General Pilotage Regulations (SOR/2000-132)

22.3 (1) The following ships and classes of ships are subject to compulsory pilotage within the areas referred to in section 22.2:

• (a) ships registered in Canada of more than 1,500 gross tonnage;

• (b) ships not registered in Canada, including floating cranes;

• (c) oil rigs;

• (d) any combination of tug and tow in which

  • (i) the combined gross tonnage exceeds 1,500, or

  • (ii) more than one unit is being towed and the combined gross tonnage exceeds 500;

• (e) pleasure craft of more than 500 gross tonnage; and

• (f) ferries that are entering or leaving a port that is not one of their regularly scheduled terminals.

(2) Despite subsection (1), the following ships and classes of ships are not subject to compulsory pilotage within the areas referred to in section 22.2:

• (a) Canadian-government ships;

• (b) ships registered in Canada that are employed in catching or processing fish or other living resources of the sea;

• (c) Canadian-registered offshore supply vessels of 5,000 gross tonnage or less that have an operations base in a port located within one of the areas;

• (d) ferries that are operating on a regular schedule between two terminals and that are crewed by masters and persons in charge of the deck watch who

  • (i) are regular members of their ferry’s complement, and

  • (ii) hold certificates of competency under the Marine Personnel Regulations;

• (e) pleasure craft of 500 gross tonnage or less not registered in Canada; and

• (f) tugs of 500 gross tonnage or less that are not registered in Canada and that are crewed by masters and persons in charge of the deck watch who

  • (i) are regular members of their tug’s complement, and

  • (ii) hold certificates of competency under the Marine Personnel Regulations.

(3) Despite subsection (1), a ship that is 225.5 m (739.83 ft.) or less in length is not subject to compulsory pilotage within the portion of the Cape Breton compulsory pilotage area described in paragraph 1(d) of Part 3 of Schedule 2 (Zone D, Strait of Canso) unless the ship is conducting operations that require it to move alongside or depart from alongside another ship.

(4) Despite subsection (1), a ship of war or vessel of war is not subject to compulsory pilotage within the Halifax compulsory pilotage area described in section 2 of Part 3 of Schedule 2 if

• (a) the ship or vessel, while within that compulsory pilotage area, is under the operational command of the Commander, Maritime Command, and has been under their operational command for the 30 days before the ship or vessel entered the compulsory pilotage area; and

• (b) the Commander, Maritime Command, has notified the Atlantic Pilotage Authority in writing that the person who is, while the ship or vessel is within that compulsory pilotage area, the commanding officer of the ship or vessel has completed a program of training and familiarization with respect to that compulsory pilotage area that is equivalent to the program completed by officers commanding Canadian ships of war and vessels of war in that compulsory pilotage area.

(5) Despite subsection (1), a ship of war or vessel of war is not subject to compulsory pilotage while within the specified part of the Halifax compulsory pilotage area if the ship or vessel

• (a) has a pilot employed by the Department of National Defence on board; and

• (b) is made fast to and manoeuvred solely by tugs of the Government of Canada.

(6) For the purposes of subsection (5), the specified part in respect of the Halifax compulsory pilotage area is that part of the Halifax compulsory pilotage area described in section 2 of Part 3 of Schedule 2 that lies between a line commencing at a point at Latitude 44°39′15″N., Longitude 63°34′44″W., thence on a bearing of 063° (True) for a distance of 640 m, thence on a bearing of 335° (True) to shore, and a line commencing at a point at Latitude 44°39′50″N., Longitude 63°35′30″W., thence on a bearing of 063° (True) for a distance of 380 m, and thence on a bearing of 335° (True) to shore.

(7) Despite subsection (1), a ship that is less than 15,000 gross tonnage is not subject to compulsory pilotage within the portion of the Voisey’s Bay compulsory pilotage area described in paragraph 2(a) of Part 2 of Schedule 2 (Zone A, Outer).

(8) Despite subsection (2), a ship referred to in paragraph (2)(b), (c), (d), (e) or (f) is subject to compulsory pilotage within the areas referred to in section 22.2 if the Atlantic Pilotage Authority determines that the ship poses a risk to safe navigation for any of the following reasons:

• (a) the seaworthiness of the ship;

• (b) unusual conditions on board the ship;

• (c) operations being conducted by the ship; or

• (d) weather conditions, tides, currents or ice.