About Us

WESTERN GREAT LAKES PILOTS ASSOCIATION IS CURRENTLY SEEKING AN APPLICANT (APPRENTICE) PILOT STARTING IN THE 2021 SEASON.  PLEASE SEE THE INFORMATION BELOW FOR THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICATION PROCESS. 

Western Great Lakes Pilots Association provides pilotage in the area known as District 3. District 3 is comprised of the three largest of the five Great Lakes. Our area consists of Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron as well as the St. Mary’s River and the Soo Locks. We pilot ships into nearly 60 different ports. Pilotage duties are currently shared between 17 U.S. and 4 Canadian pilots. Since the Great Lakes are bordered by 8 states and the provence of Ontario the U.S. pilots are regulated federally by the United States Coast Guard.

Anyone wishing to submit an application for employment as a pilot must first possess the minimum requirement of an unlimited tonnage First Class Pilots License for the waters of District #3. An unlimited tonnage Great Lakes Master’s license is preferred. An applicant must also have 24 months of licensed service aboard vessels of 4000 GRT or higher, with at least 6 months of service on the Great Lakes. If you meet these minimum requirements, then you must first request and submit an application from the Coast Guard Director of Great Lakes Pilotage. The address is:

Commandant (CG-WWM-2)

Attn: Great Lakes Pilotage Division

U.S. Coast Guard Stop 7509

2703 Martin Luther King Avenue, SE

Washington, DC 20593-7509

www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg552/pilotage.asp