Harbour Master Notice 2002-02

Mooring In The Port Of Toronto - Eastern Area

March, 2002

In May, 2002, new regulations will be published in the Canada Gazette, which state that there shall be no recreational activity in the Ship Channel or around commercial berths in the eastern area of the Port.  This will not affect any of the yacht clubs and, indeed, this is just a formalization of the below policy, which has been in place at the Toronto Port Authority for many years.
 
Since the construction of the Spadina Marina it has been the policy of the Authority to discourage the development of additional recreational mooring facilities in the Inner Harbour, for navigational safety reasons.  The eastern slips and the Ship Channel represent the last remaining port infrastructure available to the Authority to fulfill its mandate.  Therefore, it is the policy of the Authority to encourage uses along the slips that are compatible with a commercial port, and discourage those that are not.
 
Mooring of recreational boats is not a compatible use.  Neither is the mooring of other types of vessels or of miscellaneous floats (such as barges) that would interfere with efficient and safe navigation for large commercial vessels.
 
We remind you that the East Gap is the main harbour entrance for commercial vessels, and that the prevailing winds in the harbour are from a westerly direction.  This has the effect, on windy days, of making navigation potentially hazardous in the vicinity of the eastern slips.  As such, I refer you to Harbour Master Notice 2002-02.
 
We wish to advise you that the Harbour Master of the Port of Toronto has the authority and the power to determine where mooring shall or shall not take place.  Any requirements for mooring should be pursued with the Harbour Master before any private arrangements are made.

Lisa Raitt
Harbour Master
 
March, 2002