Port Hardy

1. Pine Island Pilot Boarding Station Pilot boards50°58.6′N 127°43.5′W

Size limits

Max LOA 150.75m, beam 23m, draught 6.8m and 1,853DWT.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

Mean spring range 3.5m; mean neap range 1.8m.

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

Traffic schemes and VTS

Through Victoria VTS: VHF channels 16, 70, 71, 83A, and 84.

Anchorages

Anchorage can be taken, in a depth of 24m, about 0.3 mile ENE of the head of Seagate Pier. Hardy Bay provides safe anchorage for large vessels such as log loaders or Alaska bound cruise ships.

Restrictions

A submarine cable lies across the head of Hardy Bay at approx 0.14nm S of Seine Floats. This is best seen on the chart.

Tugs

Available at Central Coast Marine Services Terminal.

Charts and publications

CAN 3548. Admiralty Pilot NP25.

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. Canadian Coast Guard require pre arrival report at least 96 hours before arrival from a foreign port, see Country section for further details.

Communications

San Francisco ("KPH" and "KFS") and Vancouver Coast Guard ("VAI") coast radio stations can be used for passing messages throughout 24 hours. The stations can transmit/receive traffic on all HF frequencies and 500kHz, depending on distance from station.

Inmarsat can also be used.

Port Hardy Harbour Authority:

Telephone: +1-250-949-6332

Mobile/Emergency: +1-250-949-0336

Fax: +1-250-949-6047

VHF: Channel 66A

Email: [email protected]

Victoria Vessel Traffic Service (VTS):

VHF: Channels 16, 70, 71, 83A, and 84.

Note: Emergency contact to the port is available at any time.

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 Certificates 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 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 Hardy lies within Sector 4 of the Victoria Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), VHF channels 16, 70, 71, 83A, and 84.

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

Maintenance and pump out available through Port Hardy Harbour Authority.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh Water: Available at Seagate Pier and Seine Floats.

Bunkering: Diesel fuel available at Port Hardy Fuel Dock through road tankers.

Medical

Nearest hospital: Port Hardy Hospital (9120 Granville Street, Port Hardy, BC V0N 2P0) (1km).

Crew change

The Canadian Coast Guard relies on the facility at Seagate Pier for regular crew changes and provisioning.

Transport

Nearest airport: Port Hardy Airport (regional, 8.5km).

Nearest highway: Provides access to Highway 19.

Working hours

Port Hardy Harbour Authority:

Summer hours: Mon-Sat 0800-1700hrs and Sun 1000-1600hrs.

Off-season hours (Oct-Apr): Mon-Fri 0800-1500hrs and closed Sat, Sun and statutory holidays.

Where it is

Port Hardy is located on the NE coast of Vancouver Island on Queen Charlotte Strait, 235km N of Campbell River and 391km N of Nanaimo.

The port

Port Hardy, which offers year-round shelter, is ideally located for routes to Prince Rupert and the Central Coast. The port services privately owned terminals such as Mowi's fish processing plant, Coastal Mountain Fuels' bunkering operation and the base for Central Coast Marine Services. The Port Hardy Harbour Authority handles numerous berths including a ferry terminal at the E side of the harbour as well as berths for fishing and recreational vessels. The Canadian Coast Guard has a station within the port at Seagate Pier which was visited by HMCS Brandon in 2021.

Where does the pilot board at Port Hardy?

The pilot boards at Pine Island Pilot Boarding Station, 50°58.6′N 127°43.5′W.

What time zone is Port Hardy in?

Local time at Port Hardy is UTC−7. No summer time.

What is the maximum draft at Port Hardy?

The deepest berth listed is at Seagate Pier: 6.80 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

Which load line zone is Port Hardy in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Port Hardy?

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

What is the UN/LOCODE of Port Hardy?

The UN/LOCODE of Port Hardy is CAPHY.

What crews who called at Port Hardy 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 Port Hardy →