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. 

https://www.ppa.gc.ca/

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.

The overwhelming majority of pilotage assignments are carried out through a service contract with the British Columbia Coast Pilots Ltd. In 2021, nine Fraser River pilots completed 988 assignments and 117 contract pilots completed 11,101 coastal assignments.  For the same year, the Authority records a total of $84.5 million in pilotage revenues and $86.4 million in expenses.

Chief Executive Officer: Julie Gascon

Chairperson of the Board: Lorraine Cunningham

Board: 7 members (including the Chairperson)

Size: 70 employees

https://www.atlanticpilotage.com/

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 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.

The Authority completed 6,950 assignments in 2021 and reported revenues of $27.6 million and expenses of $26.9 million.

Chief Executive Officer: Captain Sean Griffiths

Chairperson of the Board: Jack Gallagher

Board: 7 members (including the Chairperson)

Size: 84 employees (2021)

https://www.glpa-apgl.com/

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

The GLPA’s 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.

In 2021, the GLPA completed 8,292 assignments, for a total of $45 million in pilotage revenues and $37.1 million in operating expenses.

Chief Executive Officer: Michèle Bergevin 

Chairperson of the Board: Captain James Pound

Board: 7 members (including the Chairperson)

Size: 28 corporate staff and 64 pilots (2021)

https://www.pilotagestlaurent.gc.ca/en/index.html

The Laurentian Pilotage Authority (LPA) is headquartered in Montréal, 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.

In 2021, the Authority reported revenues of $98.9 million and expenses of $100 million, and completed 21,153 assignments.

Chief Executive Officer:  Josée Leroux (interim)

Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Directors: Julius Spivack

Board: 7 members (including the Chairperson)

Size: 62 employees (2021)