Useful Informations

The history of the Port of Caraquet

The Caraquet port authority was the first in eastern Canada, and the second in the country, to take over the administration of the Port of Caraquet from the federal government. The first steps were initiated in 1986, and the organization's incorporation (known at the time as "Comité du port de Caraquet", now Port de Caraquet inc) followed in 1987, the year when the port authority assumed management of the Caraquet port facilities.

The current location of Caraquet harbor was administered from 1937 to 1961 by the local Chamber of Commerce. After its incorporation in 1961, the Town of Caraquet supported the local Chamber of Commerce in the management of the port until 1967. That year, the Port of Caraquet came under the management of Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Small Craft Harbours. The Caraquet Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Caraquet have nonetheless continued to plan and promote the development of their city's port.

The Port of Caraquet's Board of Directors is made up of representatives appointed by the Town of Caraquet, the Caraquet Chamber of Commerce, fishermen's organizations, and other stakeholders from the region's fishing and maritime industries.

The area

The Port of Caraquet is located in the Acadian Peninsula, northeast of New Brunswick. The working language is French. Although a good part of the population is bilingual, it should not be surprising to meet people who only converse in French.

The Village historique acadien, an institution of the Government of New Brunswick, is an interpretation center for Acadian history that recreates the life of Acadians at various times in their history. The village is 14 km from the Port of Caraquet.

During the summer, several festivals, each commemorating various aspects of local Acadian culture, livening up the evenings. The region's best known and most attended event is without a doubt the Festival acadien de Caraquet, a large-scale cultural event that has repeatedly won the American Bus Association's recommendation. The Festival acadien is held during the first two weeks of August.

Gastronomy enthusiasts will find a few upscale restaurants in the Acadian Peninsula, but also several establishments that offer traditional Canadian cuisine, for those who prefer to stick to simple and well-known dishes.

Technical sheet of the Port of Caraquet

The geographical location of the Port of Caraquet

The port is located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, about 40 km inland from Chaleur Bay
The center of the port is located at the following coordinates: 47deg.48'N - 64deg.56'W
The harbor is partly sheltered to the north by the Island of Caraquet

Port specifications

The mooring facade is 260 meters in total including:
the 165 m West Pierhead;
the 91 m East Pierhead;
the depth along the mooring facade, which is 7 m at low tide.

Access to the port

The Port of Caraquet is accessible by a channel whose specifications are as follows:
5.5 meters of depth at low tide;
50 meters of width;
a channel marked with navigation buoys that are illuminated and 5 alignments.

Tides and Currents

The amplitude of the tides at the Port of Caraquet is 1.5 meters at medium high tide and 1.2 meters at low low tide. The current has a velocity of 1.5 knots.

Permitted boat dimensions

The dimensions and the maximum draft allocated to the Port of Caraquet are as follows:
Length of 135 meters;
Draft of 6.22 meters;
Deadweight of 7,500,000 kilograms.

For boats exceeding one of these limits, contact the office of the Port of Caraquet for more information.

Useful Links

Fisheries and Oceans Canada's Tidal Predictions

Marine Forecasts and Warnings for Canada 

Marine Transportation Information on Transport and infrastructure Canada

Town of Caraquet