Dear Members,
We would like to provide clarification regarding the recent implementation of double pilotage in the Cornwall district.
The Great Lakes Pilotage Authority (GLPA) has confirmed that double pilotage was activated earlier this morning (December 10, 2025) in the Cornwall district due to increased transit times caused by early-season ice conditions, specifically ice lockages in the South Shore Canal.
This year, ice formation occurred approximately 12 days earlier than the typical seasonal decommissioning of buoys. As a result, the early ice conditions were the determining factor for requiring double pilotage.
GLPA indicated that the long-standing practice is to implement double pilotage based on whichever condition occurs first: ice lockages or decommissioning of buoys. In this case, ice conditions were the earliest and therefore triggered the requirement. GLPA confirmed that this measure is tied to operational conditions (ice or buoy removal) rather than a precise duration of transit.
We will continue to follow up with GLPA to obtain additional clarification where needed and will share any further information as soon as it becomes available.
Best regards,
Nathan Phillips
Operations Analyst