Kitimat

Size limits

LOA 315m, beam 60m, draught 12m, 107,000DWT.

Water density

Variable.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

MWHN 4.8m, MHWS 6.73m. During S'ly winds, waves can be up to 2.1m high.

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

Approach

Approach to the port from the S is via Laredo Sound, Laredo channel, Compania Sound, Whale or Squally Channels and thence via Douglas channel, British Columbia's widest and deepest fjord. The Douglas channel has a length of approx 90nm, ranging from 1.5nm to 3nm wide and depths vary from approximately 200m to 570m.

From the N via Brown Passage, Arthur passage, Grenville channel and Douglas Channel, approx 200km from the open sea.

All berths are approached from a position at the N end of Kitimat Arm, close S of Kitimat, on the alignment of their respective leading lights.

Port limits

The harbour limits comprise all waters of Kitimat Arm and Kidala Arm, bounded by the HW mark, that lie N of a line which passes through Hilton Point (53°49'N., 128°52'W), Louis Point (53°49'N., 128°46'W) the S extremity of Coste Island, and Steel Point (53°50'N., 128°42'W).

Traffic schemes and VTS

The port is located within the Prince Rupert Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) System.

Anchorages

The harbour is approx 130m to 180m deep.

There are four holding areas for multiple vessels S of Kitimat and four Kitimat Arm inner harbour anchorages. There are no suitable anchoarges outside the harbour at the head of the Kitimat Arm.

Anchorage at the head of Kitimat Arm is exposed from the S with the 37m contour only 0.05nm in places from the shallow flat. If awaiting a berth at Kitimat and unable to secure alongside mooring dolphins in the dredged channel, it is advisable to select one of the anchorages in Douglas Channel.

Alternatives are Emilia anchorage 14nm from the harbour area and Kitkiata Inlet approx 23nm S of the harbour area. Vessel may also anchor at Anger Island in Principe Channel or on Michael Bank in Estevan Sound approx 70nm from the port of Kitimat.

Tugs

Available and provided by HaiSea for LNG carriers to LNG Canada facility.

Charts and publications

BA 4931, 4939, 4921, 4975; Canadian North Coast 3743, 3002; Admiralty Pilot NP26, NP286(5).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Initial ETA to be sent on departure from last port to the consigned agent. Further ETA's, dependent on Charter Party, are normally sent 14, 10, 7 and 5 days prior to arrival. The ETA message should include the date and time of arrival, name of Master, last 3 ports of call, number of crew and breakdown of nationalities.

Communications

Kitimat port contact info

Telephone: +1 250 632 2221

Email: [email protected]

Notice of readiness

The Custom of the port is to tender NOR on arrival at a safe anchorage or first line at berth. If an outer anchorage is used Master may tender NOR by cable or telex.

Documents

The documents are handed to the agent on arrival. He will leave onboard 2 copies each of items (2) and (3) above. Thereafter, Customs may perform spot checks on the vessel and will demand these documents.

The vessel's agent usually arranges for forms to be delivered onboard, by the pilot, for the Master to complete for arrival alongside.

Health

It is not necessary to apply for pratique unless there is an infection or dead person onboard. Pratique can be applied for by radio.

If there is any sickness onboard the vessel will be quarantined.

Ship Sanitation Control Certificate and Exemption Certificates can be renewed.

Customs and immigration

Allowances: Officers and crew are allowed 1 bottle of spirits or 24 cans of beer and 200 cigarettes. Any excesses are confiscated or duties must be paid.

Passengers onboard are subject to a search of their personal effects if they intend to land.

Immigration: Any supernumeraries must be reported (with or without visa).

Immigration officers only conduct spot checks on vessels. Otherwise agent processes Immigration Crew List.

Passengers onboard are subject to document checks if they intend to land.

Flags

Interco flag "Q" must be flown if there is sickness onboard.

Notices and regulations

Canadian Coast Guard may attend a vessel for port state control inspection. Furthermore, if a vessel is more than 10 years old and loading coal or bulk concentrates then they could attend for the bulk carrier inspection programme for structural deficiencies of cargo bulkheads and inspection of wing tanks.

Discharge of dirty ballast is strictly forbidden. Owners must apply for an oil spill response agreement prior to vessels arrival, through the agent.

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

Minor repairs only.

Bunkers, water and stores

Stores: Available.

Medical

Nearest hospital: Kitimat General Hospital & Health Centre (6.1km).

Transport

Nearest airport: North West Regional Airport (50km), serving Vancouver International Airport.

Nearest railway: Port has direct access to CN Rail via Rio Tinto Alcan wharf.

Nearest Highway: Inter-Provincial 37 and TransCanada 16.

Working hours

Work hours according to individual company owners.

Where it is

Kitimat is located at the head of Douglas Channel which is on the coast of British Colombia, approx 60nm SE of Prince Rupert, 350 nm NW of Vancouver, Canada.

The port

Kitimat is the third largest port on the West Coast of Canada and is one of only a few private ports in North America. The port is a well connected via road, rail and is ice free, open all year around. The District of Kitimat was founded in 1954 and was originally built to house Alcan's workers for their new Aluminum Smelter. Transport Canada does not administer any port facilities within the limits of the harbour. There are no federal port authority and no harbour dues. Private companies operate facilities within Kitimat Public Harbour.

For many years these were Alcan (now Rio Tinto Alcan), Eurocan Pulp and Paper Co Ltd and Methanex. Methanex closed its activities but they continue condensate terminalling services at the site.

Services at the port include the newly modernised aluminium smelter operated by Rio Tinto Alcan. Rio Tinto Alcan handles cargo including alumina, petcoke, anodes and liquid cargo. LNG Canada facility, located within the port, is set to become the first LNG export facility in the country. As of 2024, construction work is almost complete and commercial operations at the facility are to begin in the middle of 2025. The facility will consists of a 550m material offloading facility, LNG loading platform, four cargo berthing dolphins, four LNG berthing dolphins, and six mooring dolphins, including one offshore, as well as navigational aids. Production capacity is planned at approx 14,000,000tpa from the first two trains, however, the project includes the option to expand to four trains in the future.

The port expansion projects include the Sandhill Aggregate Processing and Export Terminal. The project expected to handle a volume of 6,000,000t of aggregate in 60,000-75,000DWT vessels. In 2028, the port plans to open the Cedar LNG project, the world’s first Indigenous majority-owned LNG project. Once operational, it is estimated to have an annual export capacity of 3,000,000t of LNG, located approx 8.5km SW of Kitimat, directly across Douglas Channel from Kitimat Village. A proposed LNG terminal supported by Chevron and Woodside Energy was scrapped in 2021 after both companies pulled their funding from the project. As of 2024, the export terminal located within the port area (53° 55.536'N., 128° 44.846'W) is presumed to be cancelled.

Traffic

Approx 1,000,000t of cargo handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Kitimat?

Compulsory. Pacific Pilotage Authority.

What time zone is Kitimat in?

Local time at Kitimat is UTC−7. No summer time.

What is the maximum draft at Kitimat?

The deepest berth listed is at LNG Canada Terminal (Terminal B): 12.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Kitimat?

Variable.

Which load line zone is Kitimat in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Kitimat?

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

What is the UN/LOCODE of Kitimat?

The UN/LOCODE of Kitimat is CAKTM.

What crews who called at Kitimat 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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