General Pilotage Regulations (SOR/2000-132)

Qualifications for Holders of Pilotage Certificates for All Districts

• 23.23 (1) Every applicant for a Class A, Class B or Class C pilotage certificate who is applying for their first pilotage certificate shall

  • (a) have obtained a passing mark in an examination conducted by the Board of Examiners;

  • (b) within 90 days before the oral test portion of the examination referred to in paragraph (a), have been declared medically fit to perform pilotage duties in accordance with Part 1;

  • (c) have served on ships engaged in voyages in the appropriate district,

    • (i) in the case of a certificate for District No. 1-1, at least two years as master, or

    • (ii) in the case of a certificate for District No. 1 or District No. 2, at least

      • (A) one year as master, or

      • (B) three years as deck officer;

  • (d) have completed,

    • (i) in the case of a certificate for District No. 1-1, during each of their years of service as required by paragraph (c), at least 20 movages including six movages in that district during the period beginning on December 1 and ending on the following April 8,

    • (ii) in the case of a certificate for District No. 1, during their years of service as required by paragraph (c), at least

      • (A) 10 movages per year in the Harbour of Quebec,

      • (B) six movages per year in the Harbour of Trois-Rivières,

      • (C) five movages per year in the Harbour of Sorel,

      • (D) 24 one-way trips per year between Montreal and Trois-Rivières,

      • (E) 24 one-way trips per year between Trois-Rivières and Quebec, and

      • (F) six one-way trips per year during the period beginning on December 1 and ending on the following April 8, or

    • (iii) in the case of a certificate for District No. 2, during their years of service as required by paragraph (c), at least

      • (A) 10 movages per year in the Harbour of Quebec,

      • (B) three movages per year in the Harbour of Chicoutimi,

      • (C) two movages per year in the Harbour of Port Alfred,

      • (D) 12 one-way trips per year including six on the Saguenay River, three to Chicoutimi and two to Port Alfred, and

      • (E) six one-way trips per year during the period beginning on December 1 and ending on the following April 8; and

  • (e) have a degree of proficiency in the French and English languages sufficient to carry out effectively their pilotage duties.

• (2) An applicant for a Class A pilotage certificate who is the holder of a Class B pilotage certificate shall, over the 36 months immediately preceding their application, have completed

  • (a) the movages or trips required each year by paragraph 23.26(2)(a) or (b) in the applicable district; and

  • (b) under the supervision of a holder of a Class A licence or pilotage certificate, on board a ship whose length and deadweight tonnage exceed the maximum for a ship on board which a holder of a Class B pilotage certificate is authorized to perform pilotage duties,

    • (i) eight additional movages in District No. 1-1, in the case of a pilotage certificate for that district, or

    • (ii) 10 additional one-way trips, in District No. 1 or District No. 2, as the case may be, in the case of a pilotage certificate for one of those districts.

• (3) An applicant for a Class B pilotage certificate who is the holder of a Class C pilotage certificate shall, over the 24 months immediately preceding their application, have completed

  • (a) the movages or trips required each year by paragraph 23.26(2)(a) or (b) in the applicable district; and

  • (b) under the supervision of a holder of a Class B licence or pilotage certificate, on board a ship whose length and deadweight tonnage exceed the maximum for a ship on board which a holder of a Class C pilotage certificate is authorized to perform pilotage duties,

    • (i) eight additional movages in District No. 1-1, in the case of a pilotage certificate for that district, or

    • (ii) 10 additional one-way trips in District No. 1 or District No. 2, as the case may be, in the case of a pilotage certificate for one of those districts.

• (4) Despite subsections (1) to (3), an applicant may become the holder of a pilotage certificate valid for only a part of a district if

  • (a) in the case of an applicant for a first pilotage certificate, the applicant has completed the number of trips and movages required for that part of the district by clauses (1)(d)(ii)(A) to (F) or (1)(d)(iii)(A) to (E); or

  • (b) in the case of an applicant for a pilotage certificate who is the holder of another pilotage certificate, the applicant has completed in that part of the district the number of trips or movages required for the district by subsection (2) or (3).

• (5) Despite subsections (1) to (3), an applicant need not complete any movages or trips required to be completed during the period beginning on December 1 and ending on the following April 8 if the application is for a pilotage certificate valid only for the period beginning when all light buoys are in place in the part of the channel to which the pilotage certificate relates and ending when the Laurentian Pilotage Authority informs pilotage certificate holders, by a Notice to Mariners or a Navigational Warnings, both published by the Canadian Coast Guard, that the light buoys have been withdrawn.

23.24 Where sea service, trips or movages are required by section 23.23, the service, trip or movage, as the case may be, shall be or have been completed on board a ship of a size that is subject to compulsory pilotage.

General Requirements for Applicants and Holders

23.25 No person shall become the holder of a licence or pilotage certificate if

• (a) within one year before the date of their application,

  • (i) they were convicted of an offence under the Act,

  • (ii) any licence or pilotage certificate previously held by them was suspended under the Act, or

  • (iii) they were convicted of an offence under section 320.13 or 320.14 of the Criminal Code; or

• (b) they have an adverse record in ship handling and performance of pilotage duties.

• 23.26 (1) Every holder of a licence or pilotage certificate shall

  • (a) continue to hold every certificate that they were required to hold in order to obtain the licence or pilotage certificate;

  • (b) remain medically fit so as to meet the medical examination requirements set out in Part 1;

  • (c) have local knowledge of the district in respect of which they obtained the licence or pilotage certificate, including knowledge of tides, currents, depths of water, anchorages and aids to navigation;

  • (d) have knowledge of harbour and other marine regulations that apply in the district in respect of which they obtained the licence or pilotage certificate, including knowledge of

    • (i) the Collision Regulations,

    • (ii) the measures taken for the control of traffic in the Seaway by the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation in accordance with section 99 of the Canada Marine Act,

    • (iii) the Quarantine Regulations, and

    • (iv) the Act and the regulations made under it; and

  • (e) have a good record in ship handling and performance of pilotage duties.

• (2) In addition to the qualifications required by subsection (1), a holder of a licence or pilotage certificate shall,

  • (a) if the holder’s licence or pilotage certificate was issued in respect of District No. 1-1, pilot each year at least eight movages in that district;

  • (b) if the holder’s licence or pilotage certificate was issued in respect of District No. 1 or District No. 2, pilot each year at least eight one-way trips during the period beginning on April 1 and ending on December 14, and subject to section 23.18, two one-way trips during the period beginning on December 15 and ending on the following March 31, in the district; and

  • (c) on request, provide the Minister with evidence that the holder has complied with the requirements of paragraph (a) or (b).

Notices for the Recruiting of Apprentice Pilots

23.27 When recruiting apprentice pilots for a particular district, the Laurentian Pilotage Authority shall publish, not less than 30 days before the deadline for receiving applications, on their Internet site or in newspapers that are circulated in the municipalities adjacent to the district, notices stating the number of apprentice pilots that are needed for the district and the date by which the applications must be received.

Qualifications — Apprentice Pilots — District No. 1-1

23.28 To obtain a Class D apprentice pilot permit for District No. 1-1, an applicant shall

• (a) successfully complete a language examination conducted by the Laurentian Pilotage Authority that demonstrates that they have a degree of proficiency in the French and English languages sufficient to carry out their apprentice pilot duties effectively;

• (b) undergo a medical examination within the 90 days before the day on which the Class D apprentice pilot permit is issued and meet the health qualifications set out in Part 1;

• (c) be the holder of a certificate of competency for Master Mariner or Master, Near Coastal;

• (d) have served on board a ship that is more than 70 m in length or more than 2,000 gross tonnage and have accumulated on board such a ship the experience at sea qualifications set out in section 12;

• (e) have experience navigating in ice; and

• (f) obtain a mark of at least 70% on a written examination conducted by the Board of Examiners on general knowledge of near coastal navigation, including knowledge of ship handling, navigational instruments, chartwork, meteorology and ice navigation on the St. Lawrence River.

Qualifications — Apprentice Pilots — District No. 1 and District No. 2

23.29 To obtain a Class D apprentice pilot permit for District No. 1 or District No. 2, an applicant shall

• (a) successfully complete a language examination conducted by the Laurentian Pilotage Authority that demonstrates that they have a degree of proficiency in the French and English languages sufficient to carry out their apprentice pilot duties effectively;

• (b) undergo a medical examination within the 90 days before the day on which the Class D apprentice pilot permit is issued and meet the health qualifications set out in Part 1;

• (c) either

  • (i) provide an attestation establishing that the applicant has successfully completed, at a recognized institution in Canada, an approved cadet training program as defined in the Marine Personnel Regulations, or

  • (ii) have served as a master of a ship that is more than 70 m in length or more than 2,000 gross tonnage for at least 18 months during the 60 months before the day on which the application is made;

• (d) be the holder of a certificate of competency for Master Mariner or Master, Near Coastal, have served on board a ship that is more than 70 m in length or more than 2,000 gross tonnage and have accumulated on board such a ship the sea service required under section 12; and

• (e) obtain a mark of at least 70% on a written examination conducted by the Board of Examiners on general knowledge of near coastal navigation, including knowledge of ship handling, navigational instruments, chartwork, meteorology, ice navigation on the St. Lawrence River and calculation of tides.

Required Documents — Apprentice Pilots

23.30 An applicant for a Class D apprentice pilot permit shall, when making the application, provide the Minister with true copies of the following:

• (a) documents that establish that the applicant is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident as set out in subsection 38.1(3) of the Act;

• (b) the applicant’s birth certificate or other official document showing the applicant’s date and place of birth;

• (c) diplomas, navigational certificates and documents that establish that the sea service requirements of this Division have been met;

• (d) the medical report referred to in Part 1; and

• (e) either

  • (i) a letter of recommendation

    • (A) from the applicant’s most recent employer, or

    • (B) from each of the applicant’s two most recent employers, if the applicant was employed by the most recent employer for less than two years, or

  • (ii) the applicant’s testimonials of sea service prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Marine Personnel Regulations for the two years preceding the date of the application.

Qualifications — Applicants Who Hold a Pilotage Certificate

• 23.31 (1) An applicant for a Class D apprentice pilot permit for District No. 1-1 who holds a pilotage certificate for that district is exempt from the requirements of paragraphs 23.28(a), (b) and (f) and 23.30(a) and (b).

• (2) An applicant for a Class D apprentice pilot permit for District No. 1 or District No. 2, or any part of those districts, who holds a pilotage certificate for the district or part of the district in respect of which they are an applicant, is exempted from the requirements of paragraphs 23.29(a) to (c) and (e) and 23.30(a) and (b).

• (3) Despite paragraph 23.21(3)(c), an applicant for a Class C licence for District No. 1 or District No. 2, or any part of those districts, who holds a pilotage certificate for the district or part of the district in respect of which they are an applicant, shall have served at least 12 months as an apprentice pilot and holder of a Class D apprentice pilot permit in the appropriate district.

Assessment of Competencies

• 23.32 (1) For the purpose of determining whether an applicant for a licence or pilotage certificate or the holder of a licence or pilotage certificate meets the requirements of these Regulations, the Minister shall assess each application for a licence or pilotage certificate and the record of each holder and shall provide the Board of Examiners with

  • (a) a list of applicants for a first licence or first pilotage certificate who meet the requirements of these Regulations, other than the requirement to pass the examination conducted by the Board of Examiners, accompanied by the documents referred to in subsection 23.22(1);

  • (b) a list of holders of a licence or pilotage certificate who are applying for another licence or pilotage certificate and who meet the requirements of these Regulations, other than the requirement to pass the examination conducted by the Board of Examiners, accompanied by the documents referred to in subsection 23.22(2); and

  • (c) a list of holders who the Minister has reason to believe might not meet the requirements of paragraph 23.26(1)(c) or (d).

• (2) Subject to subsection (9), the Board of Examiners shall

  • (a) conduct the examination referred to in subsection (3) or (4), as the case may be, of the applicants referred to in paragraph (1)(a);

  • (b) conduct an examination of the holders referred to in paragraph (1)(b) on their local knowledge of the district or part of the district where they are to pilot; and

  • (c) conduct an examination of the holders referred to in paragraph (1)(c) on the requirements of paragraphs 23.26(1)(c) or (d).

• (3) The examination of applicants that must be conducted for a first licence shall consist of a written and an oral examination on ship handling and on local knowledge of the district or part of the district where the applicant is to pilot.

• (4) The examination of applicants that must be conducted for a first pilotage certificate shall consist of

  • (a) a first written examination on general knowledge of near coastal navigation, including knowledge of ship handling, navigational instruments, chartwork, meteorology, ice navigation on the St. Lawrence River and calculation of tides;

  • (b) subject to subsection (5), a second written examination and an oral examination on ship handling and on local knowledge of the district or part of the district where the applicant is to pilot; and

  • (c) a language test to demonstrate that the applicant is able to carry out the duties of a pilotage certificate holder effectively in English and French.

• (5) An applicant must successfully complete the written examinations before taking the oral examination.

• (6) To pass the examination, an applicant must

  • (a) obtain a mark of at least 70% on any written examination; and

  • (b) obtain a mark of at least 70% on the oral examination, by showing a knowledge of ship handling and local knowledge of the district or part of the district where the applicant is to pilot that will enable them to carry out the duties of a licensed pilot or pilotage certificate holder effectively and safely.

• (7) An applicant who obtains a mark of less than 70% on the oral examination shall repeat the written and oral examinations on ship handling and on local knowledge of the district or part of the district where the applicant is to pilot.

• (8) Despite subsection (5), an applicant who applies for a first pilotage certificate for District No. 2 is not required to take the written tests set out in paragraphs (4)(a) and (b) if

  • (a) the applicant has attended the pilotage training program established by the Authority and given by the Institut maritime du Québec, described in the document entitled Pilotage Certificate Training for the Laurentian Region (District II Quebec City – Les Escoumins), TP 13458E, published in November 1999 by the Department of Transport; and

  • (b) the applicant has successfully completed the tests prepared under the direction of an officer of the Authority in accordance with the document entitled Pilotage Certificate Training for the Laurentian Region (District II Quebec City – Les Escoumins), TP 13458E, published in November 1999 by the Department of Transport.

• (9) An applicant shall,

  • (a) in the case of an applicant who takes the examinations referred to in subsection (4) in two stages, successfully complete all the examinations during the 30 months following the day on which the first written examination was successfully completed;

  • (b) in the case of an applicant who takes the examinations referred to in subsection (3) in order to obtain a first licence for District No. 1-1, have 18 months from the day on which a Class D apprentice pilot permit is issued to satisfy all of the requirements for the issuance of that licence;

  • (c) in the case of an applicant who takes the examinations referred to in subsection (3) in order to obtain a first licence for District No. 1 or District No. 2, have 36 months from the day on which a Class D apprentice pilot permit is issued to satisfy all of the requirements for the issuance of that licence; or

  • (d) in the case of an applicant who attends the pilotage training program referred to in paragraph (8)(a), have 30 months following the day on which the first examination taken under paragraph (8)(b) was successfully completed to complete the training program and to successfully complete the remaining examinations.