Form 85-0547B is the formal application to Transport Canada for your vessel's MSMSR certification. Without it - and a complete SMS package behind it - TC will not issue your Canadian Maritime Document.
Class 4B operators: Your grace period ended July 2025. If your Form 85-0547B and SMS package have not been submitted to Transport Canada, you are operating outside the MSMSR. TC's review takes up to 45 business days. Submit now.
TC Form 85-0547B - Application for Initial Certification - is the formal application that triggers Transport Canada's review of your Safety Management System (SMS) under the Marine Safety Management System Regulations (MSMSR, SOR/2024-133).
This form is submitted with your complete SMS documentation package and Form 85-0547A (Ship Manager Identification). TC reviews your submission and, if everything is in order, issues your Canadian Maritime Document (CMD) - specifically the Canadian Document of Compliance (CDOC) and Canadian Safety Management Certificate (CSMC).
Without a valid CMD, you may not legally operate a vessel subject to the MSMSR.
Form 85-0547B collects the information TC needs to initiate the certification review. Always download the current version directly from Transport Canada. The form typically includes the following sections:
| Section | Information Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vessel Identification | Vessel name, official number, vessel class, gross tonnage, year built | Must match Certificate of Registry exactly |
| Trade Area | Operating area (e.g. near coastal, sheltered waters, inland waters) | Your SMS must cover procedures appropriate to your actual trade area |
| Authorized Representative | Full legal name, address, contact information | Must match Form 85-0547A |
| Ship Manager | Name, contact information - confirming matches Form 85-0547A | Consistency between the two forms is critical |
| SMS Implementation | Declaration that a fully documented SMS has been implemented | Class 4B requires a Declaration of Initial Compliance |
| Signature | Authorized Representative signature and date | Unsigned forms will be returned - TC will not process them |
Consistency matters. The vessel details, Authorized Representative name, and Ship Manager information on Form 85-0547B must exactly match your Form 85-0547A and your Certificate of Registry. Discrepancies are the most common reason applications are returned by TC.
Form 85-0547B is a cover application - it's only as strong as the package behind it. TC requires the following with every initial certification submission:
TC will review your SMS against the requirements in TP 15566 Part 3. An SMS is considered complete when it includes documented policies, procedures, checklists, and records for every mandatory element - including emergency procedures, maintenance schedules, crew training records, non-conformity reporting, and annual review processes. A generic template with your vessel's name on it is not compliant.
Here's what happens from the moment you submit to CMD issuance:
Based on the MSMSR compliance landscape, these are the issues that cause TC to return applications or delay CMD issuance:
If TC returns your application, the 45-business-day review clock restarts on resubmission. Getting it right the first time matters - especially for Class 4B operators who are already past their grace period.
Form 85-0547B is for initial certification. Once your CMD is issued, your vessel's certification is tied to your ongoing SMS compliance - annual internal reviews, updating your SMS as operations change, and maintaining crew certificate currency.
You will need to re-engage with TC (and potentially resubmit documentation) in situations such as:
Aurora Marine Safety Group prepares complete TC application packages - Forms 85-0547A and 85-0547B, custom SMS documentation, and follow-up with TC through to CMD issuance. Our TC Application Support service starts at $799 if you already have your SMS in order, or we can build the whole thing from scratch.