7:00 pm
Join Captain Gary O’Donnell for a look into the work of the harbor pilots in Halifax Harbour and their role in the day to day life of our busy port city. He will also explore the role of the pilots on the morning of December 6th, 1917 and the devastating explosion that destroyed the North End.
Captain Gary O’Donnell (right) berthing the OOCL at Ceres Fairview Cove Terminal
Captain O’Donnell is a current serving pilot in the port of Halifax, employed by the Atlantic Pilotage Authority. He began is Pilotage career in Halifax in 2000 as a Pilot Apprentice. He obtained his Unlimited Class “ A “ pilots licence in 2003, which permits him to pilot vessels in and out of Halifax of any size or “ tonnage “. In addition to Halifax, Captain O’Donnell was granted a Class “ A “ Pilot licence for the port of Sheet Harbour in 2009 and an Ice Pilot licence from the Atlantic Pilotage Authority in 2007.
Prior to becoming a Halifax Pilot, he served over 18 years at sea from Junior officer to senior level Ships officers positions with the Canadian Coast Guard, finishing his last eight years as Commanding Officer aboard buoy vessels, Search & Rescue cutters, Scientific vessels, and heavy Ice Breakers. His first command at the age of 28 years was aboard the CCGS Robert Foulis – a small buoy tender working out of Charlottetown PEI manned with a crew of ten. Between ship deployments, Captain O’Donnell occasionally filled in with shore assignments as Marine Superintendent, Ice Operations Officer and Fleet Executive Officer with the Canadian Coast Guard located in the Regional offices, and at Shannon Hill.
A veteran of over ten trips in the polar waters of Canada’s north, along with 15 trips in the ice infested waters of the Gulf of St Lawrence aboard Canadian Coast Guard Ice breakers, provided the background, experience and skills to become a Ship’s Ice advisor in 1997.
A graduate of the Canadian Coast Guard College at Westmount NS, Captain O’Donnell commenced his nautical studies as a cadet officer in August of 1979 and completed them in June of 1982. Upon graduation, he was posted to Dartmouth NS as Junior Officer and began his sea going career, eventually obtaining his Master Mariner’s certificate of competency in 1997.
Coming from Victoria BC, Captain O’Donnell, along with his wife Kim and three children, have made their home in Cole Harbour NS, and have resided since 1982. A member of the Company of Master Mariners and an avid volunteer of various organizations such as the Blue Nose marathon Race Committee executive.
Now closing in on 20 years as a Marine Pilot, Captain O’Donnell’s intent is not slowing down just yet, but making sure the knowledge, skills and the craft is passed down properly to the new generation of pilots coming up.
For additional information:
Richard MacMichael
902-424-8897
richard.macmichael@novascotia.ca