News

The Atlantic Pilotage Authority held its 14th Annual Public Meeting on June 27, 2022 at 14:00 (Atlantic). This is the third time for this meeting to be held virtually.  Presentations were made by our Chair, Captain Jack Gallagher; our Chief Executive Officer, Captain Sean Griffiths; and our Chief Financial Officer, Brian Bradley. We are pleased […]

The Atlantic Pilotage Authority invites you to attend our 14th Annual Public Meeting Date: Monday, June 27, 2022 Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm Location: Zoom Webinar To register, please click on this link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FO-lEltBTpOQbzp2-XyviA Agenda: Opening Remarks and Introductions Presentation of 2021 Operational Overview Presentation of 2021 Financial Report Expectations for 2022 and Beyond General Question […]

Ref. #: 2022–PBC-PUG The Atlantic Pilotage Authority (APA) is a Federal Crown Corporation responsible for delivering safe, effective and self-sustaining marine pilotage in Atlantic Canada. We are currently seeking letters of interest for a Contract Operator to provide pilot boat service in Nova Scotia in the pilotage area of: • Pugwash (Compulsory Pilotage Area) Qualifications: […]

We are currently seeking a Fleet Maintenance Technician to join our team in a full-time indeterminate capacity. Visit Job Opportunities for more information. Nous sommes à la recherche d’un technicien chargé de l’entretien de la flotte pour se joindre à notre équipe à temps plein et pour une durée indéterminée. Visitez les opportunités d’emploi pour […]

On September 7, 2019, Hurricane Dorian hit Halifax as a Category 2, causing significant damage to the APA’s breakwater and wharf in Herring Cove. The wharf is used as a pilot transfer station.  The wharf was repaired in a matter of weeks; however two 12′ concrete slabs broke off the end of the breakwater, which required a much […]

The Atlantic Pilotage Authority is currently seeking tenders to replace its breakwater structure at Herring Cove, NS. The work will involve encapsulating the existing breakwater with armour stone. Further information can be found here.

The Atlantic Pilotage Authority invites you to attend our Twelfth Annual Public Meeting Date: Monday, August 31, 2020 Time: 10:00am – 11:00am Location: Virtual Meeting using Microsoft Teams To join, please click here or use this link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_NmNiMTk3NzktY2JlNC00ZTVlLTgzY2YtYjg0MjMxZWI2YmIy%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22c59511f4-1407-4f86-87bc-876d9963d1ec%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22e4a618f9-5ef5-4c0e-a20f-717d8f397ea8%22%2c%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3atrue%7d Agenda: Opening Remarks and Introductions Presentation of 2019 Operational Overview Presentation of 2019 Financial Report Expectations for […]

The Notice of Appointment Opportunity for a Board Member of the Atlantic Pilotage Authority can be found on the Governor in Council appointments website. The link to the website is:  GIC Please apply before May 13, 2020.

The Management Team of the Atlantic Pilotage Authority invite you to attend a Town Hall Meeting regarding the Breakwater and Government Wharf in Herring Cove, Nova Scotia Date: Sunday, September 15, 2019 Time: 7:00 – 8:00pm Location: St. Paul’s Catholic Church Hall, 151 Hebridean Drive, Herring Cove, Nova Scotia

The Atlantic Pilotage Authority (APA) is currently seeking an expression of interest to provide a Pilot Boat Dock, Storage, and Crew Facility (Ref #: 2019-PBD) within the Halifax Regional Municipality.

We are pleased to announce that on February 27, 2019, the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, appointed Captain Robert Jack Gallagher as Chair of the Board of the Atlantic Pilotage Authority for a 5-year term.

The Atlantic Pilotage Authority is pleased to announce three new federal appointments and three re-appointments of its Board of Directors.

Our New Address as of June 1, 2017:

TD Centre, Suite 1801
1791 Barrington Street
Halifax, NS B3J 3K9

The Atlantic Pilotage Authority invites you to attend our Eighth Annual Public Meeting

Date: Thursday, May 19, 2016
Time: 2:30pm – 3:30pm
Place: Kavanagh Room (Second Floor)
Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion
74 Esplanade
Sydney, NS

The Atlantic Pilotage Authority invites you to attend our Seventh Annual Public Meeting

Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Time: 12:00pm – 2:00pm
Place: Tradewinds Room (Lobby Level)
Westin Hotel Nova Scotian
1181 Hollis Street
Halifax, NS

Sealed offers for the provision of pilot boat manning, maintenance, and operation for the Placentia Bay pilotage district will be received by the Atlantic Pilotage Authority (APA) up to 2:00 p.m. local time November 7, 2014.

Data transmitted by buoy to improve safety and efficiency of port operations and prediction of extreme ocean events.

HALIFAX, NS – The first SmartATLANTIC Inshore Weather Buoy was successfully deployed on November 7, 2013 in Herring Cove by the Canadian Coast Guard vessel CCGS Sir William Alexander. This technologically savvy “smart” buoy is bright yellow, three metres in diameter and weighs in excess of 1.5 metric tonnes.

On December 7, 2011, the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Transport), announced the reappointment of Mr. Tom Calkin of Falmouth, Nova Scotia, to the Board of Directors of the Atlantic Pilotage Authority for a two-year term. This will be Mr. Calkin’s third term as Chair of this Authority.

The Atlantic Pilotage Authority hosted its third annual public meeting on May 19th in the Compass Room at the Casino Nova Scotia on May 19th, 2011. Approximately 54 people were in attendance.

An operational and financial overview of the Authority was presented by the Chief Executive Officer, Captain Anthony McGuinness, and the Chief Financial Officer, Peter MacArthur. This was followed with a presentation of awards from Chair, Tom Calkin, to 11 shipping companies who have been regular callers to the Port of Halifax for 20 years and longer.

New pilot boats for Halifax and Saint John are one step closer to reality. On February 7th 2011, a contract was signed between the Atlantic Pilotage Authority and ABCO Industries of Lunenburg, NS to build the two new boats.

The Honourable Rob Merrifield, Minister of State for Transport, visited the head office of the Atlantic Pilotage Authority (APA) on August 11th. This familiarization tour included a discussion of the Authority’s current issues, a briefing on its long-term plans, and tour of Halifax Harbour on one of the Authority’s pilot boats.

“It’s important for Crown Corporations to have a good working relationship with the Minister responsible, and I thank Minister Merrifield for his support and continued interest in the Authority’s operations.” said Tom Calkin, APA Chair.

“Having Minister Merrifield here in Halifax provided us with a wonderful opportunity to discuss certain issues, share our plans for the future and to show him first hand how our operations work. It was a beneficial visit.” said Anthony McGuinness, APA Chief Executive Officer.

The Atlantic Pilotage Authority (the Authority) is a federal Crown Corporation responsible for providing marine pilotage within Atlantic Canada. The Authority operates on a self sustaining financial basis without receiving funding from government.

The Authority has jurisdiction over seventeen compulsory pilotage areas, and employs licenced marine pilots to provide pilotage within these areas. Pilot boats are utilized to transport pilots to and from ships entering and leaving compulsory ports. The Authority utilizes a variety of methods to provide these pilot boat services; in some ports, the Authority owns boats and employs crews to operate them; in some ports, the Authority owns boats but contracts with a private company to provide the crews to operate the boats; and in other ports, a private contractor provides both boats and crews to the Authority.

Three of the Authority’s Board Members’ terms have recently expired:

Captain Don Duffy, Pilot Representative from Saint John, NB;
Yvon Dufour, Industry Representative from Halifax, NS; and
Captain Ian Swan, Pilot Representative from Halifax, NS

We thank them for the many contributions they have made to the Authority.

OTTAWA – The Government of Canada has introduced a regulatory amendment to protect Atlantic waters and improve navigation safety. Canada’s Transport Minister, John Baird, announced today the Regulations Amending the Atlantic Pilotage Authority Regulations, which will help protect the waters surrounding Saint John, New Brunswick, and Placentia Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Jim Stoneman was reappointed to the Board for a term of three years effective May 19th, 2008. Mr. Stoneman, a Shipping Industry Representative, is the President of Atship Services Ltd., and has over 30 years of experience in all aspects of vessel owning, operating, management, and agency.

Mr.Gerard Fitzpatrick has completed his term as a Member of the Board of the Atlantic Pilotage Authority. Mr. Fitzpatrick was first appointed to the Board on December 11th, 2002. His extensive financial and business background allowed Mr. Fitzpatrick to make a significant contribution to the Board over his two terms. Mr. Fitzpatrick is a Chartered Accountant, and is a partner in Beaton Fitzpatrick Murray of Charlottetown, PEI. He is past chairman of Georgetown Shipyards, the PEI Institute of Chartered Accountants, and the Atlantic School of Chartered Accountancy.

On November 15th, 2007, the “Atlantic Pilot”, was christened in Halifax by Mrs. Debbie Aldrich, wife of Brad Aldrich, President and Refinery Manager at the North Atlantic Oil Refinery in Come-by-Chance, NL. The “Atlantic Pilot” joined her sister vessel “Avalon Pilot” in Placentia Bay, NL by the end of November.