Pugwash

1. Pugwash Pilot Boarding Station Pilot boards45°54.5′N 063°40.7′W

Size limits

Max LOA 119.8m, beam 18.40m, draught 7.6m and 11,353DWT.

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

MHWS 2.6m and MHWN 2.3m.

Tidal streams set a rate of up to 2kts in the harbour entrance, but may be stronger on the outgoing stream during the spring thaw. Close by Oxley Point is a small basin formed by a bend in the river where the tidal stream can set at up to 4.5kts.

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

Approach

The harbour is approached through Pugwash Roads, which lie between Pugwash Point, (45°53'N., 063°40'W) and Bergeman Point, 1.75nm WSW and entered through a narrow and winding channel over Pugwash Bar.

The approach channel has a width of 100m and a depth 4.5m.

Caution: Due to drifting sand the depths in the approaches and in Pugwash Roads may vary considerably from those shown on the chart.

Anchorages

Outer anchorage: Pugwash Road offers excellent anchorage in depths of 4.0-6.0m, sand and clay. The anchorage is sheltered from NE'ly winds by Pugwash Reef, which extends 0.4nm WNW from Pugwash Point as well as NW'ly winds by Lewis Reef, 1.25nm N of Lewis Head.

The best anchorage is in a depth of 5.8m, with Fishing Point bearing 085°, distant approx 0.5nm.

There is also anchorage situated approx 0.5nm farther SSE in depths of 4.0m.

Restrictions

There is a bridge with a vertical clearance of 3.6m which crosses Pugwash River from close E of Oxley Point to Chapel Point. The river above the bridge is much encumbered with flats of mud and weed which nearly dry, restricting passage to small craft only. A second bridge crosses the river at Port Philip with a vertical clearance of 2.7m. It is reported that close to the aforementioned bridge are underwater obstruction from a former bridge. These are a hazard as they are not marked.

Harbour entrance is subject to silting and difficult to transit. As a result, it is highly recommended that local knowledge is necessary due to the shifting sand banks and sharp turns. Persistent dredging takes place due to the frequent silting within the channel.

Noted that approx 1.7nm NNW of Pugwash Point is Ballast Ground with a least reported depth of 3.3m. It is advised that local knowledge is need to avoid the area and is marked on the E edge by starboard hand light buoy. A rock, 2.7m depth, lies close W of the junction of the second and third ranges and a second rock, 1.5m depth, lies 39nm S of Pugwash Marine Terminal. Approx 0.5nm from Pugwash Point is Pugwash Reef which frequently dries out and is marked by a W cardinal buoy.

The anchorage of Pugwash Road is bounded on the E side by the shoal ground. Least depths are reported to be 3.7m and extends 0.3nm W and 0.4nm SW from Fishing Point (45°52'N., 63°41'W.) and on the W side by Philip Bar (sand and stones). Least depths in the area of Philip Bar are reported to be less than 1.8m, extending about 1.5nm ESE from Lewis Head and 2nm W of Fishing point.

Tugs

There are no tugs available but assistance may be obtained from local fisherman.

Charts and publications

BA 2034, Canadian 4498. Admiralty Pilot NP65, NP286(5).

Communications

Halifax Coast Guard Radio contact info:

Call sign: VCS. Available throughout 24 hours. Amver messages can be passed through "VCS".

Pilot contact info

Telephone: +1 877 272 3477

VHF: Ch 07A, 17 and 77.

Email: [email protected]

Harbour Master of Pugwash contact info

Telephone: +1 902 243 3014

Facsimile: +1 902 243 2079

Harbour Authority of Pugwash contact info

Telephone: +1 902 243 139

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

Minor repairs can be undertaken.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available via road tanker (Pugwash Marine Terminal).

Bunkering: Fuel and diesel available (Pugwash Marine Terminal).

Medical

Nearest hospital: North Cumberland Memorial Hospital (1km).

Transport

Nearest airport: Charlottetown Airport (64km) and Greater Moncton Romeo LeBlanc International Airport (84.75km).

Nearest railway: Amherst (42.7km).

Nearest highway: The port has access to Trunk 6. The highway runs 136km from Pictou in the E to Amherst in the W.

Working hours

Windsor Salt throughout 24hrs

Day Shift: 0800hrs-1900hrs

Night Shift: 1900hrs-0800hrs

Where it is

The port of Pugwash is situated on the eastern side of Pugwash Bay, on the N coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, with Prince Edward Island across the Northumberland Strait.

The port

The small harbour consists of one small marine terminal for the exportation of salt and a public wharf for private pleasure and fishing vessels. The navigation season is from Apr 1 to Dec 1.

Where does the pilot board at Pugwash?

The pilot boards at Pugwash Pilot Boarding Station, 45°54.5′N 063°40.7′W.

What time zone is Pugwash in?

Local time at Pugwash 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 Pugwash?

The deepest berth listed is at Pugwash Marine Terminal: 7.60 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Pugwash?

1025.

Which load line zone is Pugwash 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 Pugwash?

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

What is the UN/LOCODE of Pugwash?

The UN/LOCODE of Pugwash is CAPUG.

What crews who called at Pugwash 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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