The whole area of the Great Lakes is compulsory pilotage. Some areas may be less at risk for the open lake passages going across, but the system is not.... Even if they were to consider something like that, the system is not set up for that. It's financially cheaper to keep a pilot on board all the way from Sault Ste. Marie up to Thunder Bay, because there's no pilot boat service that could come out as far. It would be an increase in cost anyway. But there are risk areas that the pilots provide safety for, and we're up in the wheelhouse to make sure that things go safely.
On September 24th, 2018. See this statement in context.