Hantsport

Size limits

LOA 114m, draught 7.62.

Water density

1000.

Load line zone

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Area. For ships over 100m in length, Winter Dec 16 to Feb 15, Summer Feb 16 to Dec 15. For ships of 100m or less in length, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Tides

Mean spring range is approx 13.1m but tide can rise, at times, up to 15.24m. Mean neap range approx 9.7m.

Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.

Approach

Local knowledge is required for vessels entering the harbour.

Horton Bluff Leading Lights: Front light (white tower, red stripe, 9m in height), (45°06'N 064°13'W).

Rear light (white rectangular daymark with a red stripe on a framework tower, 7m in height), 539m S of the front light.

The alignment of these lights (169.5°) leads to the mouth of the Avon River passing (positioned from Horton Bluff):

W of Cross Bar Shoal, (6nm N) composed of shifting sand, then:

E of Western Bar (3-6nm NNW), an extensive drying bank, composed of shifting sands, extending approx 4nm N from Boot Island, (2.5nm NW) and

W of Eastern Bar (Middle Ground), 1.5nm to more than 5nm N, an extensive drying bank, then E of Oak Island.

From this point, the river takes a course approx 5nm SE to Hantsport.

Anchorages

Outer anchorage: Vessels awaiting the pilot may anchor in position 45°15'N 064°15'W, about 4nm SE of Cape Blomidon in about 20m of water.

Good anchorage can also be found in approx 9.0-11.0m, 2.75nm NE of Longspell Point, (45°10'N 064°21'W) taking care to avoid a wreck, with a depth over it of approx 5.5m in the vicinity.

There is a good anchorage for smaller vessels situated near the mouth of the Avon River in 8.0m approx 1.25nm NNW of Horton Bluff, or approx 0.5nm NE of Horton Bluff in approx 13m.

Restrictions

A shoal awash at chart datum (44°12'.8N 64°15'.2W) is located at the seaward extremity of Western Bar, close W of the leading line. Shoals in as little as 0.3m of water lie close E of the leading line, about 2nm N of Horton Bluff.

Hantsport is accessible throughout the year as ice in the river breaks up with the tide.

Tugs

A tug is available.

Charts and publications

BA 4745. Admiralty Pilot NP59.

Port State Control here: Paris MOU, Tokyo MOU.

Running now: the Paris and Tokyo MOU concentrated inspection campaign on cargo securing, 1 September to 30 November 2026. Its questions are published: the questionnaire.

Inspection of ships in Canada

Transport Canada,

Inspection and Operations Standards Division,

Tower C, Place de Ville, 330 Sparks Street, 11th Floor, Ottawa, ON K1A 0N5.

For Flag State Inspection Standards (Canadian Vessels):

Tel: +1 613 991 3135

Fax: +1 613 991 4818

Teletypewriter / TDD: +1 888 675 6863

Email: [email protected]

For Port State Control Standards (Foreign Vessels):

Tel: +1 613 991 3135

Fax: +1 613 993 8196

Teletypewriter / TDD: +1 888 675 6863

Email: [email protected]

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: Directorate Marine Security - Transport Canada.

Position: Director General.

Address: 112 Kent Street, Tower B, Place de Ville, Ottawa, ON, K1A ON5, Canada.

Tel: +1 613 851 6302

Fax: +1 613 949 3906

Website: http://www.tc.gc.ca

For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org

Repairs

Available but of a minor nature, including below the waterline while on the gridiron.

Bunkers, water and stores

Bunkering: By road tanker.

Fresh water: Available.

Stores: Available.

Medical

Nearest hospital: Hants Community Hospital at Windsor (8km)

Transport

Nearest airport: Halifax (88km)

Nearest railway: Windsor & Hantsport Railway Company (8km)

Working hours

Normally 0800-1700hrs. Overtime as required.

Where it is

The port of Hantsport is situated on the W bank of the River Avon, 6.4km upstream from Minas Basin, at the head of the Bay of Fundy.

The port

The port consists of 2 berths, one public and one private, utilised for the handling of wood pulp and gypsum respectively.

Hantsport is officially closed from Jan 1 to Mar 1, but can be entered safely during that time, as ice breaks up with the tides. It is a tidal port, berths are dry at LW.

Traffic

Approx 190 vessels and 1,400,00t of gypsum handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Hantsport?

Not compulsory, however pilotage is recommended for mariners who do not have local knowledge.

What time zone is Hantsport in?

Local time at Hantsport is UTC−4. Clocks go to UTC−3 on 14 Mar 2027. Back to UTC−4 on 7 Nov 2027.

What is the water density at Hantsport?

1000.

Which load line zone is Hantsport in?

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Area.

Who carries out Port State Control at Hantsport?

Port State Control at Hantsport: Paris MOU, Tokyo MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Hantsport?

The UN/LOCODE of Hantsport is CAHPT.

What crews who called at Hantsport say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.

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