Issue 2, Fall 2005

Atlantic Pilotage Authority THE DISPATCH

ACQUISITION OF ANOTHER BOAT FOR THE ATLANTIC PILOTAGE

It is rare to find a good second- to be in excellent condition given Theriault of Meteghan, N.S. hand pilot boat on the open mar- that she has been in service since On September 13, 2005, the newly named Fundy ket in North . 1983. Her major drawbacks Pilot departed Halifax for Meteghan, N.S., to un- were that she needed to be Cana- However, earlier this year, a rep- dergo refit in A.F. Theriault’s new service building. dianized and meet new pilot resentative of the Boston Pilots boat guidelines as defined by Work is expected to take up to two months. During advised the Atlantic Pilotage Transport Canada. this time, the vessels Detroit Diesel 892 series en- Authority(APA) that two opera- gines will be removed for a complete overhaul and tional Boston pilot boats were for After much discussion and with rebuild. The vessel will receive its new safety col- sale. One of the two vessels was the full support of the board of ours and depart for operational duty in the Port of a 49-foot fiberglass Halmatic directors, the Authority pur- Saint John. vessel, the other a 51-foot alumi- chased the vessel which arrived num Raymond Hunt design in Halifax from Boston in mid- The Authority’s APA #2 will become Fundy Pilot’s (Gladding Hearn built) pilot July. back-up vessel. Following this relocation, the APA’s boat. #20 pilot boat, currently on operational duty in Through the summer months the Saint John, will be repositioned at the Port of Hali- APA, Transport Canada and Representatives from manage- fax to become the back-up pilot boat to APA #1. Lengkeek Vessel Engineering ment, accompanied by a naval made a list of modifications for APA #3 will eventually be taken out of service and architect from Lengkeek Vessel the pilot boat. The tender for sold. Engineering flew to Boston to this major refit was subse- inspect the vessels. They found quently awarded to A.F. the Raymond Hunt design vessel

“FUNDY PILOT” “APA #20”

“APA #2” “APA #1” Page 2 Issue 2, Fall 2005

CONSTRUCTION OF NEW PILOT BOATS

The proposed construction LVE has been appointed to yards located throughout of the new pilot boat for Pla- oversee the boat’s construc- Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, centia Bay has reached an- tion and will work closely Quebec and the U.S.A. Each other milestone. with the Lloyd’s Classifica- of these yards showed inter- tion Society on the project. est in building the vessel for Lengkeek Vessel Engineer- Lloyd’s was awarded full the Atlantic Pilotage Au- ing (LVE) completed its con- delegation status for ap- thority. tractual design and technical proval of vessel plans on specifications for the new Selection of the successful behalf of Transport Canada. vessel. In total, there were bidder should be completed 56 design plans and 78 de- The pilot boat plans and the and construction begun by tailed drawings required for contract detailing the terms end of 2005. the construction of the ves- and conditions were submit- sel. ted to nine construction

HALIFAX PILOT OFFICE GETS A FACELIFT!

The new Crow’s Nest is up and running on the old files and found records and Halifax waterfront. The old Crow’s Nest, lo- pictures dating back to 1921. cated at the end of the ECTUG pier, was ru- They donated the findings to the ined in Hurricane Juan when waves from the Maritime Museum of the Atlan- Harbour crashed over the building. ECTUG, tic. who owns the building, decided to rebuild. Captain George Hilchie says he Construction of the new Crow’s Nest began in is pleased with the new Crow’s May and was completed by the beginning of Nest. He thinks it is a func- August in the same location. tional office with lots of space. During that time, ECTUG temporarily relo- A big thanks to all the Halifax cated its office to the 3rd floor of the Water- marine pilots for their patience front Warehouse. Now back in the Nest, the during construction. organization occupies half of the first floor We hope you enjoy your new and all of the top level. The marine pilots Nest. have the back half of the first floor. Before ECTUG moved they sorted through

MILESTONES

Congratulations are extended to Captain Chuck Mac- Congratulations are extended to Gerard Fitzpatrick and wife Donald and his wife Yvonne on the arrival of their Bernie on the arrival of their first grandchild to their daughter baby girl, Clare Hannah born on June 26, 2005. Clare Jennifer and son-in-law Chad Collins. Emma Marie Collins was has a sister, Sarah, age 2; and a brother, Jack, age 1. born 8 and 1/2 weeks early, on July 31st 2005, at 3 lbs 7ozs. She Captain MacDonald is a Cape Breton Marine Pilot. now weighs 11 lbs and is doing very well. Gerard is a Board Mem- ber of the APA. Congratulations are extended to Captain Anthony McGuinness and his wife Wendy on the arrival of their Pam and Paula Naugle, age 18, twin daughters of Launchmaster, first grandchild. Simon William Church was born on Captain Anthony Naugle of Halifax, NS competed on NS’s Softball September 3, 2005 to Captain McGuinness’s second Team at the Canada Games in Regina from August 7—20, 2005. daughter Penny and son-in-law, Tim Church. Captain Pam is a pitcher and Paula, also Team Captain, is a catcher . The McGuinness is the Chief Executive Officer of the APA. team placed 7th at the Games. Pam is attending college in Mar- shalltown, Iowa, this fall on a softball scholarship. Way to go

girls! Issue 2, Fall 2005 Page 3

LIFE OF A LAUNCHMASTER—PETER DAVIDSON “The ink wasn’t dry on my last Captain Peter Davidson’s weath- exam before I jumped a plane to the ered hands move along the controls West Indies,” says Davidson. of the pilot boat with familiarity. He checks the radar to his right to After all his travelling and sailing, make sure everything looks nor- Davidson received his 350-tonne mal. A voice crackles over the ticket in 1974 and eventually radio and he cocks an ear to listen, found his employment with the storing the information in the back Authority. of his mind for later. Davidson’s large build seems almost too big to Davidson now puts much of his be standing in the wheelhouse of passion into his Lunenburg county the APA #1 pilot boat, with his property. He originally bought 30 head close to touching the ceiling. acres in the town and has now But his stature emits nothing turned it into what he calls an 80- other than a sense of belonging. acre saltwater farm. His work on the land takes up most of his time Davidson has been a full-time off, and he wouldn’t have it any launchmaster with the Atlantic other way. Pilotage Authority for the past 21 years of his life. His number of “It’s just something I really have to years with the Authority gives him do,” says Davidson. “It’s a beauti- the most experience of the launch- ful piece of property, and one year masters within the APA fleet. leads into the next and many times Despite the fact that Davidson has I’ve thought of moving onto some- been in the same job for almost a thing else but never quite figured out quarter of a century, he never what it might be.” waivers from the most important job is when the weather gets bad because then it gets aspect of the job of a launchmaster The shift work at the Authority not only difficult but dangerous, very dangerous,” - that of safely transferring pilot(s) allows Davidson the chance to says Davidson. “That’s sort of where the pay-off is, between the pilot boat and (s). spend time on his saltwater farm, in bad weather, of doing the job well – not damaging

and his booked overtime often al- the boat, getting the boat where it’s supposed to be “I’ve always loved the water,” he lows him to spend almost a week in and, in Halifax’s case, keeping the port open when says. “You can’t keep me away from Lunenburg without needing to most ports would close.” the water.” come back into the city.

Davidson stresses that working with a crew that Originally from Montreal, David- But Davidson’s love of the water gets along and works as a team is crucial to mak- son moved to the East Coast in (and occasional cabin fever!) keeps ing bad weather days work out, no matter what 1969 to further his schooling at him coming back to the Authority comes up. Dalhousie University, where he for his job as launchmaster. “And the fun part,” add Davidson with a grin, “ is majored in philosophy. Not one to keeping it all together.” settle down, Davidson continued “It’s like any job when you’ve got a to travel. He ended up on the Blue- knack for it,” says Davidson. Com- nose for six weeks of the school bining the ocean and boating in a year, and then took a year off of job seems ideal for Davidson. But school to sail in the Bahamas. he also quotes a pilot he works Davidson went back to Dal to fin- with in saying that “we’re all ish his last few classes when the adrenaline junkies,” because the water called on him again: the sail- job isn’t always about taking a boat he returned from Bermuda boat from point A to point B. with was going to Europe after his exams. “When it becomes more than just the

Page 4 Issue 2, Fall 2005

APA Board Departure TRAINING IN 2005 Tor Bordevik Appointed March 9, 1999 and reappointed The APA has had another course will be scheduled a variety of vessels, includ- May 7, 2002. Cap- successful year of training to take the advanced ing the cruise ship Voyager tain Bordevik with a variety of courses course on a rotating basis. of the Seas. brought a great deal utilized. Some of the high- of marine experience lights are indicated below. “I cannot overstate the Simulation Exercise-Nautical to the board over his six years with value of the advanced Institute, Port Hawkesbury, the authority. During these two Manned Model Shiphan- course for APA pilots.” - N.S. appointments he was chairman of dling—Warsash Maritime Captain Chuck Mac- both the Audit and Pilot Boat Centre, UK Donald-Cape Breton Pi- The simulator course in Port Committees and was extremely Five pilots attended the lot—2005 Advanced course Hawkesbury was used to active in ensuring the direction of Manned Model Shiphan- attendee conduct feasibility studies such committees. dling course which means on handling LNG vessels at that all APA employee pi- “This (course) decisively the proposed terminals in lots have completed this demonstrates the Author- Saint John Bear Head, and course. Feedback from the ity’s devotion to the exercise Goldboro. Four Saint John APA Board Appointment pilots has been very posi- of due diligence and promo- pilots and two Cape Breton Jim Stoneman tive. tion of training opportuni- pilots participated. Appointed May19, ties for the pilots.” - Cap- 2005 to represent the tain Don Duffy—Saint Staff Training shipping industry. John Pilot– 2005 Ad- Several staff members went Mr. Stoneman’s years vanced course attendee. on one day continuing edu- of expertise in the cation courses covering a shipping industry have led him to variety of topics. Nancy Atship Services Limited, where he Gordon, Administrative holds the position of President and Manager, completed her General Manager. He has 32 years Management Development of experience in all aspects of vessel Certificate course offered owning, operating, management “The hands on training ex- jointly by Mount St. Vin- and agency. He presently is a perience gained using realis- cent University and Saint member of the Executive Council tic models was very benefi- 360 Degree Full Mission Mary’s University. Brian of the Shipping Federation of Can- cial. The instructors were Simulator—Star Center Bradley, Accountant, con- ada. The Atlantic Pilotage Author- great; most of them are former Florida, U.S.A. tinues to work towards an ity welcomes Jim to the board. pilots and gave us one-on-one MBA offered through the instruction.” - Captain Ward The simulator at Star Certified General Account- Scott-Miramichi and Res- Centre had thirteen APA ants Association of Nova APA Board Re-Appointment tigouche Pilot—2005 course pilots among its students Scotia and Laurentian Uni- Captain Don Duffy attendee. in 2005. In anticipation versity. Captain Duffy of Public of the inaugural visit of Landing, New Bruns- the Queen Mary 2 to Saint As you can see, 2005 was a wick was re-appointed John, NB, two Saint busy year for our training to the Board effective John pilots attended a program! July 14, 2005 for a term two day QM2 Modeling of three years. course. A relief master of

the ship was on hand to Yvon Dufour discuss the ship’s systems Mr. Dufour of Dart- Four pilots completed an and handling characteris- mouth, Nova Scotia has advanced shiphandling tics. been re-appointed as course in Warsash in Sep- Eleven pilots attended a Director of the Atlantic tember. Based on the fa- two day AZIPOD course Pilotage Authority ef- vourable comments received at Star Center. They fective September 12, on this course, pilots who practiced manoeuvres on 2005 for a term of three have completed the basic