Powell River

Size limits

LOA 107.2m, 864DWT, beam 23.5m.

Water density

1012.

Load line zone

Summer.

Tides

Max tidal range is 5.4m

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

Approach

Approach is made direct from the Strait of Georgia and is without dangers. The depth of the entrance channels at LW is from 9.14 to 10.7m

Westview: Approach is from a position approx 1.0nm West of the facilities. A safe route leads East to the public wharf.

Paper Mill: To the South of the Mill, a floating breakwater made up of disused hulks of barges, helps to prevent silting up. From a position approx 0.6nm SW of Pier 'A', vessels should use the Pier's Leading Lights, on an alignment of 0.35° (215°); Front Light (49°52.23'N 124°33.63W') and Rear Light 175m beyond. the Paper Mill advises berth allocation. There is a breakwater close West of Pier 'A', beyond which a shoal extends approx 185m.

Port limits

Comprise all the waters lying within a line joining Grief Point (49°48.3'N 124°31.5'W) to Grilse Point (49°48'N 124°36'W), then to the W point of Savary Island (49°56'N 124°49'W), then from the NW extremity of Savary Island to Hutado Point (49°58'N 124°45'W).

Traffic schemes and VTS

Assigned to frequency 156.575MHz, VHF Ch 71.

Anchorages

Can be obtained SW of wharves but is exposed to W winds. The offshore area between Westview and Grief Point, 2nm S, is used as a sheltered anchorage by tugs and their log booms during SE weather. Numerous mooring buoys are in this area.

Cautions: An outfall pipeline extends 4.5nm WSW from a position 0.25nm W of Pier A (49°52.3'N 0124°33.5'W).

A gas pipeline extends across the Strait of Georgia from a position approx 0.9nm SE of Pier A.

An abandoned cable extends seaward from close S of the log storage basin 0.8nm cables SE of Pier A.

Restrictions

Paper Mill: A submereged pipeline is located 823m out from the SW corner of the Mill. This is clearly marked on charts and would affect vessels approach Quay 'E'.

Tugs

There are 2 tugs with capacities of 550hp and 750hp available. Arranged through agent on 24 hours notice.

Mooring

All vessels are notified in advance of their allocated berth by Catalyst Paper Corporation. At Pier 'A', SE winds may cause difficulty for berthing on the NW side of the pier, where the breakwater, and an an area of shallower water, could restrict room to manoeuvre.

Charts and publications

CAN 3311. CAN Pacific Coast Sailing Directions (PAC) No 201.

BA579. Admiralty Pilot NP25.

US 17496. US Sailing Directions 154.

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 if vessel 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.

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 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 vessel's 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 are available including underwater inspections.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available.

Bunkering: Available in large quantities shipped by barge from Vancouver.

Medical

Hospital and Clinic.

Transport

Nearest airport: Powell River.

Nearest railway: Powell River.

Working hours

Normally 0800-1700hrs. Overtime as required.

Where it is

Powell River is located on the mainland on the E side of the northern portion of the Strait of Georgia, approx 130km N of Vancouver.

The port

Powell River is home to what was once the largest pulp and paper mill in the world. Now owned by Catalyst Paper Corporation, the site has been operating for over one hundred years and was the first newsprint mill in Western Canada. There are berths for large barges and sea-going vessels.

Tourism is a major contributor to the local economy and 2.5nm to the South, at Westview, a suburb of Powell River City, there are facilities for large ferries and cruise vessels. BC Ferries operate routes from Comox on Vancouver Island to the west and from the Sunshine Coast to the South East.

What are the pilot arrangements at Powell River?

Pilotage is provided by the Pacific Pilotage Authority Canada.

What time zone is Powell River in?

Local time at Powell River is UTC−7. No summer time.

What is the water density at Powell River?

1012.

Which load line zone is Powell River in?

Summer.

Who carries out Port State Control at Powell River?

Port State Control at Powell River: Paris MOU, Tokyo MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Powell River?

The UN/LOCODE of Powell River is CAPOW.

What crews who called at Powell River 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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