Pacific Pilotage Tariff Changes

Summary#

These are final rules made by the Pacific Pilotage Authority that change fees in the Regulations Amending the Pacific Pilotage Tariff Regulations. Most of the new rates took effect on April 1, 2020, with one new per-assignment administrative fee starting August 21, 2020.

What it does#

• Raises most pilotage tariffs by 2.25% (this excludes fuel charges).
• Increases the pilot boat (launch) charge from $60 to $100 per assignment.
• Adds a new Pilotage Act administration charge of $57 per assignment, coming into force August 21, 2020.
• Cuts the pilot-boat fuel charge at Pine Island by 50% (specific amounts are set in the schedules).
• Sets a new minimum total pilotage charge of $1,087.33 per ship.
• Clarifies delay charges: no delay charge for periods under 40 minutes, and specifies how the hourly delay charge is calculated when a pilot reports but cannot start the assignment.
• Updates several other specific surcharges and schedule amounts, including short-notice initiation charges of $939.30 (daytime) and $1,878.59 (night), and extra fees for pilots embarking or disembarking in U.S. or out-of-region locations (for example, $2,097.95 and $2,797.63 per pilot).

Who's affected#

• Commercial ship operators and owners who must use compulsory pilotage services on the Canadian west coast.
• Industry groups such as the Chamber of Shipping, the Shipping Federation of Canada, the International Shipowners’ Association, and the Cruise Lines International Association.
• Pilotage pilots and the Pacific Pilotage Authority, because the changes affect how revenue is collected and some operational charges.
• Smaller pleasure craft are generally not affected if they have a waiver from compulsory pilotage.
• If it is unclear who will feel a specific small schedule change, the Regulation’s schedules list the exact new dollar amounts.

Why it matters#

• The changes raise the cost of using a harbor pilot slightly. That can increase operating costs for shipping companies and, indirectly, affect freight or cruise costs.
• The extra revenue is intended to keep the Pacific Pilotage Authority financially self-sufficient and to pay for a new pilot launch and for Transport Canada’s administration costs under the Pilotage Act.
• The clearer rules on delay and short-notice charges reduce uncertainty about when extra fees apply.
• If you work in shipping, logistics, cruise operations, or maritime services on Canada’s west coast, these are the concrete fee changes you may see on invoices.