31Reporting Marine Occurrences

The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) Regulations, made pursuant to the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act, require that the person responsible for the ship (e.g. owner, operator, charterer, master, pilot, crew member) in Canadian waters, or a Canadian ship in any waters, report an occurrence (accident or incident) as soon as possible and by the quickest means available.

The information is to be reported to the TSB and this can be accomplished by reporting it via a marine radio station, a Marine Communications and Traffic Services (MCTS) Centre, a vessel traffic services station, a marine radio station operated by the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, a Canadian harbour radio station, or by calling the TSB number directly at: 819-994-3741 or toll-free 1-800-387-3557 to provide your initial report.

Persons responsible for ships are reminded that penalties may be incurred by failing to report a marine occurrence. The occurrence shall also be reported in writing, within 30 days following the occurrence, by completing the appropriate form. Please note that workplace injuries on board vessels must also be reported directly to Transport Canada.
The reporting form “REPORT OF A MARINE OCCURRENCE / HAZARDOUS OCCURRENCE REPORT” (form TSB 1808 (09-2014)) is bilingual, back-to-back. Mariners required to report occurrences are advised that TSB forms can be downloaded either from the TSB website at Report a marine transportation occurrence or by requesting a copy at TSB office.

The original TSB form is to be forwarded by mail, fax or email to the TSB office address:

Should further information be required, please contact TSB office on the reporting form.

Authority: Transportation Safety Board of Canada – Marine
(TSB - Marine)