Pilotage in Canada

Act: Pilotage Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. P-14
Regulation: Atlantic Pilotage Authority Non-compulsory Area Regulations, SOR/86-1004; Atlantic Pilotage Authority Regulations, C.R.C., Vol. XIII, c. 1264, p. 10229, as amended; Atlantic Pilotage Tariff Regulations - Newfoundland and Labrador Non-compulsory Areas, SOR/81-710, as amended; Atlantic Pilotage Tariff Regulations, 1996, SOR/95-586, as amended; Laurentian Pilotage Authority Regulations, C.R.C., Vol. XIII, c. 1268, p. 10269, as amended; Laurentian Pilotage Tariff Regulations SOR/2001-84, as amended; Laurentian Pilotage Authority District No. 3 Regulations, SOR/87-58; Great Lakes Pilotage Regulations, C.R.C., Vol. XIII, c. 1266, p. 10251, as amended; Great Lakes Pilotage Tariff Regulations, SOR/84-253, as amended; Pacific Pilotage Regulations, C.R.C., Vol. XIII, c. 1270, p. 10293, as amended; Pacific Pilotage Tariff Regulations, SOR/85-583, as amended

To Whom Does This Apply?

Canadian and foreign (not registered in Canada) ships over the prescribed tonnage or length that are entering compulsory pilotage areas as listed in the pilotage regulations for each pilotage authority. A pilot means a person not belonging to a ship who has the conduct thereof. A licensed pilot means a person who holds a valid licence.

Summary

The Pilotage Act establishes Pilotage Authorities and their objectives are to establish, operate, maintain and administer in the interest of safety an efficient pilotage service within the region set out in respect of the Authority.

There are three classes of regulations which govern the piloting of ships in Canada:

• general pilotage regulations, set by the Governor in Council, and for which the contact is the "National Contact" listed at the end of this document;
• regulations established by each Pilotage Authority for its own area. The contact for this is the Pilotage Authority for the area in which you are interested; and
• tariff regulations, which allow each Pilotage Authority to set fair and reasonable tariffs for pilotage charges that permit the Authority to operate on a self-sustaining financial basis. Once again, the contact is the Pilotage Authority for the area in which you are interested. Note: those users wishing to file objections to proposed tariffs should see the document Pilotage Tariff Proposals.

All these regulations together govern:

• which ships or classes of ships that are subject to compulsory pilotage;
• circumstances under which compulsory pilotage may be waived;
• notices to be given by a ship to obtain pilotage services;
• reports to make when a shipping casualty occurs;
• the minimum qualifications (navigational certificates, experience at sea and health) that an applicant for a license or pilotage certificate must meet before being examined;
• the medical examinations that a licensed pilot or holder of a pilotage certificate must undergo to determine whether that pilot or holder meets the health qualifications;
• when the medical examinations must be held (at least once every three years);
• the forms and classes of licenses and pilotage certificates;
• the rules of procedure regarding hearings by a Pilotage Authority; and
• establishing compulsory pilotage areas, that is, areas where a ship must be piloted.

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this section is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. For particular questions, the users are invited to contact their lawyer. For additional information, see contact(s) listed below.

Manitoba Contact(s):
See National Contact.

National Contact(s):
Mr. Donald Roussel
Director
Marine Personnel Standards and Pilotage
Transport Canada
10th floor, Tower C
Place de Ville
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0N5
Telephone: (613) 990-4350
Fax: (613) 990-1538
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-888-675-6863
E-mail: roussed@tc.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.tc.gc.ca/en/menu.htm