Serving the
Great Lakes
since 1960
About Us
Established in 1960 following the opening of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, Lakes Pilots has provided pilotage services for Lake Erie and the St. Clair and Detroit river systems. Our jurisdiction covers almost 270 nautical miles of waterways, spanning four U.S. states and one Canadian province, containing a combined 12 ports.
Who We Serve
Pilots around the nation work day-in and day-out to provide localized knowledge and skill to various vessels visiting their ports, the Great Lakes are no different. While the cost of providing this service is born by the shipping companies that utilize our services, our responsibility is first and foremost to the citizens of the United States and Canada. Through performing our jobs ensuring safe passage, we protect the environment and infrastructure from damage every day.
How to Become a Pilot
Potential applicants must meet the requirements outlined in 46CFR 401.210.
Ideal candidates have Masters experience upon the Great Lakes. More information can be found in our links page. All application inquires can be directed to our head of training listed below.
Contact Us
For general inquires, please email:
To inquire about applying to become a pilot, please email:
Lakes Pilots Association
PO Box 610902
Port Huron, MI 48060
Phone: 810-984-2541
Photos courtesy of Andrew Dean, visit him here