Pacific Pilotage Authority Canada
Oral Exam Practice Questions
Section 1: Pilotage Act & General Pilotage Regulations (Questions 1–50)
Question 1: Under the General Pilotage Regulations, what is the threshold for compulsory
pilotage for a ship that is not a pleasure craft?
A) More than 100 gross tonnage
B) More than 350 gross tonnage
C) More than 500 gross tonnage
D) More than 1,000 gross tonnage
Answer: B
Rationale: All vessels over 350 GT (International Tonnage Convention measure) are required by
the Pacific Pilotage Regulations to carry pilots in the compulsory pilotage areas of the BC coast
.
Question 2: What is the threshold for compulsory pilotage for a pleasure craft?
A) Over 100 gross tons
B) Over 350 gross tons
C) Over 500 gross tons
D) Over 1,000 gross tons
Answer: C
Rationale: The General Pilotage Regulations state that every pleasure craft over 500 gross tons
(ITC) is subject to compulsory pilotage .
Question 3: What is the maximum gross tonnage for a vessel to be eligible for a pleasure craft
waiver?
A) 5,000 gross tons
B) 7,500 gross tons
C) 10,000 gross tons
D) 15,000 gross tons
Answer: C
Rationale: The vessel must be under 10,000 gross tons (ITC) to be eligible for a pleasure craft
waiver .
,Question 4: How many return voyages are required for a pleasure craft waiver in Area 1 (Fraser
River, west of the New Westminster railway bridge)?
A) 3 return voyages
B) 5 return voyages
C) 8 return voyages
D) 10 return voyages
Answer: B
Rationale: For Area 1, Fraser River west of the New Westminster railway bridge, 5 return
voyages are required .
Question 5: How many return voyages are required for a pleasure craft waiver in Area 1 (Fraser
River, east of the New Westminster railway bridge)?
A) 5 return voyages
B) 8 return voyages
C) 10 return voyages
D) 12 return voyages
Answer: C
Rationale: For Area 1, Fraser River east of the New Westminster railway bridge, 10 return
voyages are required .
Question 6: How many return voyages are required for a pleasure craft waiver in Area 2 (Inside
Passage)?
A) 5 return voyages
B) 8 return voyages
C) 10 return voyages
D) 12 return voyages
Answer: C
Rationale: For Area 2, Inside Passage, 10 return voyages are required .
Question 7: How many return voyages are required for a pleasure craft waiver in Area 2
(Second Narrows)?
A) 4 return voyages
B) 6 return voyages
C) 8 return voyages
D) 10 return voyages
Answer: B
Rationale: For Area 2, Second Narrows, 6 return voyages are required .
,Question 8: How many return voyages are required for a pleasure craft waiver in Area 3 (West
of Vancouver Island)?
A) 5 return voyages
B) 8 return voyages
C) 10 return voyages
D) 12 return voyages
Answer: C
Rationale: For Area 3, West of Vancouver Island, 10 return voyages are required .
Question 9: How many return voyages are required for a pleasure craft waiver in Area 4 (Pine
Island to Dixon Entrance)?
A) 5 return voyages
B) 8 return voyages
C) 10 return voyages
D) 12 return voyages
Answer: C
Rationale: For Area 4, Pine Island to Dixon Entrance, 10 return voyages are required .
Question 10: How many return voyages are required for a pleasure craft waiver in Area 5 (Haida
Gwaii)?
A) 5 return voyages
B) 8 return voyages
C) 10 return voyages
D) 12 return voyages
Answer: C
Rationale: For Area 5, Haida Gwaii, 10 return voyages are required .
Question 11: For Area 1, all return voyages must have been completed within the preceding
how many months?
A) 12 months
B) 18 months
C) 24 months
D) 36 months
Answer: C
Rationale: For Area 1, all return voyages must have been completed within the preceding 24
months .
Question 12: For Areas 2–5, all return voyages must have been completed within the preceding
how many months?
A) 24 months
, B) 36 months
C) 48 months
D) 60 months
Answer: D
Rationale: For Areas 2–5, all return voyages must have been completed within the preceding 60
months .
Question 13: For Areas 2–5, at least one voyage must be completed within the preceding how
many months?
A) 12 months
B) 18 months
C) 24 months
D) 36 months
Answer: C
Rationale: For Areas 2–5, at least one voyage must be completed in the preceding 24 months .
Question 14: What certificate must a person in charge of the deck watch hold for a pleasure
craft waiver?
A) Master 500 GT, Near Coastal
B) Certificate of Competency required by Part 2 of the Marine Personnel Regulations
C) Radio Operator's Certificate
D) Bridge Resource Management Certificate
Answer: B
Rationale: Every person in charge of the deck watch must hold the Certificate(s) of Competency
required by Part 2 of the Marine Personnel Regulations or equivalent certificates .
Question 15: What is the minimum number of attempts a candidate has to pass the pilot
examinations?
A) Three attempts
B) Four attempts
C) Six attempts
D) Unlimited attempts
Answer: C
Rationale: Each candidate is allowed a maximum of six attempts to pass the pilot examinations .
Question 16: What is the passing grade for the General Knowledge written exam?
A) 60%
B) 65%
C) 70%
D) 75%
Oral Exam Practice Questions
Section 1: Pilotage Act & General Pilotage Regulations (Questions 1–50)
Question 1: Under the General Pilotage Regulations, what is the threshold for compulsory
pilotage for a ship that is not a pleasure craft?
A) More than 100 gross tonnage
B) More than 350 gross tonnage
C) More than 500 gross tonnage
D) More than 1,000 gross tonnage
Answer: B
Rationale: All vessels over 350 GT (International Tonnage Convention measure) are required by
the Pacific Pilotage Regulations to carry pilots in the compulsory pilotage areas of the BC coast
.
Question 2: What is the threshold for compulsory pilotage for a pleasure craft?
A) Over 100 gross tons
B) Over 350 gross tons
C) Over 500 gross tons
D) Over 1,000 gross tons
Answer: C
Rationale: The General Pilotage Regulations state that every pleasure craft over 500 gross tons
(ITC) is subject to compulsory pilotage .
Question 3: What is the maximum gross tonnage for a vessel to be eligible for a pleasure craft
waiver?
A) 5,000 gross tons
B) 7,500 gross tons
C) 10,000 gross tons
D) 15,000 gross tons
Answer: C
Rationale: The vessel must be under 10,000 gross tons (ITC) to be eligible for a pleasure craft
waiver .
,Question 4: How many return voyages are required for a pleasure craft waiver in Area 1 (Fraser
River, west of the New Westminster railway bridge)?
A) 3 return voyages
B) 5 return voyages
C) 8 return voyages
D) 10 return voyages
Answer: B
Rationale: For Area 1, Fraser River west of the New Westminster railway bridge, 5 return
voyages are required .
Question 5: How many return voyages are required for a pleasure craft waiver in Area 1 (Fraser
River, east of the New Westminster railway bridge)?
A) 5 return voyages
B) 8 return voyages
C) 10 return voyages
D) 12 return voyages
Answer: C
Rationale: For Area 1, Fraser River east of the New Westminster railway bridge, 10 return
voyages are required .
Question 6: How many return voyages are required for a pleasure craft waiver in Area 2 (Inside
Passage)?
A) 5 return voyages
B) 8 return voyages
C) 10 return voyages
D) 12 return voyages
Answer: C
Rationale: For Area 2, Inside Passage, 10 return voyages are required .
Question 7: How many return voyages are required for a pleasure craft waiver in Area 2
(Second Narrows)?
A) 4 return voyages
B) 6 return voyages
C) 8 return voyages
D) 10 return voyages
Answer: B
Rationale: For Area 2, Second Narrows, 6 return voyages are required .
,Question 8: How many return voyages are required for a pleasure craft waiver in Area 3 (West
of Vancouver Island)?
A) 5 return voyages
B) 8 return voyages
C) 10 return voyages
D) 12 return voyages
Answer: C
Rationale: For Area 3, West of Vancouver Island, 10 return voyages are required .
Question 9: How many return voyages are required for a pleasure craft waiver in Area 4 (Pine
Island to Dixon Entrance)?
A) 5 return voyages
B) 8 return voyages
C) 10 return voyages
D) 12 return voyages
Answer: C
Rationale: For Area 4, Pine Island to Dixon Entrance, 10 return voyages are required .
Question 10: How many return voyages are required for a pleasure craft waiver in Area 5 (Haida
Gwaii)?
A) 5 return voyages
B) 8 return voyages
C) 10 return voyages
D) 12 return voyages
Answer: C
Rationale: For Area 5, Haida Gwaii, 10 return voyages are required .
Question 11: For Area 1, all return voyages must have been completed within the preceding
how many months?
A) 12 months
B) 18 months
C) 24 months
D) 36 months
Answer: C
Rationale: For Area 1, all return voyages must have been completed within the preceding 24
months .
Question 12: For Areas 2–5, all return voyages must have been completed within the preceding
how many months?
A) 24 months
, B) 36 months
C) 48 months
D) 60 months
Answer: D
Rationale: For Areas 2–5, all return voyages must have been completed within the preceding 60
months .
Question 13: For Areas 2–5, at least one voyage must be completed within the preceding how
many months?
A) 12 months
B) 18 months
C) 24 months
D) 36 months
Answer: C
Rationale: For Areas 2–5, at least one voyage must be completed in the preceding 24 months .
Question 14: What certificate must a person in charge of the deck watch hold for a pleasure
craft waiver?
A) Master 500 GT, Near Coastal
B) Certificate of Competency required by Part 2 of the Marine Personnel Regulations
C) Radio Operator's Certificate
D) Bridge Resource Management Certificate
Answer: B
Rationale: Every person in charge of the deck watch must hold the Certificate(s) of Competency
required by Part 2 of the Marine Personnel Regulations or equivalent certificates .
Question 15: What is the minimum number of attempts a candidate has to pass the pilot
examinations?
A) Three attempts
B) Four attempts
C) Six attempts
D) Unlimited attempts
Answer: C
Rationale: Each candidate is allowed a maximum of six attempts to pass the pilot examinations .
Question 16: What is the passing grade for the General Knowledge written exam?
A) 60%
B) 65%
C) 70%
D) 75%
