Discover the LPA

The Laurentian Pilotage Authority (“LPA”) is a federal Crown corporation responsible for administering and providing marine pilotage and related services in the waters of the Laurentian region, in particular the St. Lawrence River and the Saguenay River.

The LPA’s mission is to ensure navigation safety by providing efficient marine pilotage services at a reasonable cost in cooperation with pilots and the shipping industry.

The vision of the Laurentian Pilotage Authority is to become a world leader in marine pilotage, assume a leadership role within the marine industry and to serve the public interest by fostering excellence and continuous improvement in the delivery of efficient pilotage services that contribute to navigation safety, environmental protection and industry competitiveness.

In keeping with this vision and our mission, the Pilotage Act empowers the LPA to make regulations to establish compulsory pilotage areas, determine which vessels are subject to compulsory pilotage, define the criteria for issuing pilotage licences, and determine mandatory training for pilots and other safety navigation requirements related to pilotage services.

The LPA is also responsible for establishing fair and reasonable tariffs for these services and that allow it to operate on a self-sustaining financial basis. Tariff modifications must be published and authorized by an order in council.