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The following definitions apply to marine occurrences that are required to be reported pursuant to the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board Act and the associated Regulations.
An accident resulting directly from the operation of a ship other than a pleasure craft,5 where:
For statistical purposes, accidents defined in paragraph (a) are classified as "Accidents Aboard Ship" and accidents defined in paragraph (b) are classified as "Shipping Accidents."
An incident resulting directly from the operation of a ship, other than a pleasure craft, where:
This report covers commercial vessels that include all vessels either registered or licensed to operate commercially. Pleasure craft occurrences are not normally included unless they also involved a commercial vessel.
Cargo: Ship designed for the carriage of various types and forms of cargo and the combined carriage of general cargo and passengers with 12 or less fare-paying passengers.
Bulk carrier: Ships specifically designed for bulk carriage of ore or other dry cargo.
OBO (oil/bulk/ore carrier): Ships specifically designed for bulk carriage of ore with additional facilities for alternative, but not simultaneous, carriage of oil or loose dry cargo.
Tanker: Propelled ships designed and constructed for the bulk carriage of liquids.
Tug: Vessels designed for the towing and pushing of ships or other floating structures. Additional activity may include salvage, firefighting and work duties of a general nature.
Barge: Vessels designed as non-propelled units for the carriage of cargo in holds or in tanks or weather deck cargo space only for the carriage of non-perishable cargo, or specially outfitted for specific operations.
Ferry: Ships that follow a regular scheduled service of relatively short duration, designed for the carriage of passengers and vehicles. There is usually no cabin accommodation for passengers or not all passengers are accommodated in cabins where cabins are provided.
Passenger: Vessels designed for the carriage of passengers.
Fishing: Vessels designed for fishing operations and support.
Service: Vessels designed for supporting marine transportation such as icebreakers, buoy tenders, Search and Rescue vessels, pilot boats and fireboats.
Non-commercial: Vessels designed to conduct non-commercial activities such as pleasure craft, seaplanes and naval vessels.
Other: Vessels designed for other functions such as laying and repair of sea-bed cables, dredging, training, patrolling as well as ships and platforms designed for the extraction, processing, and storage of oil/gas from offshore wells; ships designed for the carriage of stores and cargo to offshore installations; ships outfitted for support activities related to offshore oil and gas exploration; and vessels designed for research work such as seismic research, oceanic and hydrographic survey.
Collision: An impact between two or more vessels under way.
Capsizing: To turn over.
Foundering: To fill from above the waterline and sink.
Sinking: To become submerged from water intake below the waterline and settle to the bottom.
Fire: Where a fire is the first event reported.
Explosion: Where an explosion is the first event reported.
Grounding: To touch bottom and remain stranded.
Striking: A hard impact with a stationary object or a vessel not under way.
Ice damage: Damage sustained as a consequence of contact with ice.
Propeller damage: Damage to a vessel propeller, propeller portion or propeller adjoining parts affecting a vessel's seaworthiness or rendering the vessel unfit for its purpose.
Rudder damage: Damage to a vessel rudder or rudder adjoining parts affecting a vessel's seaworthiness or rendering the vessel unfit for its purpose.
Structural damage: Hull damage, such as cracks and fractures, sustained by a vessel affecting its seaworthiness or rendering the vessel unfit for its purpose.
Flooding: To fill a compartment below the waterline with water admitted from the sea.
Other: Vessels lost or damaged for other reasons, including contact defined as a lateral/light impact with another vessel or an object (i.e. bottom contact affecting a vessel's seaworthiness or rendering the vessel unfit for its purpose).
Miscellaneous
Gross tons (grt): A measure of vessel capacity in cubic feet of the spaces within the hull, and of enclosed spaces above deck available for cargo, stores, fuel, passengers and crew, with certain exclusions. One hundred cubic feet is equivalent to one gross ton.
Movement: A vessel's travel segment between ports with at least one port being a domestic port.
Under way: Vessel not at anchor or made fast to shore or aground.

1. It is agreed by convention that, for a result to be considered statistically significant, its probability must be lower than 1 in 20 (i.e. p<.05).
2. Oil/bulk/ore carrier (OBO), see Appendix B
3. The majority of vessels classified under unknown tonnage were vessels of 15 tons or less in gross tonnage.
5. Pleasure craft means a ship that is used for pleasure or recreation and does not carry goods or passengers for hire or reward.