Pilotage Authorities

 

The Pilotage Act establishes designated “compulsory pilotage areas” in Canadian waters where certain vessels are required to have a marine pilot, or pilotage certificate holder, on board to guide the vessel’s transit.

Pilotage authorities are legislated to be financially self-sufficient and receive no appropriations from the Government of Canada. As Crown corporations, they operate at arm’s length from their sole shareholder, the Government of Canada. While the shareholder provides policy direction for the corporation’s ongoing operations, as stated in the Financial Administration Act, each authority’s Board of Directors ensures that the corporation fulfils its mandate by setting the corporation’s strategic direction, organizational goals, and monitoring their implementation. Authorities report to Parliament through the Minister of Transport.

Chief Executive Officer: Captain Kevin Obermeyer

Chairperson: Lorraine Cunningham

The Pacific Pilotage Authority (PPA) is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. It operates in five distinct compulsory pilotage areas (i.e. districts)—four coastal districts and one Fraser River district. Pilotage services are delivered primarily to cruise ships and international shipping vessels transporting containers, forestry products, and grain between North America and Asia.

Its organization is made up of three executives, nine management staff, seven administrative/accounting staff, 18 dispatchers and 39 launch employees. The PPA also employs a small number of pilots to operate exclusively within the Fraser River district. However, the overwhelming majority of pilotage assignments are carried out through a service contract with the British Columbia Coast Pilots Ltd. In 2020, eight Fraser River pilots completed 949 assignments and 123 contract pilots (119 full-time) completed 11,787 coastal assignments, for a total of $83.2 million in pilotage revenues and $83.4 million in expenses. The PPA owns six pilot boats.

Website of the Pacific Pilotage Authority

Chief Executive Officer: Captain Sean Griffiths

Chairperson: Jack Gallagher

The Atlantic Pilotage Authority (APA)’s head office is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The APA provides pilotage services in 17 compulsory ports in the Canadian waters surrounding the four Atlantic Provinces, including the waters of the Bay of Chaleur, Quebec. Foreign-flagged vessels provide the great majority of the APA’s business. The APA also endeavours to provide pilotage service to other areas, referred to as non-compulsory areas, upon request. The Authority primarily services tankers, container ships and cruise ships.

In 2020, the APA had 85 employees, including 51 employee pilots, ten officers and administrative staff, 18 pilot boat crew and six dispatch staff. The Authority completed 7,234 assignments in 2020 and reported revenues of $25 million and expenses of $26 million. A total of 27 vessels are used to deliver service for the Authority, of which the APA owns 11 pilot boats stationed in four ports.

Website of the Atlantic Pilotage Authority

Chief Executive Officer: Michèle Bergevin 

Chairperson: Captain James Pound

The Great Lakes Pilotage Authority, headquartered in Cornwall, Ontario, delivers pilotage services within the Great Lakes and pilotage waters of Churchill, Manitoba.

The GLPA operations are divided into six compulsory pilotage areas (i.e. districts), which include waters contiguous with the United States. GLPA pilots perform harbour, river and lake pilotage services within domestic and international waters for a variety of vessel types carrying a range of cargos. The overwhelming majority of these assignments are performed on foreign-flagged, ocean-going ships during the navigation season of the St. Lawrence Seaway. The GLPA coordinates operations with the United States Coast Guard.

Its organization is made up of three executives, 10 administrative staff and 11 dispatchers. In 2020, the PPA employed 60 licensed marine pilots to complete 9,290 assignments, for a total of $38.2 million in pilotage revenues and $39.0 million in operating expenses. The GLPA does not own any pilot boats; all pilot boat services are through contract. The use of pilotage certificate holders instead of pilots is more common in the Great Lakes than any other region in Canada.

Website of the Great Lakes Pilotage Authority

Chief Executive Officer: Fulvio Fracassi

Chairperson: Julius Spivack

The Laurentian Pilotage Authority (LPA) is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. LPA operations are carried out in three compulsory pilotage districts: the Port of Montreal, the navigable waters between Montreal and Quebec City, and the navigable waters between Quebec City and Les Escoumins, including the Saguenay River. The LPA primarily services bulk carriers, oil tankers and container ships.

As of 2020, the LPA had a total of 58 employees, including 5 management staff, 17 administration and operations staff, 22 dispatchers, and 14 boat crew. In addition, the LPA has service contracts with 195 licensed pilots and 19 apprentice pilots, who are members of the Corporation of Mid St. Lawrence Pilots and the Corporation of Lower St. Lawrence Pilots. There are also two pilotage certificate holders operating on domestic vessels in the St. Lawrence River. In 2020, the Authority reported revenues of $93.9 million and expenses of $96.5 million, and completed 21,215 assignments. The LPA currently owns and operates two pilot boats.

Website of the Laurentian Pilotage Authority