In Canada, once a ship enters a compulsory pilotage area, the ship must have a licenced pilot or pilotage certificate holder conduct it through the area. These individuals are experts in their field, they use their maritime experience as well as their in-depth local knowledge of the waterways to ensure that ships travel safely in compulsory pilotage areas.
Transport Canada works with Pilotage Authorities to issue, renew, replace, suspend, and cancel Canadian marine pilotage documents which include licences and certificates. Experienced seafarers can apply for a marine pilotage licence or pilotage certificate by contacting your local pilotage authority:
- the Pacific Pilotage Authority
- the Great Lakes Pilotage Authority
- the Atlantic Pilotage Authority, or
- the Laurentian Pilotage Authority
On this page
- Get a pilotage license
- Get a pilotage certificate
- After you apply
- Replace a document
- Confirm the status of a document request
- Return a suspended or cancelled document
- Marine Pilotage Medical Requirements
- Marine Pilotage Modernization
- Canadian Marine Advisory Council – Marine Pilotage
- Contact us
Get a pilotage license
You can earn a pilotage licence through an apprenticeship with a pilotage authority. For more information on apprenticeships please visit the pilotage authorities’ websites.
Once you complete your apprenticeship, the pilotage authority will submit your application for a pilotage licence to Transport Canada for review and issuance.
Get a pilotage certificate
If you are a regular crew member on a domestic ship and want to pilot the vessel through a compulsory pilotage area, you will need a pilotage certificate. To qualify for a pilotage certificate, you need to meet the requirements in the Pilotage Act and General Pilotage Regulation Divisions for the Pacific, Great Lakes, Atlantic, and Laurentian Pilotage Authority Regions. Once you meet these requirements, you can apply for a pilotage certificate through a board of exams or by completing a pilotage certification program that is currently managed by the various pilotage authorities (please see websites for more information).
Once you complete your exam or training program, the pilotage authority will submit your application for a pilotage certificate to Transport Canada for review and issuance.
We’re currently developing a National Pilotage Certification Program. This program will ensure a consistent approach to certification across all compulsory pilotage areas in Canada.
After you apply
Processing time
We process applications in the order they arrive. The service standard is 5 business days to process an application. If your application is incomplete, it may take longer to process while waiting for required documentation.
To check the status of your application please email mss-pilotage-ssm@tc.gc.ca with:
- your name
- your Candidate Document Number (CDN), and
- the area you applied for
Replace a document
If you need to replace a pilotage document, please email: mss-pilotage-ssm@tc.gc.ca
Confirm the status of a document request
Confirm the validity of a document via the Seafarer Certificate Database.
If you have questions or need something verified, please email: mss-pilotage-ssm@tc.gc.ca
Return a suspended or cancelled document
Canadian law gives Transport Canada the power to suspend or cancel a pilotage document. If you have questions about a document being suspended or cancelled, please email: mss-pilotage-ssm@tc.gc.ca
A licence or pilotage certificate that is suspended or cancelled shall be returned as soon as possible to the Minister either by returning it to a Marine Safety and Security Office service centre or by mailing to the following address:
Transport Canada
AMSP- Pilotage
330 Sparks Street
8th floor, Tower C
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0N8
Marine Pilotage Medical Requirements
The medical requirements for an applicant or holder of a pilotage document are provided in the General Pilotage Regulations Part 1. For more detailed information please consult: Information for pilots/pilotage certificate holders under the General Pilotage Regulations (medical requirements).
Marine Pilotage Modernization
The application and maintaining qualification processes are taking into consideration evolving technologies. Research is underway to integrate marine pilotage into the Seafarer Services Application and future proposals will be available for public input at the National Canadian Marine Advisory Council meetings.
Canadian Marine Advisory Council - Marine Pilotage Licences and Certificates
Updates regarding requirements for applicants or holders of a Marine Pilot Licence or Pilotage Certificate are presented at the National Canadian Marine Advisory Council (CMAC) meetings. Past councils on the topic of Marine Pilotage Licensing and Certification can be accessed on the CMAC website.
Contact us
Email: mss-pilotage-ssm@tc.gc.ca
Mail:
Transport Canada / Transports Canada
AMSP- Pilotage
330 Sparks Street / 330 rue Sparks
8th floor, Tower C / 8ie étage, Tour C
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0N8
Related links
- Oceans Protection Plan
- Pilotage Act
- General Pilotage Regulations
- Pilotage Act Review Final Report – April 2018
- Application for a licence or pilotage certificate (Form 82-0791)
- Testimonial of Pilotage Training Trip for an Atlantic Pilotage Authority Pilotage Certificate Applicant (Form 82-0809)
- Transport Canada Region Service Centres
- Seafarer Certification Services Modernization