Canada's 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.  

Website of the Pacific Pilotage Authority

The Pacific Pilotage Authority 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 2023, the Pacific Pilotage Authority completed 13,424 assignments. For the same year, the Pacific Pilotage Authority recorded a total of $123.3 million in revenues and $117.5 million in expenses.  

Chief Executive Officer: John Wilson

Chairperson: Vacant

Board: 7 members (including the Chairperson)

Size: 114 employees (2023)

Website of the Atlantic Pilotage Authority

The Atlantic Pilotage Authority’s head office is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It provides pilotage services in 20 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 Atlantic Pilotage Authority’s business and it primarily services tankers, container ships and cruise ships. 

In 2023, the Atlantic Pilotage Authority completed 8,585 assignments. For the same year, the Atlantic Pilotage Authority recorded a total of $35.1 million in revenues and $33.2 million in expenses. 

Chief Executive Officer: Captain Sean Griffiths

Chairperson: John Patrick McCann

Board: 7 members (including the Chairperson)

Size: 85 employees (2023)

Website of the Great Lakes Pilotage Authority

The Great Lakes Pilotage Authority is headquartered in Cornwall, Ontario and delivers pilotage services within the Great Lakes and pilotage waters of Churchill, Manitoba. The Great Lakes Pilotage Authority’s operations are divided into six compulsory pilotage areas (i.e., districts), which include waters contiguous with the United States. The majority of assignments are performed on foreign-flagged, ocean-going ships during the navigation season of the St. Lawrence Seaway. The Great Lakes Pilotage Authority coordinates operations with the United States Coast Guard. 

In 2023, the Great Lakes Pilotage Authority completed 8,823 assignments. For the same year, the Great Lakes Pilotage Authority recorded a total of $45.3 million in revenues and $52.4 million in expenses.  

Chief Executive Officer:Captain James Pound (interim)

Chairperson: Captain James Pound

Board: 7 members (including the Chairperson)

Size: 100 employees - including pilots (2023)

Website of the Laurentian Pilotage Authority

The Laurentian Pilotage Authority is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. The Laurentian Pilotage Authority's 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 Laurentian Pilotage Authority primarily services bulk carriers, oil tankers and container ships. 

In 2023, the Laurentian Pilotage Authority completed 21,734 assignments. In 2023, the Laurentian Pilotage Authority recorded a total of $115.3 million in revenues and $114.8 million in expenses.  

Chief Executive Officer: Marc-Yves Bertin

Chairperson: Marie-Claude Cardin

Board: 7 members (including the Chairperson)

Size: 69 employees (2023)