PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
Port Hawkesbury
Pilot
updated Jan 2018Compulsory. Pilots can be contacted throughout 24 hours on Ch 14. Vessel's ETA should be sent 12 and 6 hours in advanced.
Southern Approach: Pilot boarding position for vessels over 223m length is at 45°24'N 061°01'W and for vessels under 223m length in position 45°29.6'N 061°11.1'W.
Northern Approach: Pilot boarding position (all vessels) is 45°41.7'N 061°28.3'W.
Pilot vessel uses VHF 17 for Northern boarding position and VHF Ch 17 and 11 for the Southern boarding position.
During Dec to April, the Southern boarding position is also used for pilot boarding for vessels bound for the Miramichi River.
Southern approaches pilot boarding stations: Outer pilot boarding station located at 45° 24.000'N 61° 1.000'W. Inner pilot boarding station located at 45° 29.500'N 61° 11.100'W. First ETA to be given 12hrs in advance, arrival confirmation or corrections to be made 6hrs in advance, departure/movage 4hrs, Pilot Boat Radio/Transmit Channel available at Chs 14/10.
Pilotage is compulsory for vessels over LOA 225.5m to use a Pilot to proceed to either the inner anchorage or from the inner anchorage to the outer Southern approach. Pilotage is available around the clock and is provided under the terms and conditions of the Canadian Pilotage Act. The recommended visibility for VLCC during transit is 3nm and 1nm while berthing, however, it is at Pilot's discretion to determine acceptable visibility limits for all vessel operations. Channel between buoys c11 and c18 is to be clear of all other traffic when a vessel of 150,000DWT or greater is passing through this area. When the vessel reaches Check in Point ("CIP") #6, it will not be able to turn around until it reaches the turning area NW of berthing facility.
Key data
updated Feb 2025Size limits
LOA 333m, draught 25.9m, beam 60m, 400,000DWT.
Water density
1025.
Load line zone
North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.
Tides
Mean spring range approx 2.4m, mean neap range approx 2.0m.
NuStar Energy - Point Tupper Terminal - Tidal range is relatively small. Mean high tide 1.7m, mean low tide 0.5m. Average low tidal mark is 0.6m and high tidal mark is 2.1m. Current velocities average 0.5kts within the Strait of Canso and 0.7kts in the Chedabucto Bay with extremes of 1.5kts.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| EverWind Terminals - Point Tupper | 25.90 m | 333 m | 2 |
| Point Tupper Marine Coal Terminal | 12.90 m | 245 m | 1 |
| Bear Head LNG Terminal | 12.20 m | 345 m | 1 |
| Cabot Gypsum (Tupper Point) | 7.40 m | 213 m | 2 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Feb 2025Approach
The port area is approached through the following routes:
From the SE, through Chedabucto Bay or Lennox Passage. From a position in mid channel approx 0.5nm NNW of Point Tupper, the track into Ship Harbour leads E, then passing N of premier shoal, soft mud, extending approx 0.3nm NNE from Point Tupper.
From the NW, through St George Bay and Canso Lock at the E end of a causeway which runs right across the Strait. The NW approach through Canso Lock is closed to navigation during the winter months, usually from Jan to early Apr.
The length of the passage through the Strait, between Eddy Point and North Canso Light, is approx 15nm. The least width of the Strait is 0.45nm near Cape Porcupine (45°38'N 061°25'W).
N end of the Lock: Range lights, in a line bearing 131.5°, can be seen from 1 Apr to 1 Dec, located on the N end of the Lock and mark the approach to the canal from North.
S end of the Lock: Range lights, in a line bearing 144°, also displayed from 1 Apr to 1 Dec, are located on the outer approach to the canal from St George's Bay. The front light is shown from a skeleton tower located near the centre of the causeway and the rear light from a similar structure with inverted daymark, on the shore.
Vessels LOA30.5m or over should use a land linesman on the lock wall to handle the vessel's lines prior to the bow of the vessel nearing the lock gates. Larger vessels may require three linesmen. Requests for linesmen should be made at least six hours before transit and will incur additional expense.
Port limits
The limits of the combined ports are as follows:
S limit: A line drawn SW from Bear Head, (45°33'N 061°17'W) to Melford Point on the opposite shore.
N limit: Canso causeway, (45°39'N 061°25'W).
Tugs
Tugs are moored to a floating pontoon located near the terminal's jetty at 45° 34.415'N 61° 20.477'W.
NuStar Energy - Point Tupper Terminal - All vessels mooring at either berth No. 1 or No. 2 are required to have a pilot on board. All vessels up to 35,000DWT shall be required to take at least one tug on arrival and departure. Vessels between 35,001DWT and 120,000DWT shall be required to take at least two tugs. Vessels exceeding 120,000DWT will be required to take at least three tugs. The three resident tugs at the terminal have a combined bollard pull of approx. 157t.
Mooring
NuStar Energy - Point Tupper Terminal:
- All vessels under 10,000GT; 2 head/stern lines, 2 breasts, 2 springs fore and aft.
- All vessels between 10,000GT and 40,000GT; 3 head/stern lines, 2 breasts, 2 springs fore and aft.
- All vessels between 40,000GT and 70,000GT; 4 head/stern lines, 2 breasts, 2 springs fore and aft.
- All vessels above 70,000GT; 6 head/stern lines, 2 breasts, 2 springs fore and aft.
Charts and publications
BA 4765, 4748. Admiralty Pilot NP65, NP286(5).
US 14076. US Coast Pilot 145.
Canadian Hydrographic Chart No. 4335 - Strait of Canso and Approaches, 4306 - Strait of Canso and Southern Approaches.
Reporting before arrival
updated Jan 2018ETA and pre-arrival notices
ETD messages: Vessels are not to depart or move within the compulsory pilotage area without reporting to Pilots Cape Breton, 4 hours prior to ETD. The time used should be Local Time and must be used for the message.
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°28.3'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.
NuStar Energy - Point Tupper Terminal - Radio communication on the International VHF Maritime Band (Ch10) should be started at CIP-6, and used for the final arrival notice and for communications with NuStar Mooring Master until he/she boards the vessel. All cargo operations are monitored and communicated on Ch07A. VHF Ch14 (Canso Traffic), Terminal Call Sign: NUSTAR.
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
Port Hawkesbury is a Canadian Government Port of Entry. Customs and Immigration have facilities at the Town Quay.
Flags
State flag to be flown over the stern and Canadian flag at the mast.
Inspections
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
Port services
updated Jan 2018Repairs
Hull and machinery repairs available.
Bunkers, water and stores
Fresh water: Available.
Bunkering: The bunker service provides full storage and blending capabilities for heavy bunker fuels. The system receives the fuel from both large and small ships up to 80,000DWT. The fuel can be delivered to ships and trucks at a wide range of blends. The blending services are custom blends at each loading to ensure maximum flexibility.
Stores: Available, subject to availability, check with agent prior to arrival.
Transport
Nearest airport: Sydney.
Nearest railway: Port Hawkesbury.
Working hours
Throughout 24 hours.
NuStar Energy â Point Tupper Terminal operates 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.
About Port Hawkesbury
updated Feb 2025Where it is
The port is situated on the E shore of the Strait of Canso, Cape Breton Island in the Province of Nova Scotia.
The port
The port is split between Port Hawkesbury and Point Tupper. Port Hawkesbury has a town pier. There are paper-making facilities at Point Tupper and a power station. The port district also has facilities for ULCC tankers, bulk carriers and general cargo vessels. Work has started on a new LNG Terminal, close south of the port, at Bear Head.
Traffic
Approx. 13,000,000t of cargo and 150 vessels handled annually.
Questions about Port Hawkesbury
What are the pilot arrangements at Port Hawkesbury?
Compulsory. Pilots can be contacted throughout 24 hours on Ch 14.
What time zone is Port Hawkesbury in?
Local time at Port Hawkesbury is UTC−4. Clocks go to UTC−3 on 14 Mar 2027. Back to UTC−4 on 7 Nov 2027.
What is the maximum draft at Port Hawkesbury?
The deepest berth listed is at EverWind Terminals - Point Tupper: 25.90 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
What is the water density at Port Hawkesbury?
1025.
Which load line zone is Port Hawkesbury 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 Port Hawkesbury?
Port State Control at Port Hawkesbury: Paris MOU, Tokyo MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of Port Hawkesbury?
The UN/LOCODE of Port Hawkesbury is CAPHW.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at Port Hawkesbury 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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A planning aid, not for navigation. These facts come from public sources and each section shows how old it is. Check with the port, your agent, your ENCs and official publications. Spotted something wrong? Tell us on the feedback board.