In April 2008, the Atlantic Pilotage Authority (APA) created a compulsory pilotage area in the water approaches to Voisey’s Bay, Labrador (the principal port is Edwards Cove in Anaktalak Bay). Voisey’s Bay becomes the seventeenth compulsory pilotage area for the APA. The APA has been monitoring the development of the Voisey’s Bay nickel mine since the late 1990’s. In 2004, the Authority commissioned a risk assessment using the Pilotage Risk Management Methodology (PRMM) in order to assess whether pilotage in this area should become compulsory.

The “Strait Eagle”, (formerly the “Placentia Pilot”) has been re-launched in the Strait of Canso. Owned and operated by Superport Marine Services Ltd, the boat has been completely rebuilt after being badly damaged in an accident in Placentia Bay in May 2006.

The Authority was honoured to have the “Avalon Pilot” christened on June 1, 2007, by Ms. Heather Skanes, wife of Mr. Paul Adams, President of Newfoundland Transshipment Limited (NTL). The NTL terminal is located in Placentia Bay, NL, and is specifically designed for the storage and transshipment of oil from the Hibernia and White Rose offshore oil fields.