Louisbourg

Load line zone

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Tides

Mean spring rise approx 1.5m, mean neap rise approx 1.2m.

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

Approach

The port is approached from the E and entered S of Lighthouse Point.

Entrance channel: The initial position is 3nm E of Lighthouse Point Light.

Leading Lights: Front light (white trapezium daymark, red stripe on a red framework tower, 5m in height), (45°54'N 059°59'W), on the W shore.

Rear light (similar daymark, inverted and tower, 7m in height), 166m W of the front light. The alignment (268°) of these lights leads through the entrance channel.

Inshore channel: Width approx 0.2nm, marked on each side by a spar buoy, leads between the shoal ground extending E from Rocky Island, (0.5nm S of Lighthouse Point Light) and Harbour Shoal into the entrance channel.

The last depth in the fairway from the entrance to the public wharf is 6.7m.

Port limits

The harbour area runs from a SW to NE direction, the town of Louisbourg is located on the NW shore where there is good anchorage.

Anchorages

Available in the NE area of the harbour, E of the public wharf, with depths of approx 10m, mud. Some swell and undertow may be experienced after E'ly gales but holding ground is good and the sea state is usually smooth.

Vessels may also anchor SSW of the public wharf but this may be less satisfactory.

Restrictions

There are a number of historic wrecks in the area, all of which are charted and protected by restricted zones.

During the period from February to April, loose pack ice from the Gulf of St Lawrence may drift across the harbour approaches. In general, local ice formations are of minor significance.

Charts and publications

BA 4763. Admiralty Pilot NP65, NP286(5).

Communications

Radio: Halifax Coast Guard Radio (callsign "VCS") can be used for passing messages throughout 24 hours. Amver messages can be passed through "VCS".

Halifax Coast Guard CRS has sites at Sambro (44°28.3'N 063°37.3'W); Ecum Secum (44°57.9'N 062°08.9'W); Kingsburg (44°16.5'N 064°17.3'W). HF and MF frequencies are used, depending upon distance from station.

Harbour Master: Tel: +1 902 733 5705.

Notice of readiness

NOR normally tendered when vessel secured alongside berth except most tankers tender on arrival pilot station or at port limits.

Documents

Documents are received by Canada Customs on arrival or in the absence of Customs it is the responsibility of the vessel's agent to take documents to Canada Customs and Immigration.

Health

Pratique should be applied for when arriving from a country which has infectious diseases or death onboard from unknown causes. Pratique is applied for through the vessel's agent.

Ship Sanitation Control Certificate and Exemption Certificates can be renewed.

Customs and immigration

Allowances: For each officer or crew member the allowance is 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 0.9kg of tobacco and 1.1 litres of liquor or 8.2 litres of beer or ale.

Penalty for non compliance with the above is forfeiture. If ship's bond count is not accurate, overage results in forfeiture and penalty, under results in payment of duty, taxes and penalty.

Immigration: Routine filing of documents is undertaken by the vessel's agent. There are no restrictions on crew and/or passengers except those who require a visa. If they do not possess a visa they must remain aboard the vessel.

Flags

State flag to be flown over the stern and Canadian flag at the mast.

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

There are small machine shops in Louisbourg.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkers: Available in limited quantities.

Stores: Available.

Medical

Cape Breton Regional Hospital, 28km.

Glace Bay General Hospital, 30km.

Transport

Nearest airport: J.A. Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport, 30km.

Where it is

Louisbourg Harbour is an inlet located on the SE coast of Cape Breton Island.

The port

The harbour area includes the town of Louisbourg where there are limited berthing facilities. The port is open all year. Cargoes handled consist of fishing products and general cargo.

What are the pilot arrangements at Louisbourg?

Pilotage is not compulsory.

What time zone is Louisbourg in?

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

Which load line zone is Louisbourg in?

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Who carries out Port State Control at Louisbourg?

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

What is the UN/LOCODE of Louisbourg?

The UN/LOCODE of Louisbourg is CALOU.

What crews who called at Louisbourg 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.

Read and add tips for Louisbourg →