Hantsport (CAHPT)

The port consists of 2 berths, one public and one private, utilised for the handling of wood pulp and gypsum respectively. Hantsport is officially closed from Jan 1 to Mar 1, but can be entered safely during that time, as ice breaks up with the tides. It is a tidal port, berths are dry at LW.

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Area. For ships over 100m in length, Winter Dec 16 to Feb 15, Summer Feb 16 to Dec 15. For ships of 100m or less in length, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

The port of Hantsport is situated on the W bank of the River Avon, 6.4km upstream from Minas Basin, at the head of the Bay of Fundy.

LOA 114m, draught 7.62.

Approx 190 vessels and 1,400,00t of gypsum handled annually.

Outer anchorage: Vessels awaiting the pilot may anchor in position 45°15'N 064° 15'W, about 4nm SE of Cape Blomidon in about 20m of water. Good anchorage can also be found in approx 9.0-11.0m, 2.75nm NE of Longspell Point, (45°10'N 064°21'W) taking care to avoid a wreck, with a depth over it of approx 5.5m in the vicinity. There is a good anchorage for smaller vessels situated near the mouth of the Avon River in 8.0m approx 1.25nm NNW of Horton Bluff, or approx 0.5nm NE of Horton Bluff in approx 13m.

Local knowledge is required for vessels entering the harbour. Horton Bluff Leading Lights: Front light (white tower, red stripe, 9m in height), (45°06'N 064°13'W). Rear light (white rectangular daymark with a red stripe on a framework tower, 7m in height), 539m S of the front light. The alignment of these lights (169.5°) leads to the mouth of the Avon River passing (positioned from Horton Bluff): W of Cross Bar Shoal, (6nm N) composed of shifting sand, then: E of Western Bar (3-6nm NNW), an extensive drying bank, composed of shifting sands, extending approx 4nm N from Boot Island, (2.5nm NW) and W of Eastern Bar (Middle Ground), 1.5nm to more than 5nm N, an extensive drying bank, then E of Oak Island. From this point, the river takes a course approx 5nm SE to Hantsport.

BA 4745. Admiralty Pilot NP59.

1000.

Not compulsory, however pilotage is recommended for mariners who do not have local knowledge. A pilot can be arranged via the Fundy Gypsum Company which maintains a listening watch on 4135kHz and VHF Ch 7A (156.35MHz). Pilots normally embark at position 45°13'N 064°15'W.

There is a conspicuous large grey storage shed on the wharf operated by the Fundy Gypsum Company and, a little way upstream, a wood pulp mill stands adjacent to the public wharf. A radio tower is located at 45°12'N 64°24'W. Lights positioned from Horton Bluff are as follows: Light (framework tower, 6m in height), 2nm ESE, near the root of a ruined pier at Summerville. Light (framework tower, 6m in height), 3.25nm SE on the N end of the public pier at Hantsport. Light (red round tower, white bands, 9m in height), 5nm SE of Mitchener Point. A conspicuous gypsum bank is located 4.25nm NE of Horton Bluff.

A shoal awash at chart datum (44°12'.8N 64°15'.2W) is located at the seaward extremity of Western Bar, close W of the leading line. Shoals in as little as 0.3m of water lie close E of the leading line, about 2nm N of Horton Bluff. Hantsport is accessible throughout the year as ice in the river breaks up with the tide.

Mean spring range is approx 13.1m but tide can rise, at times, up to 15.24m. Mean neap range approx 9.7m.

A tug is available.

Ice usually forms in January and breaks up in late March. The navigation season is from the beginning of April to end of December. Prevailing winds: SW'ly.

Radio: Halifax Coast Guard Radio (callsign "VCS") can be used for passing messages throughout 24 hours. Amver messages can be passed through "VCS". Halifax Coast Guard CRS has sites at Sambro (44°28.3'N 063°37.3'W); Ecum Secum (44°57.9'N 062°08.9'W); Kingsburg (44°16.5'N 064°17.3'W). HF and MF frequencies are used, depending upon distance from station. Pilot: Fundy Gypsum Company maintains a listening watch on 4135kHz and VHF Ch 7A (156.35MHz). Harbour Master: Tel: +1 902 684 9804

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.

..... Document Copies 1. Last Port Clearance 3 2. Ship's Bonded Stores List 3 3. Crew's Personal Effects List 3 4. Immigration Crew List 3 5. Maritime Declaration of Health 1 Documents are received by Canadian 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.

ETA's to be sent to vessel's agent 5 days, 72, 48 and 24 hours prior to arrival. Vessel's ETA should be sent to ECAREG (telex: 019-22510 CCG MRHQ DRT) 96 hours prior to arrival, also notify VTS 12 hours in advance at the zone limit. ETA message to agent must include "Vessel Pre-Arrival Notification" and vessel's Crew List. The Vessel Pre-Arrival Notification includes: ..... 1. Vessel's name and callsign 2. Date 3. GT 4. Port of Registry 5. Master 6. Port/berth/dock 7. Date of vessel arrival and time of arrival 8. Date of departure and time of departure 9. Voyage routeing (including last 5 ports of call starting with the most recent). 10. Customs service required at time of arrival Yes/No 11. If Yes, specify reason 12. Number of crew 13. Number of passengers 14. Number of fishery observers 15. Number of crew/passengers/observers signing off 16. Crew List attached 17. Nationality of crew and nationality of officers 18. Brief summary of cargo 19. Containerised 20. Non-containerised 21. Bulk 22. Vessel repairs in foreign country (Canadian vessels only) Yes/No 23. Certificates with expiry dates: a. Safety Construction b. Safety Equipment c. Ship Sanitation Control d. Safety Radio e. Load Line 24. Will the vessel operate in the coastal trade Yes/No Is the vessel licensed Yes/No If Yes, where was the licence issued and date valid until 25. Agent 26. Agent contact person 27. Agent fax number and contact person telephone number.

State flag to be flown over the stern and Canadian flag at the mast.

Vessels normally arrive in the anchorage for the berths 4 hours before HW. Vessels berthed at the gypsum wharf depart at HW on the same tide. Vessels berthed at the public wharf may dry out on a gridiron.

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.

NOR normally tendered when vessel secured alongside berth except most tankers tender on arrival pilot station or at port limits.