Article from the Vancouver Sun - May 27, 2008 edition
Written by John Winter, Chamber of Commerce

Trade is vital to our economic well-being and to the quality of life for British Columbians and Canadians.

In British Columbia, our ports provide a critical link between our economy and the markets of the world without which we could not survive. In fact, the paycheques of fully one-quarter of a million Canadians depend on our West Coast ports and the $35 billion worth of goods they move annually.

A reliable and safe maritime transportation system is important not just for the benefits it brings to our economy and to our people, but also for our environment.

The provinal government is not, nor has it ever been, insensitive to this fact. With that in mind, it's unfortunate that some groups have recently tried to overly dramatize the issue of tanker traffic in our coastal waters.

Read more: Coastal Tanker Traffic is Safe

The Pacific Pilotage Authority (PPA) published amendments to the Pacific Pilotage Tariff Regulations in Part I of the Canada Gazette on March 15, 2008.  The amendments are a result of the recent negotiated agreement between the BC Coast Pilots and the PPA.  To view the full amendments as published in the Canada Gazette click here.

The signicant changes are as follows:

These proposed amendments would adjust the general pilotage tariff of the Authority in the following manner:

• When a ship is delayed in sailing, a delay charge of double the basic bridge watch charge would be payable for each hour or part of an hour during the period that begins 30 minutes from the time the pilot reports for the assignment and ends when the bridge watch commences;
  
  

Read more: Pacific Pilotage Tariff Amendments

The Pacific Pilotage Authority will be testing a new computer system during the month of April. Dispatch and billing staff will be entering pilotage orders into two computer systems. This may result in increased holding time on the incoming phone lines. The Authority appreciates your patience during this time period.

Submitted by:
Bruce Chadwick
Director of Finance
Pacific Pilotage Authority

Industry should be aware that current Transport Canada policy with regard to tanker traffic through Johnstone Straits / Seymour Narrows is as follows:

Tankers of 40,000 summer dwt and above are not permitted to use the Inside Passage.

For the purposes of this policy, tankers are defined as self-propelled oil or chemical tankers carrying a pollutant in bulk.  For the purposes of this policy the Inside Passage is defined as per the Sailing Directions - British Columbia Coast (South Portion) and refers to the waters between Vancouver Island and the mainland, this route leads NW from Powell River to Johnstone Strait.

The Pacific Pilotage Authority has been utilizing the Western Marine Community Coalition (WMC) Johnstone Strait Seymour Narrows Waterway Safety Guidelines, section (4) Recommendations for Freighters which recommend a maximum tanker size (single screw + conventional rudder) of 180m LOA x 33.0 m beam x 11.0m draft.

In light of this recent clarification of policy from Transport Canada, tankers transiting Johnstone Strait / Seymour Narrows should not exceed 40,000 summer dwt OR LOA x 33.0m beam x 11.0m draft.

The WMC will be amending the existing portion of the Seymour Narrows and Johnstone Strait Guidelines accordingly.

Submitted by:
Adrian Cormier
Director Marine Operations
Pacific Pilotage Authority