No. H197/05For release October 25, 2005
OTTAWA - Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre today provided a response to
changes proposed by the Atlantic Pilotage Authority concerning pilotage
requirements in the Atlantic region.
The Atlantic Pilotage Authority has proposed changes to its regulations
following recommendations made by the Canadian Transportation Agency as a result
of the 1998-99 Ministerial Review of Outstanding Pilotage Issues. After the
publication of the authority's proposed changes in the Canada Gazette, Part I,
in April 2004, the Minister of Transport received objections from various
stakeholders to some of the proposals. As a result, on October 28, 2004, the
Minister appointed Mr. Nigel H. Frawley to investigate the objections and to
report back with recommendations.
"I would like to thank Mr. Frawley for his thorough investigation of the
changes proposed by the Atlantic Pilotage Authority," said Mr. Lapierre.
"Following careful consideration of his report, I have asked the authority to
maintain some of its existing requirements and amend others while I give further
consideration to one remaining proposal."
The Minister has asked the authority to:
amend the Atlantic Pilotage Authority regulations to add Canadian
registered offshore oil and gas industry supply vessels of 5,000 gross tons
or less to the list of ships not subject to compulsory pilotage;
maintain the compulsory pilotage limit at 500 gross tons for pleasure
vessels that operate in the St. Peter's Inlet and Bras d'Or Lake pilotage
area; and
adopt Class A, B and C pilotage certificate classifications and note, on
each certificate, the size and class of ship on which the certificate holder
can perform pilotage.
The Minister of Transport will further examine and consider the remaining
change proposed by the Atlantic Pilotage Authority to increase the current limit
for compulsory pilotage above 1,500 gross tons for Canadian vessels.
"The oil and gas industry is of paramount importance to Newfoundland and
Labrador," said Regional Minister, John Efford. "I have always been a proponent
of the safety and efficiency of this industry and today's announcement confirms
this government's commitment to the changing realities that affect it."
"I am pleased that Minister Lapierre has rendered a decision on our proposed
regulations, which stem from an extensive risk analysis conducted by the
authority over the years," said Ms. Anne Soucie, Chairman of the Atlantic
Pilotage Authority. "We thank pilots and industry members for their cooperation
in this lengthy review and look forward to further enhancing the safety and
efficiency of our pilotage services."
Pilotage authorities are federal Crown corporations created under the
Pilotage Act to provide safe and effective pilotage services within all coastal
waters in Canada. Under the Pilotage Act, a pilotage authority may make
regulations necessary to meet its responsibilities.
In order to propose any changes to existing pilotage requirements, pilotage
authorities must first demonstrate to Transport Canada that they have properly
assessed the risk associated with the changes and have determined that safety
will not be compromised. Interested parties must also be provided with an
opportunity to comment on the proposed changes. Should there be several
objections to the proposed changes, the Minister of Transport is required to
appoint a person to investigate the proposals and to determine the most
appropriate course of action to help ensure continued safe pilotage.
Mr. Frawley's report, as well as the Minister's response to Mr. Frawley's
recommendations, are available on Transport Canada's website at
http://www.tc.gc.ca/marinesafety/pilotage/investigation_reports.htm.
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Contacts:
Irène Marcheterre
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of
Transport, Ottawa
(613) 991-0700
Marie-Josée Dubois
Communications
Transport Canada, Ottawa
(613) 993-0055
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca.
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