Louisbourg (CALOU)

The harbour area includes the town of Louisbourg where there are limited berthing facilities. The port is open all year. Cargoes handled consist of fishing products and general cargo.

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Louisbourg Harbour is an inlet located on the SE coast of Cape Breton Island.

Available in the NE area of the harbour, E of the public wharf, with depths of approx 10m, mud. Some swell and undertow may be experienced after E'ly gales but holding ground is good and the sea state is usually smooth. Vessels may also anchor SSW of the public wharf but this may be less satisfactory.

The port is approached from the E and entered S of Lighthouse Point. Entrance channel: The initial position is 3nm E of Lighthouse Point Light. Leading Lights: Front light (white trapezium daymark, red stripe on a red framework tower, 5m in height), (45°54'N 059°59'W), on the W shore. Rear light (similar daymark, inverted and tower, 7m in height), 166m W of the front light. The alignment (268°) of these lights leads through the entrance channel. Inshore channel: Width approx 0.2nm, marked on each side by a spar buoy, leads between the shoal ground extending E from Rocky Island, (0.5nm S of Lighthouse Point Light) and Harbour Shoal into the entrance channel. The last depth in the fairway from the entrance to the public wharf is 6.7m.

BA 4763. Admiralty Pilot NP65, NP286(5).

Pilotage is not compulsory. Pilots board 5nm seaward of the harbour entrance. Local pilots are available by prior arrangement.

The harbour area runs from a SW to NE direction, the town of Louisbourg is located on the NW shore where there is good anchorage.

Lighthouse Point, white 8 sided tower,13m in height (45°54'N 59°57'W). The restored fortress of Louisbourg (45°53'N 59°59'W), with a conspicuous spire, stands behind Rochefort Point on the S side of the harbour entrance. Useful mark, within harbour area: Jetty light (45°55'N 59°59'W), 0.5nm NE of Gerratt Head (45°54'N 59°58'W).

There are a number of historic wrecks in the area, all of which are charted and protected by restricted zones. During the period from February to April, loose pack ice from the Gulf of St Lawrence may drift across the harbour approaches. In general, local ice formations are of minor significance.

Mean spring rise approx 1.5m, mean neap rise approx 1.2m.

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. Harbour Master: Tel: +1 902 733 5705.

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 Canada 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.

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.

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.