MCTS Prince Rupert

Prince Rupert Radio opened in 1911. The cable to the mainland was laid and a landline was built along the Grand Trunk poles to the city of Prince Rupert. The opening of the Prince Rupert station marked the completion of a chain of communication extending from Vancouver to northern British Columbia. The province now had full coverage of its coast. The chain of stations provided the only means of communication with the Queen Charlotte Islands, plus offering communications services to commercial stations installed by owners, canneries, and paper mills.

The station covered the entrance to Prince Rupert Harbour as well as the surrounding waters of Digby Island.

On January 8, 1924, a portion of the quarantine wharf collapsed during a heavy gale, thus severing the telegraph cable to Prince Rupert. The cable was beyond repair/ Temporary wireless communications were established with Prince Rupert by installing small valve equipment in the Prince Rupert Post Office building in town.

The station would remain at Digby Island, until 1967 when its services were combined with those of Prince Rupert aeradio. In 1981, marine communications were moved to Seal Cove.

Like many other centres across Canada, the Prince Rupert MCTS saw integration of both radio and Vessel Traffic Services function in 1996. New console configurations were drawn up and installed making multi-tasking Radio/VTS operations a reality. The Prince Rupert MCTS Centre controls communications site at Hunter Point, Barry Inlet, Rose Inlet, Cumshewa, Dundas Island, Kitimat, Klemtu, Mount Dent, Mount Gil, Mount Hays, Naden Harbour, Calvert Island, Digby Island and Van Inlet.

Staffing:

• 1 Officer in Charge
• 1 Administrative Staff
• 17 Supervisors and Marine Communications and Traffics Services Officers
  

Area of Responsibility:

Communications Sites Located at:

• Prince Rupert 54 17 51 N / 130 25 06 W
• Klemtu 52 34 45 N / 128 33 45 W
• Mount Dent 55 12 57 N / 129 59 18 W
• Hunter Point 53 15 31 N / 132 42 53 W
• Mount Gil 53 15 46 N / 129 11 42 W
• Barry Inlet 52 34 30 N / 131 45 13 W
• Mount Hays 54 17 12 N / 130 18 49 W
• Rose Inlet 52 13 18 N / 131 12 54 W
• Naden Harbour 53 57 18 N / 132 56 30 W
• Cumshewa 53 09 33 N / 131 59 47 W
• Van Inlet 53 15 08 N / 132 32 31 W
• Dundas Island 54 31 16 N / 130 54 55 W
• Calvert Island 51 35 21 N / 128 00 43 W
• Kitimat 54 03 20 N / 128 37 51 W

For Radio Services call Prince Rupert Coast Guard Radio.

For Vessel Traffic Services call Prince Rupert Traffic.

Prince Rupert Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centre VHF Direction Finding Advisory Service:

A VHF/DF advisory service is available for ships in difficulty from receiver sites located at Mount Hays, Dundas Island, Cumshewa, Van Inlet, Naden Harbour, Barry Inlet, Mt. Gil Klemtu and Calvert Island. Position and/or bearing and distance information may be provided for use at the discretion of the recipient.

Mailing address:

Canadian Coast Guard
Officer-in-Charge - MCTS Operations
Prince Rupert MCTS Centre
Bag 4444
Prince Rupert, BC V8J 4K2

Telephone Numbers:

• 250-627-3081 MCTS Operations/Supervisor
• 250-627-3077 Officer-in-Charge
• 778-884-1351 Officer-in-Charge Cellular

Facsimile:

• 250-624-9075 MCTS Operations
• 250-627-3068 Officer-in-Charge

Marine Emergencies/Cellular: *16

Email: mctsprincerupert@pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Call Sign: VAJ

Maritime Mobile Service Identity Number: 00 316 0013

Ship Movement Information: www.innav.gc.ca

MCTS Prince Rupert/VAJ - Ship/shore Communications:

• Radio Aids to Marine Navigation (RAMN): Pacific and Western Arctic

Continuous broadcast information available by telephone from Prince Rupert 250-624-9009.