Interim Pilotage Orders for Pacific and Atlantic Areas

Summary#

The Department of Transport issued three interim pilotage orders under the Pilotage Act: Interim Order No. 3 Respecting Area 2 of the Pacific Pilotage Authority Region (signed May 30, 2025) and two orders signed June 3, 2025: Interim Order No. 4 Respecting the Belledune Compulsory Pilotage Area and Interim Order No. 4 Respecting the Sheet Harbour Compulsory Pilotage Area. They change where pilotage is compulsory, which ships must take a pilot, and how some pilotage certificates can be obtained.

What it does#

• Interim Order No. 3 Respecting Area 2 of the Pacific Pilotage Authority Region

  • Expands Area 2 to include all waters inside a polygon defined by these coordinates: 48°15′48″ N., 123°21′12″ W. → 48°22′27″ N., 123°23′12″ W. → 48°22′27″ N., 123°25′48″ W. → 48°16′03″ N., 123°29′36″ W. → 48°15′54″ N., 123°31′48″ W. → 48°16′21″ N., 123°34′00″ W. → 48°14′42″ N., 123°34′00″ W. → 48°14′29″ N., 123°32′00″ W. and back to 48°15′48″ N., 123°21′12″ W.
  • Limits compulsory pilotage inside that extended Area 2 to laden crude oil tankers with a summer deadweight tonnage of 40,000 or more.
  • Requires that notices sent under the pilotage rules state the nature of any cargo on board.
  • Repeals Interim Order No. 2 (made May 1, 2025).

• Interim Order No. 4 Respecting the Belledune Compulsory Pilotage Area

  • Declares the Belledune compulsory area to be all navigable waters within an arc of radius two nautical miles measured from the breakwater light at 47°54.8′00″ N., 65°50.3′00″ W.
  • Lets applicants for a Belledune pilotage certificate substitute the normal extra at-sea experience requirement if, within the two-year period before applying, they completed an Atlantic Pilotage Authority familiarization program that gives equivalent experience.
  • Repeals the earlier Interim Order No. 3 for Belledune (made June 4, 2024).

• Interim Order No. 4 Respecting the Sheet Harbour Compulsory Pilotage Area

  • Defines the Sheet Harbour compulsory area by a line and named local features (Guilford Rock, Western Shagroost Island, Fishery Island) and a coordinate at 44°51.35′00″ N., 62°28.25′00″ W.
  • Makes only these ships subject to compulsory pilotage there:
    • ships 170 m or more in length;
    • tankers; and
    • liquefied natural gas carriers.
  • Keeps certain other exempt ship classes exempt, unless the Atlantic Pilotage Authority decides a ship poses a risk for reasons such as:
    • seaworthiness problems;
    • unusual conditions on board;
    • particular operations being carried out;
    • weather, tides, currents, or ice.
  • Allows the same familiarization-program alternative to the extra at-sea experience for pilotage certificate applicants (within two years).
  • Repeals the earlier Interim Order No. 3 for Sheet Harbour (made June 4, 2024).

Who's affected#

• Ship operators and owners whose vessels travel the named areas — especially:
  • laden crude oil tankers of 40,000 deadweight tons or more in the Pacific Area 2 extension;
  • tankers, liquefied natural gas carriers, and ships 170 m or longer in the Sheet Harbour area.
• Marine pilots and the Pacific Pilotage Authority and Atlantic Pilotage Authority, which manage pilotage services and familiarization programs.
• Mariners applying for pilotage certificates in Belledune or Sheet Harbour who may use a recent familiarization program instead of extra sea time.
• Ports, terminal operators, and local coastal communities that host or receive affected ships.
• If the source is unclear about whether specific nearby ports or communities are included, the orders give exact coordinates and named features for checking coverage.

Why it matters#

• These orders change which ships must take a local pilot. That affects operational planning, scheduling and costs for shipping companies and port operators.
• Limiting compulsory pilotage to larger crude oil tankers in the Pacific Area 2, and to larger/tanker/LNG vessels in Sheet Harbour, focuses pilotage rules on higher-risk traffic.
• Requiring cargo type to be declared in pilotage notices gives authorities clearer information about potential environmental risk.
• Letting familiarization programs substitute for extra sea time could help qualified mariners gain local certification faster — but it depends on the availability and content of those programs run by the pilotage authorities.
• Older interim orders are repealed and replaced, so operators working from earlier interim rules should check the new text and coordinates to confirm current obligations.