Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada
Symbol of the Government of Canada

Search

Great Lakes Pilotage Regulations (C.R.C., c. 1266)

Regulations are current to 2024-03-06 and last amended on 2011-07-01. Previous Versions

Apprenticeship

  •  (1) For the purpose of gaining experience on ships of different types and sizes, an apprentice pilot for a compulsory pilotage area may, under the supervision of a licensed pilot for that area, undertake shipboard pilotage training on any ship that is subject to compulsory pilotage.

  • (2) A deck watch officer who is training for a pilotage certificate for a compulsory pilotage area may, under the supervision of the holder of a pilotage certificate for that area or a licensed pilot for that area, undertake shipboard pilotage training on

    • (a) a Canadian ship of more than 1 500 gross tonnage; or

    • (b) an arrangement of ships whose total gross tonnage is 1 500 gross tonnage or more.

  • SOR/2004-215, s. 6
  • SOR/2011-136, s. 5

Endorsements

  •  (1) A licence or pilotage certificate shall be endorsed in respect of any restrictions or appropriate qualifications pertaining to the holder thereof.

  • (2) Subject to any restrictions or qualifications that are endorsed on it, a licence or pilotage certificate permits its holder to perform pilotage duties on a ship in any compulsory pilotage area that is endorsed on the licence or certificate.

  • SOR/2004-215, s. 7(F)
  • SOR/2011-136, s. 6

Qualifications

Applicant for a Licence

  •  (1) An applicant for a licence shall

    • (a) have the sea service described in section 12 of the General Pilotage Regulations;

    • (b) pass an examination conducted by a Board of Examiners by showing a knowledge of the topics set out in section 13 that is compatible with the safe performance of pilotage duties;

    • (c) hold a Restricted Operator’s Certificate (ROC-MC) or General Operator Certificate (GOC) issued under the Radiocommunication Act;

    • (d) hold training certificates showing that the applicant has successfully completed

    • (e) demonstrate professional conduct;

    • (f) have been declared fit to perform pilotage duties in accordance with the medical requirements of the General Pilotage Regulations; and

    • (g) be able to speak and understand English to the extent necessary to perform pilotage duties.

  • (2) An applicant for a licence for a compulsory pilotage area for which an apprenticeship system has been established shall have completed the full apprenticeship required by the Authority before taking the examination referred to in paragraph (1)(b).

  • (3) An applicant for a licence for a compulsory pilotage area, other than the Port of Churchill, Manitoba, shall have completed at least 50 training trips in that area before taking the examination referred to in paragraph (1)(b).

  • (4) An applicant for a licence for the Cornwall District shall be able to speak and understand French to the extent necessary to perform pilotage duties in that area.

  • SOR/80-15, s. 1
  • SOR/2004-215, s. 8
  • SOR/2011-136, s. 7

Applicant for a Pilotage Certificate — Before January 1, 2013

 Subject to section 12.2, an applicant for a pilotage certificate who applies before January 1, 2013 shall

  • (a) have the sea service described in section 12 of the General Pilotage Regulations;

  • (b) have completed, within the three years immediately preceding the date of the application, at least 10 one-way trips in each compulsory pilotage area in which the applicant intends to perform pilotage duties;

  • (c) pass an examination conducted by a Board of Examiners by showing a knowledge of the topics set out in section 13 that is compatible with the safe performance of pilotage duties;

  • (d) hold a Restricted Operator’s Certificate (ROC-MC) or General Operator Certificate (GOC) issued under the Radiocommunication Act;

  • (e) hold training certificates showing that the applicant has successfully completed

  • (f) demonstrate professional conduct;

  • (g) have been declared fit to perform pilotage duties in accordance with the medical requirements of the General Pilotage Regulations; and

  • (h) be able to speak and understand English to the extent necessary to perform pilotage duties.

  • SOR/2011-136, s. 7
  •  (1) An applicant for a pilotage certificate who applies before January 1, 2013 is not required to meet the qualifications prescribed in paragraph 12.1(c) if, before that date, the applicant provides the Authority with a statutory declaration stating the following information:

    • (a) the applicant’s experience and service in the conduct of Canadian ships in and through the parts of each compulsory pilotage area that the pilotage certificate is applied for;

    • (b) that the applicant is a Canadian citizen or is a permanent resident as described in paragraph 22(2)(b) of the Act;

    • (c) the applicant’s age; and

    • (d) the type of each certificate of competency that the applicant holds.

  • (2) The statutory declaration referred to in subsection (1) shall include the following attachments:

    • (a) proof that the applicant is a Canadian citizen or is a permanent resident as described in paragraph 22(2)(b) of the Act;

    • (b) proof of the applicant’s sea service;

    • (c) proof of the applicant’s experience and service in the conduct of Canadian ships in and through the parts of each compulsory pilotage area that the pilotage certificate is applied for;

    • (d) a photocopy of the applicant’s Restricted Operator’s Certificate (ROC-MC) or General Operator Certificate (GOC);

    • (e) a photocopy of each training certificate required under paragraph 12.1(e);

    • (f) a photocopy of each certificate of competency that the applicant holds; and

    • (g) proof of the applicant’s age.

  • SOR/2011-136, s. 7

Applicant for a Pilotage Certificate — After December 31, 2012

 An applicant for a pilotage certificate who applies after December 31, 2012 shall

  • (a) have the sea service described in section 12 of the General Pilotage Regulations;

  • (b) have completed, within the three years immediately preceding the date of the application, at least 15 trips in each compulsory pilotage area in which the applicant intends to perform pilotage duties;

  • (c) either

    • (i) pass an examination conducted by a Board of Examiners by showing a knowledge of the topics set out in section 13 that is compatible with the safe performance of pilotage duties, or

    • (ii) have successfully completed the Great Lakes Marine Pilotage Certificate Training Program;

  • (d) hold a Restricted Operator’s Certificate (ROC-MC) or General Operator Certificate (GOC) issued under the Radiocommunication Act;

  • (e) hold training certificates showing that the applicant has successfully completed

  • (f) demonstrate professional conduct;

  • (g) have been declared fit to perform pilotage duties in accordance with the medical requirements of the General Pilotage Regulations; and

  • (h) be able to speak and understand English to the extent necessary to perform pilotage duties.

  • SOR/2011-136, s. 7

 An applicant for a pilotage certificate who applies after December 31, 2012 shall provide the Authority with

  • (a) proof that the applicant is a Canadian citizen or is a permanent resident as described in paragraph 22(2)(b) of the Act;

  • (b) proof of the applicant’s acquired experience and service in the conduct of Canadian ships, or arrangements of ships, whose total gross tonnage is 1 500 gross tonnage or more in and through the parts of each compulsory pilotage area in which the applicant intends to perform pilotage duties;

  • (c) a photocopy of the applicant’s Restricted Operator’s Certificate (ROC-MC) or General Operator Certificate (GOC);

  • (d) a photocopy of each training certificate required under paragraph 12.3(e);

  • (e) a photocopy of each certificate of competency that the applicant holds; and

  • (f) proof of the applicant’s age.

  • SOR/2011-136, s. 7

Great Lakes Marine Pilotage Certificate Training Program

 For greater certainty, the Authority shall ensure that successfully completing the Great Lakes Marine Pilotage Certificate Training Program is equivalent to passing an examination for a pilotage certificate.

  • SOR/2011-136, s. 7

Examinations

  •  (1) An examination for a licence or pilotage certificate shall relate to the applicant’s knowledge of the following topics:

    • (a) the pilotage and navigational requirements of each area in which the applicant intends to perform pilotage duties, including knowledge of the currents, depths of water, anchorage areas, aids to navigation and, as applicable, tides;

    • (b) the marine traffic control system, if any, in each area in which the applicant intends to perform pilotage duties;

    • (c) the relevant parts of the Act and the regulations made under it;

    • (d) ship handling, including the related characteristics of a ship and the principles of hydrodynamics;

    • (e) the practical use of all shipboard navigational instruments;

    • (f) the duties, responsibilities and obligations of a pilot; and

    • (g) the relevant customs, port, immigration and pollution regulations.

  • (2) If an applicant intends to perform pilotage duties in an area other than the Port of Churchill, Manitoba, the examination shall also relate to the applicant’s knowledge of the Seaway Property Regulations.

  • (3) If an applicant intends to perform pilotage duties in the Port of Churchill, Manitoba, the examination shall also relate to the applicant’s knowledge of the Collision Regulations and any regulations respecting the Port of Churchill made under any law of Canada.

  • SOR/2011-136, s. 7

 An examination for a licence or pilotage certificate shall be conducted at a place or places determined by the Authority and notice of the examination shall be communicated by the Authority to every applicant for a licence or pilotage certificate.

  • SOR/2011-136, s. 7

Board of Examiners

  •  (1) A Board of Examiners shall consist of an officer of the Authority, who shall be the Chairperson of the Board, and of the Board members appointed by the Authority under subsection (2) or (3).

  • (2) In the case of an applicant for a licence for a compulsory pilotage area, the Authority shall appoint the following Board members:

    • (a) two persons, each of whom holds a licence for the area; and

    • (b) a person who does not hold a licence for the area but is knowledgeable about the area and holds

  • (3) In the case of an applicant for a pilotage certificate for a compulsory pilotage area, the Authority shall appoint the following Board members:

    • (a) two persons, each of whom holds a licence or a pilotage certificate for the area; and

    • (b) a person who does not hold a licence or pilotage certificate for the area but is knowledgeable about the area and holds

  • (4) The Chairperson of the Board of Examiners shall report to the Authority the results of every examination, including

    • (a) the name of each person who passed the examination; and

    • (b) the class of licence or pilotage certificate to which a person who passed the examination is entitled.

  • SOR/2004-215, ss. 9, 14(E)
  • SOR/2011-136, s. 8

Fees

  •  (1) The fee for an examination of an applicant for a licence or pilotage certificate is $500.

  • (2) Until December 31, 2012, the fee for issuing a licence or pilotage certificate is $100.

  • (3) Beginning on January 1, 2013, the fee for issuing a licence or pilotage certificate is $250.

  • SOR/81-63, s. 2
  • SOR/2004-215, s. 10
  • SOR/2011-136, s. 9

Maintaining Qualifications

  •  (1) A licence expires unless its holder

    • (a) remains fit to perform pilotage duties in accordance with the medical requirements of the General Pilotage Regulations;

    • (b) maintains and, if possible, improves his or her competence with respect to pilotage duties;

    • (c) holds valid certificates of competency and valid certificates issued under the Radiocommunication Act, if they were required for the issuance of the licence;

    • (d) maintains valid training certificates, if they were required for the issuance of the licence; and

    • (e) completes, every year, at least five one-way trips in each compulsory pilotage area for which the licence was issued.

  • (2) Paragraph (1)(d) does not apply in respect of a licence for the Port of Churchill, Manitoba.

  • SOR/2004-215, s. 11
  • SOR/2011-136, s. 10
 

Date modified: