sale of the vessel to an interested party, or the decommissioning and scrapping of the vessel.In accordance with NL21 Administrative Orders section 3.1, all marine vessels in the fleet are designated Real Property of the Navy League of Canada and for any sale of a vessel, all such transactions must be made in the name of The Navy League of Canada and the National Authority must be advised of their sale or transfer. The sale of real property may also generate tax obligations that need to be adjudicated at the National Office.
Although National is the legal owner of all marine vessels, Branches are responsible for the costs associated with maintenance, transfer, and disposal unless otherwise directed.
Disposal through the decommissioning and scrapping of a marine vessel should comply with all local environmental regulations. Such disposal is at the expense of the Branch. The National Office shall be notified when a vessel is scrapped so that the office may update insurance records.
The National Authority reserves the right to review disposal proposals for compliance with regulatory, environmental, and tax obligations.
Directed Disposal. The Division or the National Authority may direct that a Branch dispose a marine vessel or its local fleet of marine vessels under the following circumstances:
- If it is determined that the Branch lacks the resources or expertise to operate a particular vessel or its local fleet
- If it is determined that particular vessel is unsafe or not suitable for the intended training or support purpose
- If it is determined that a particular vessel or local fleet cannot be maintained to a standard for safe operation
- the transfer of a particular vessel or local fleet to a different Branch where appropriate resources and expertise exists,
- The sale of the vessel or local fleet with the proceeds of sale to be directed to the disposing Branch authority, or
- The decommissioning and scrapping of the particular vessel, or local fleet at Branch expense.
For any questions or clarification regarding this Marine Vessel Management Policy, please contact the National Office by email at national@navyleague.ca.
April 2026