Winter Navigation

SEASON 2004-2005

BEGINNING OF WINTER

In order to determine the beginning of winter in Districts Nos. 1 and 2, the Authority adopted the following method and will declare that winter has begun in these two Districts :

a) Once the water temperature reaches 2.5°C or less for at least six consecutive readings taken at eight-hour intervals in Trois?Rivières or in Quebec City, or

b) At the latest, on December 15 at 12:00 hours (see Note 1).

Any vessel already in transit in Districts Nos. 1 or 2 at the beginning of winter is to continue its voyage with only one pilot aboard. A second pilot is to be assigned four hours after the official beginning of the winter period.

END OF WINTER

Les Escoumins/Quebec City

The winter season for double pilotage purposes will be over:

a) When the critical ice flats situated west of Ile d’Orléans Bridge have disappeared (see Notes 2 and 3), and

b) When the part of the commercial channel situated between the Quebec City Bridge and Cap-Brûlé is in open water after the passage of the ice flats (see Note 4).

Quebec City/Montreal

Due to some crucial elements in this sector, such as the narrowness of the channel and the limited clearance under the keel, some ice flats must be taken into consideration. The winter season for double pilotage purposes will be over and the assignment of a second pilot for the winter season will cease:

a) Quebec City/Trois-Rivières

Once the Portneuf, St. Croix and Cap-Rouge critical ice flats and the ice flats at the mouth of Sainte-Anne and Batiscan Rivers have disappeared (see Note 3).

b) Trois-Rivières/Montreal

Once the Lake St. Pierre north and south shores critical ice flats have disappeared (see Note 3).

The Canadian Coast Guard will provide any required information (ice warnings, ice maps, water temperatures and lifting of commercial buoys) to anyone who makes a request.

Note 1: This policy takes into account the possibility of a temperature rise during the observation period (from November 15 to December 15) and the fact that the Canadian Coast Guard has finished or nearly finished the lifting of the buoys in the areas of Quebec City, Montreal and Trois?Rivières. This policy also considers that the climate has a tendency to deteriorate faster after the 15th of December.

Note 2: This policy takes into account the ice flats that are critical to the navigation and also the transit of ice flats in the two Districts and other obstacles to navigation in the North Traverse and in Lake St.Pierre.

Note 3: For the purpose of the present policy, the term “critical ice flats” means an ice flat that can block a commercial channel in its width.

Note 4: For the purpose of the present policy, the term “open water” means an ice cover of 1/10 or less, as specified in the Canadian Coast Guard’s Ice Interpretation Guidelines.

Note 5: The Laurentian Pilotage Authority reserves the right to modify the policy at any time for reasons judged necessary by the competent authorities.