Pacific Pilotage Regulations Updated

Summary#

These are final amendments to the Pacific Pilotage Regulations made by the Pacific Pilotage Authority (registered as SOR/2020-211). They clarify who is eligible to apply to be a marine pilot, tighten rules about when a ship can travel in compulsory pilotage waters without a pilot, and define a new traffic control zone. The changes came into force on October 14, 2020 (the day the rules were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II).

What it does#

• Clarifies the experience and training needed to apply for a pilot licence or pilotage certificate:
  • Separates rules for the Fraser River (Area 1) from coastal areas (Areas 2–5).
  • Requires 10 familiarization trips for Area 1 applicants.
  • Adds that time served on ships of 25 gross tonnage or 50 tonnes light displacement counts toward experience.
  • Sets specific service-day targets and mixes of experience for different paths to a licence, including options such as 700, 365, 547, and 1,000 days in various roles and areas. At least 100 of required service days must be in the prior 24 months; Area certificates generally require 250 days in the area sought.
• Changes who must take a pilot:
  • Every ship of more than 350 gross tonnage (not a pleasure craft) and every pleasure craft over 500 gross tonnage are subject to compulsory pilotage.
  • Exempts United States government ships under 10,000 gross tonnage in a specific clause.
• Tightens rules on pilotage waivers (when a ship may operate without an embarked licensed pilot):
  • Allows waivers in predictable situations (e.g., warping, proceeding directly to or from a pilot boarding station).
  • For ships under 10,000 gross tonnage, requires that each person in charge of the deck watch meet certificate and recent-service tests: either 150 days in the last 18 months or 365 days in the last 60 months (including at least 60 days in the last 24 months), plus at least one prior occasion in the area in the last 24 months.
  • Adds voyage-count requirements for waiver holders in parts of Area 1 and the Second Narrows Traffic Control Zone:
    • 5 return voyages (west of New Westminster railway bridge) or 10 return voyages (east of the bridge) in the last 24 months, with prior notice to the Authority, under specified conditions.
    • For ships carrying dangerous goods in the Second Narrows Traffic Control Zone, 6 return voyages (at least one within the prior 24 months) with prior notice.
  • Makes the combined gross tonnage of ship arrangements count when deciding waiver eligibility.
  • Clarifies waivers only apply while the crew who meet waiver conditions are actually on board.
• Adds a clear definition for the Second Narrows Traffic Control Zone (a portion of Area 2 with specified boundary lines).

Who's affected#

• Mariners and seafarers who want to become licensed pilots, especially those working on smaller ships now counted (ships of 25 gross tonnage or 50 tonnes light displacement).
• Shipping companies and operators that use pilotage waivers or run ships in the Fraser River and coastal pilotage areas (Areas 1–5).
• Ships carrying dangerous goods moving through the Second Narrows Traffic Control Zone.
• The Pacific Pilotage Authority (implements exams, familiarization, and waiver decisions) and pilot organizations consulted, such as BC Coast Pilots Ltd.
• If it is unclear who is affected in a specific case (for example, certain mixed fleets or ship arrangements), the Authority’s waiver decisions will determine individual outcomes.

Why it matters#

• The rules remove ambiguity about who may apply to be a pilot. That should make more qualified mariners eligible to take the pilot exam and help with pilot recruitment as demand rises.
• Waiver changes aim to reduce safety risks by making movements in compulsory pilotage waters more predictable and by ensuring only crews with recent, relevant experience can operate without a pilot.
• Operators of smaller vessels and those who currently rely on waivers will need to check their crews’ recent-service records and voyage histories to stay eligible.
• The amendments are described as not adding new costs for industry, though the Pacific Pilotage Authority may face higher examination-related costs if more candidates apply.