Services and Navigation
Pilotage Service Request
Pilot transfer systems on the St. Lawrence River
Equipment and arrangements in place in accordance with Canadian and international regulations
Advance notice and required information
Requests for pilotage services must be made in accordance with sections 23.7 to 23.12 of the General Pilotage Regulations. When this is not possible, the ship may make a special request.
Required information for the first arrival per calendar year
- Ship name
- Nationality
- Call sign
- Agent of the ship
- Lenght
- Breadth
- Moulded depth
- Deadweight tonnage
- Net tonnage
- Deepest draft
- Sea speed
- Origin
- Destination
Required information for every subsequent arrival
- Ship name
- Call sign
- Deepest draft
- Sea speed
- Origin
- Destination
Ship is arriving from Strait of Belle-Isle, Cabot ou Canso
- Give a first notice of 24 hours before the estimated time of arrival to Les Escoumins Pilot Station
- Give a second notice of 12 hours before the estimated time of arrival to Les Escoumins Pilot Station
- Give a final notice of 6 hours before the estimated time of arrival to Les Escoumins Pilot Station
Ship is moving within the Montreal or the Quebec Harbour
- Give a final notice 3 hours before the time of the movage
Ship is coming from the Seaway or from any harbour between Montreal and Quebec
- Provide a notice of 12 hours before the ship’s estimated time of departure.
- 4 hours before the ship’s estimated time of departure communicated above, confirm the above estimated time of departure.
- For notices between 22:00 and 08:59, please see procedure "Notice of Nighttime Departures".
Ship departure from Saguenay, Pointe-au-Pic, Cacouna or from a harbour East of Les Escoumins
- Provide a first notice of 12 hours before the ship’s estimated time of departure.
- 6 hours before the ship’s estimated time of departure communicated above, either confirm the above estimated time of departure or communicate a revised estimated time of departure (second notice).
- If a second notice was communicated, provide the ship’s final estimated time of departure 6 hours before the end of the revised estimated time of departure (second notice).
Special Request Confirmation
The following form should be used for a pilot assignment request outside of the normal procedures as per General Pilotage Regulations.
Contact us by email or by phone at 514-657-2041, option 2.
Essential Information for the Captain and Crew
Key Documents
The General Information on Pilotage (Part 1) is complementary to the information that will be transmitted by the pilot during the information exchange period (MPX) that will take place before starting the trip.
The checklist entitled Captain-Pilot Information Exchange (Part 2) provides a non-exhaustive list of points to be discussed before embarking on the trip. This verbal exchange of information between the pilot, the master and the members of the bridge team should continue throughout the movement of the vessel in our waters.
Important Notice
The regulatory or administrative requirements presented above must be understood and respected.
At any time during transit, if you have any concerns regarding the navigation or safety of the vessel, please notify the pilot without delay.
Contact us if you have any questions or to report any issues with this page or the documents above.
Notices and Policies on Safety
The notices and policies adopted by the Laurentian Pilotage Authority continue to apply even though the Authority now uses St. Lawrence Pilotage as its working name.
Policy on the number of pilots required aboard a ship at all times for Districts 1 and 1.1
Policy on the safe duration of a voyage for District 1
Policy on the double pilotage requirements in District 1 during the pre-winter and post-winter navigation periods
Policy on the use of portable pilotage units in Districts 1 and 1.1
Policy on ship transits during severe ice conditions in District 1
Policy on consultation on the winter navigation period
Policy concerning notices of night departure for voyages in District 1
Policy on certain safety measures for District 1
Policy on safety requirements during the pre-winter and post-winter periods in District 1
Policy on the conduct of a vessel within a compulsory pilotage area
Policy on master-pilot exchange (MPX)
Policy on master-pilot exchange (MPX) - Part 1 : General Information on Pilotage - St. Lawrence River and Saguenay River
Policy on master-pilot exchange (MPX) - Part 2 : Captain-Pilot Information Exchange Checklist
Policy on Drug and Alcohol Use
Policy on the number of pilots required aboard a ship at all times for District 2
Policy on rest periods for District 2
Policy on certain safety measures for District 2
Policy on mooring for District 2
Policy on performing Ships for the Purposes of Pre-Winter and Post-Winter Periods in District 2
Policy on licence subcategories for District 2
Policy concerning notices of night departure for voyages in District 2
Transhipment at Les Escoumins pilotage station
St. Lawrence Pilotage owns and operates a pilot boarding station in Les Escoumins, as well as pilot boats capable of transporting pilots to ships throughout the year; captains, engineers and deckhands, as well as the Station Director, provide a high quality service to the marine industry. The Captain of the pilot boat has the authority to suspend services in the event of severe weather or ice conditions that may endanger operational safety.
Pilot Transfer Arrangements
Forms
Marine charts and flags
Request for Waiver from Compulsory Pilotage
Application for Transportation Security Clearance
Compliant Vessel Form
Identity Card Request Form
Sea Qualifications Ship Officer
Request for transhipment aboard a St. Lawrence Pilotage’s pilot-boat at Les Escoumins
Request for authorization to board a vessel Canada Border Services Agency
Transit planning and single window navigation
Transit planning
St. Lawrence Pilotage has implemented a free transit planning and optimization service to address operational challenges related to low water levels on the river and the needs expressed by the industry.
This service supports operations by analyzing transit requests with specific constraints related to vessel dimensions, navigation conditions, and the specific characteristics of the pilotage zone. It makes it possible to assess, prior to operations, the feasibility and conditions required to ensure safe and efficient transits, particularly in relation to water levels, restricted areas, passage windows, and coordination with stakeholders. This approach helps maintain traffic flow, reduce operational risks, and support economic activity on the river.
Single window navigation
This service receives and sorts projects that have a potential impact on navigation on the St. Lawrence River or the Saguenay River. It ensures consistent coordination with the relevant authorities (SLP, Transport Canada, Canadian Coast Guard, pilot corporations, assessment agencies, etc.). It aims to better coordinate and document risk assessments and analyses, in line with existing practices, without duplicating existing mechanisms.
Passage Plans
St. Lawrence Pilotage makes available passage plans which are above all intended to be practical guides for mariners, allowing them to obtain information relevant to the completion of a plan specific to their ship. They are not intended to be used for transit or navigation purposes, but rather to facilitate the development of a ship’s voyage plan. The use of these passage plans does not at any time constitute an exemption from the obligation to draw up a specific voyage plan and to use the marine services of SLP for vessels subject to compulsory pilotage.
District 1.1: Port of Montreal
District 1: Montreal - Trois-Rivieres
District 1: Trois-Rivières - Quebec City
District 2: Quebec City - Les Escoumins and Saguenay River
Navigation Tools
St. Lawrence Pilotage provides distance maps and useful navigation data for the St. Lawrence and Saguenay rivers.
