In Canada, once a ship enters a compulsory pilotage area, the ship must have a licensed marine pilot or pilotage certificate holder onboard to guide it through the area. These individuals are experts in their field and require a high level of physical, cognitive, sensory, and mental fitness.
When engaged in pilotage duties, a licensed pilot, or a pilotage certificate holder, has conduct of a ship and is responsible to the Master for the safe navigation of the ship.
In June 2021, amendments to the Pilotage Act updated the requirements for issuing and maintaining a pilot licence or a pilotage certificate.
This page provides pilots and pilotage certificate holders with the information required to obtain or maintain a pilot licence or a pilotage certificate under the General Pilotage Regulations.
On this page
Requirements
The medical requirements for an applicant or holder of a pilotage document are provided in Part 1 of the General Pilotage Regulations.
As of January 1, 2024, all new applicants for a pilot licence or a pilotage certificate will be required to have both:
- a National Marine Pilotage Medical Report (NMPMR) completed by a Designated Physician (DP) in accordance with the General Pilotage Regulations, and
- a marine medical certificate, in accordance with the Marine Personnel Regulations
Current holders of a pilot licence or a pilotage certificate will be required to obtain a NMPMR completed by a DP. If their medical situation has not changed, they can use their current marine medical certificate until the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) expiry date.
Only physicians designated as Marine Medical Examiners (MMEs) under the Marine Personnel Regulations are considered DPs under the General Pilotage Regulations. A MME who is a Nurse Practitioner is not recognized as a DP under the General Pilotage Regulations and is therefore not permitted to conduct a medical examination for pilotage.
A DP may conduct a single examination that satisfies the marine medical requirements of the Marine Personnel Regulations and the pilotage medical requirements of the General Pilotage Regulations.
The seafarer must identify to the DP that they conduct or will be conducting pilotage duties before undergoing a medical exam that’s related to their certification. They must also advise if they hold a:
- marine medical certificate
- pilot licence
- pilotage certificate
Paragraph 38.01(4)(a) of the Pilotage Act prohibits licensed pilots or pilotage certificate holders from having the conduct of a ship in a compulsory pilotage area if they have knowledge of a physical or mental incapacity that prevents them from meeting the qualifications required for their licence or pilotage certificate.
Pilot licence and pilotage certificate applicants or holders can find a DP using this link.
Depth perception requirements
The NMPMR includes a depth perception assessment as outlined in Ship Safety Bulletin 25/2023. If the DP is not willing and/or does not have the training/tools to conduct the depth perception component, the seafarer may be required to obtain a depth perception report from another qualified professional. This report can then be provided to the DP by either the seafarer or the professional. The DP will use this report to complete the NMPMR. DPs must submit the NMPMR to Transport Canada’s Marine Medical Unit and provide a copy to the seafarer.
Validity
In most cases, marine medical certificates can have a validity period for
- 2 years for international voyages (vessels subject to the STCW), or
- up to 5 years for Canadian domestic voyages
However, these validity periods are not applicable to pilotage licence/certificate holders. Therefore, in accordance with the General Pilotage Regulations, the NMPMR and marine medical certificate will have a validity period of up to two years beginning on the day of its issuance.
After a seafarer’s exam
What happens if a seafarer disagrees with a medical report?
If a seafarer disagrees with a medical report, they have 15 days to request that the Minister allow a re-examination by a DP chosen by the pilot.
The second DP will re-examine the seafarer following the normal procedures. If the second DP disagrees with the original DP’s assessment, the Minister will appoint a third designated DP to examine the seafarer. The DP appointed by the Minister will re-examine the seafarer following the normal procedures.
The DP appointed by the Minister will issue their report. The report is final and binding on both the Minister and the seafarer.
Re-examinations
The Minister may, at any time, under the General Pilotage Regulations, require that a seafarer be re-examined if:
- they have reasonable grounds to believe that the seafarer’s state of health may constitute a risk to the safety of the ship or of persons on board the ship, or
- the seafarer requests it because they believe they are no longer physically or mentally fit for pilotage duties
An applicant or holder who has reasonable grounds to believe that they are no longer physically or mentally fit for pilotage duties in accordance with subsection 2(3) of the GPR shall immediately inform the Minister and request a medical re-examination. See the “Need help?” section below for contact information.
Need help?
Help for Pilots or Pilotage Certificate Holders: TC.Marinemedicine-Medecinemaritime.TC@tc.gc.ca
Fax: 613-993-4935
Mail:
Marine Medical Unit
Transport Canada
Mailstop: AMS
Place de Ville, Tower C
330 Sparks St
Ottawa ON K1A 0N8