Pacific Pilotage Regulations Amendments

Summary#

This is a proposed change, published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on December 14, 2019, from the Pacific Pilotage Authority to amend the Pacific Pilotage Regulations. The amendments would clarify who can apply to be a pilot and tighten rules about when ships can navigate without a pilot; interested people have 30 days from publication to comment or object.

What it does#

• Clarifies and reorganizes the sea‑service and certification rules needed to apply to be a pilot under the Pacific Pilotage Regulations. Key numeric thresholds added or clarified include:
  • Experience can be counted on ships of at least 25 gross tonnage or 50 tonnes light displacement.
  • Familiarization trip requirements set at 10, 15, 20, or 30 trips depending on the route and qualifications sought.
  • Minimum days of service set at levels such as 700 days, 365 days, 1,000 days, with sub‑requirements of 250 days, 547 days, 635 days, and at least 100 days completed within the prior 24 months for some routes.
• Changes who and when compulsory pilotage applies:
  • Ships over 350 gross tonnage (non‑pleasure) and pleasure craft over 500 gross tonnage are subject to compulsory pilotage.
  • Some exemptions (waivers) are allowed for ships warping, or those proceeding directly to or from a pilot boarding station.
  • The Authority may grant waivers for ships under 10,000 gross tonnage only if the persons in charge of the deck watch meet certificate and recent‑service tests (for example 150 days in the last 18 months, or 365 days in the last 60 months, including 60 days in the last 24 months).
  • Specific return‑voyage experience requirements are set for parts of the Fraser River: 5 return voyages west of the New Westminster railway bridge, 10 return voyages east of the bridge, and 6 return voyages (with one in the last 24 months) for ships carrying dangerous goods in the Second Narrows Traffic Control Zone.
• Tightens waiver rules and navigation behavior:
  • Ships without a pilot must proceed by predictable and direct routes while inside compulsory pilotage waters and must not loiter without a clear destination.
  • A waiver only applies for the period that its conditions (including the presence of specified crew) are actually met; the waiver does not cover time before those crew embark or after they disembark.
• Administrative and enforcement notes:
  • Non‑compliance can lead to revocation of a waiver and potential offences under the Pilotage Act.
  • The proposal says no new enforcement mechanisms are required and that these changes are intended to clarify existing rules rather than add new costs.

Who's affected#

• Mariners seeking to become licensed pilots, especially those with experience on smaller vessels measured by light displacement.
• Ship masters and companies that operate in the coastal waters of British Columbia and the Fraser River.
• Operators who currently hold or seek waiver of compulsory pilotage (including those with ships under 10,000 gross tonnage).
• Agencies and organizations involved in pilotage and marine safety, such as the Pacific Pilotage Authority, Canadian Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Services, Transport Canada, and BC Coast Pilots Ltd.
• Industry groups that were consulted, including the Chamber of Shipping and the Shipping Federation of Canada.
  If it is unclear whether a specific vessel or mariner qualifies for a waiver or meets the new experience counts, the Authority would be the place to ask.

Why it matters#

• Makes the path to becoming a pilot clearer. More mariners—including those with time on ships measured by light displacement—may now qualify to take the pilot exam. That could help address pilot shortages as demand rises.
• Aims to reduce safety risks in busy pilotage waters by preventing vessels from loitering or navigating unpredictably without a pilot. That could lower collision and traffic‑management risks near pilot boarding stations and choke points.
• The proposal says there are no new costs for industry and that the main benefits are clearer rules, more applicants for pilotage, and improved navigational safety.
• This is a proposed regulatory amendment, not final law. Comments or objections can be submitted within 30 days of the Canada Gazette publication.