Pictou

1. Pictou Harbor pilot boarding station Pilot boards45°42.5′N 062°34.0′W

Size limits

LOA 140.4m, beam 18.4m, 1,622DWT.

Water density

1019

Load line zone

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

Tides

Range 2.0m.

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

Approach

Pictou Harbour is approached through Pictou Road and entered NW of Lighthouse Beach (Pictou Bar Spit), (45°41'N 062°40'W).

Approach Channel: The initial position is the vicinity of "SJ" Lightbuoy (safe water) moored 2.25nm ENE of Pictou Bar Light.

Leading Lights: Front light (exhibited from Pictou Bar Lighthouse), (45°41.2'N 062°39.8'W).

Rear light (white rectangle, red stripe, on red framework tower, 12m in height), on Battery Point, (1.75nm WSW of the front light).

The front light is visible on the leading line only, the rear light is visible over an arc of 3°.

The alignment (249.5°) of these lights leads through the approach channel, passing (positions given from Pictou Bar Light):

NW of Mackenzie Shoal (rocky), 2nm ENE, then:

E of Macdonald Reef, (2nm NE) which extends approx 0.4nm ESE from Logans Point marked by "SP6" Lightbuoy (starboard hand).

NW of shoal ground, with depths of less than 5.5m, extending approx 0.6nm N and NW from Mackenzie Head (sharp pointed cliff of clay and sandstone, 12m in height), 1.5nm E, then:

SE of shoal ground, with depths of less than 5.5m, extending 0.5nm SSE from Cole Point, (clay and sandstone cliff, 9m in height), 1nm NE.

Entrance Channel: Pictou Leading Lights: Front light (white tower, red stripe 6m in height), (45°41.3'N 062°40.7'W), on the N shore.

Rear light (similar construction and tower, 11m in height), 142m from front light.

The alignment (262°) of these lights, leads through the buoyed channel, (width 122m), over the bar passing (with positions given from the front leading light (45°41.3'N 062°40.7'W)):

S of Murdock Shoal, extending approx 0.3nm from the N shore, and:

N of shoal ground with depths of less than 5.5m extending from the SW shore.

Pictou Harbour: From a position in the harbour entrance, abreast Pictou Bar Light, the buoyed channel leads SW through Pictou Harbour.

The causeway, which connects Skinner Point, 0.2nm WSW of Abercrombie Point, to the opposite shore closes Middle River and West River to navigation.

Port limits

The seaward limit of Pictou Harbour is a line drawn from Roaring Bull Point, (45°41'N 062°34'W) to Caribou Point, 6.75nm NW.

Anchorages

Outer anchorage: Pictou Roads, approx 2nm NE of the harbour entrance affords good anchorage, in depths of 9.0m, clay and mud.

The recommended anchor berth is with Pictou Bar Light bearing 244°, distant 2nm.

Prohibited anchorage: A prohibited anchorage area lies within a radius of 305m from the slipways at Battery Point (45°40.6'N 062°42.0'W).

Restrictions

The depth of the channel is 6.7m at LW. The navigation season is from May 1 to Dec 25.

Submarine cables lie (with positions given from Pictou Bar Light (45°41'N 062°40'W)):

Between the vicinity of Pictou Bar Light (0.35nm SW), across the mouth of Moodie Cove to Moodie Point.

Between Seaview Point (also known as Grave Point), (0.7nm W) SE across the harbour to the opposite shore.

Between Town Point (2nm WSW) SE across the harbour to Christie Point (45°40'N 062°42'W)

Tugs

Not available at Pictou but available on 24 hours notice.

Charts and publications

BA 4765. Can 4437. Admiralty Pilot NP65, NP286(5).

Communications

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°28.33'N 063°37.27'W); Ecum Secum (44°57.87'N 062°08.92'W);

Kingsburg (44°16.53'N 064°17.25'W). HF and MF frequencies are used, depending upon distance from station.

VHF: Pilots: Ch 16.

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.

A penalty for non compliance will be implemented.

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

Available.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available from town supply via pipe.

Bunkering: HFO and LFO available via road tanker.

Medical

Nearest hospital: Sutherland Harris Memorial Hospital, 2.0km.

Transport

Nearest airport: Trenton Airport (YTN), 18.4km.

Nearest railway: New Glasgow Station, 18.5km.

Working hours

Normally 0800-1700hrs. Overtime as required.

Where it is

The town is on the N shore of Pictou Harbour on the S shore of the Gulf of St Lawrence.

The port

Pictou Harbour handles passenger.

Where does the pilot board at Pictou?

The pilot boards at Pictou Harbor pilot boarding station, 45°42.5′N 062°34.0′W.

What time zone is Pictou in?

Local time at Pictou 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 Pictou?

1019

Which load line zone is Pictou 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 Pictou?

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

What is the UN/LOCODE of Pictou?

The UN/LOCODE of Pictou is CAPTO.

What crews who called at Pictou 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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