Regulations

To make the St. Lawrence safer for navigation, the government of Lower Canada founded the Trinity House of Quebec in 1805. This organization oversaw pilotage and lighthouse construction. The Trinity House was also responsible for ensuring the safety of port facilities, managing the harbour of Quebec, laying and removing buoys, anchoring lightships and docking and undocking ships. It was also charged with removing obstacles to navigation from the channel. Pilot licenses were issued by the Trinity House. It covered a vast territory, from Île du Bic to Montreal. The Trinity House of Montreal was founded in 1832. It oversaw the territory between the north-east end of Lake Saint-Pierre and the border between Upper and Lower Canada. As of 1839, its jurisdiction was expanded east to Portneuf.

The Department of Marine and Fisheries was established on May 22, 1868. In the early 1870s, the Department took over management of all navigational aids, lighthouses and buoys from the Trinity Houses. The Trinity House of Montreal ceased its operations entirely in 1873, while the Trinity House of Quebec focused solely on port safety. On January 1, 1876, the Quebec Harbour Commission took over from the Trinity House of Quebec in overseeing and developing the Port of Quebec. On July 20, 1905, the Department of Marine and Fisheries became the official pilotage authority for the Quebec City district, replacing the Quebec Harbour Commission.

In the early 19th century, pilots competed with each other in offering their services. To get pilotage contracts, they would venture further and further away from the pilot station, risking their lives to seek out ships in the gulf. This unbridled competition led to the drowning of 133 pilots between 1815 and 1855. To remedy this situation, efforts were made to replace the system of unregulated competition with rotating assignments. Pilots chose to organize as a profession to protect their shared interests and improve the quality of the pilotage services they offered. From 1850 to 1860, Quebec City pilots fought the merchant lobby to be allowed to form a corporation. Finally, in 1860, 234 pilots signed a deed of incorporation and adopted the rotating assignment model.

In the spring of 1897, a powerful lobby of shipowners opposed the incorporation of pilots providing service between Quebec City and Montreal. These businessmen pressured the federal government, fearing that pilotage costs would increase. When a Senate committee refused to grant them the right to incorporate, the 52 pilots went on strike on June 18, 1897. On June 24, businessman Andrew Allan, who represented maritime interests on the Montreal Harbour Commission, proposed abolishing the mandatory pilotage requirement. On June 28, the Minister of Marine and Fisheries, Louis-Henry Davies, decided to support the pilots. The Minister ordered the creation of a commission of inquiry to investigate relationships between pilots, shipowners, merchants and the pilotage authority. Following the death of Andrew Allan on June 27, 1901, the Montreal Harbour Commission lost its influence on federal politicians. In 1903, the Harbour Commission ceased to be involved in river pilotage, and on January 1, 1904, the Department of Marine and Fisheries took over the administration of pilotage between Quebec City and Montreal.

Between Les Escoumins and Montreal, all foreign ships over 35 metres in length must be guided by a pilot licensed by the Laurentian Pilotage Authority. Pilots assist the captain in navigating the ship. Canadian vessels that have gross tonnage over 3,300 tonnes and are over 80 metres long are also required to take on a pilot. Pilots in the Corporation of Lower St. Lawrence Pilots are responsible for navigating the St. Lawrence between Les Escoumins and Quebec City, and on the Saguenay River. Pilots in the Corporation of Mid-St. Lawrence Pilots guide ships between Quebec City and Montreal. The Lake Ontario to Montreal section is overseen by the Corporation des pilotes du fleuve et de la Voie maritime du Saint-Laurent. Each pilot is specialized in conducting ships through a specific section of the river.

Under certain conditions, two pilots are required to board a vessel. Pilotage requires great vigilance, and pilots need to be well rested because the work is very demanding. If a vessel is likely to be under way for 11 hours or more, the Laurentian Pilotage Authority Regulations require that two pilots must be on board.

During the winter, vessels are required to take on two pilots. The beginning of winter is determined by the Laurentian Pilotage Authority after consulting with pilots and the maritime industry. This involves assessing the presence of ice, the temperature of the air and water, water levels and the state of buoys. The winter season lasts until the temperature, navigational aids and ice conditions are deemed to be satisfactory.