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Team

Each year, members of the BC Coast Pilots elect an executive team who works with the office team to set and carry out the organization’s priorities. This year, the elected representatives of the BCCP are:
President: Captain Steve Kennedy
Vice-President: Captain Robin Stewart
Director: Captain Ron Carey
Director: Captain Dean Nelson
Director: Captain Glen Ritchie
Captain Steve Kennedy
BC Coast Pilots President

Captain Steve Kennedy

BC Coast Pilots President


Born and raised on the British Columbia Coast, Captain Steve Kennedy has spent his entire career at sea. After graduating, Steve honed his skills working on trawlers, research vessels, fisheries patrol boats, cruise ships and Coast Guard vessels, navigating the waters from the Arctic to the Caribbean. With over 24 years of experience, Steve then took on the role of Pilot, drawing on his deep knowledge of the coastline to guide ships safely through the coastal waters of British Columbia. Steve passed the exam to become a pilot in 2011 and is now serving his second term as President. Steve is committed to collaborating with government, industry and First Nations to tackle the complex challenges facing the region.
Captain Robin Stewart
BC Coast Pilots Vice President

Captain Robin Stewart

BC Coast Pilots Vice President

Born and raised on the west coast, Captain Robin Stewart feels most at home when he’s at sea. Realizing his passion for the water at a young age, he began his mariner career as a commercial diver and specimen collector for the Vancouver Aquarium at just 17. After graduating high school, he started a new gig as a commercial salmon fisher for JS McMillan and as a packer for the Canadian Fishing Company. Five years later, he switched gears, and spent over two decades navigating waterways on tugs from the Columbia River to Skagway, Alaska, where most trips were meant for moving fuel and self-loading log barges.

He was first introduced to the BC Coast Pilots while working for Tymac Launch Service, delivering that generation of pilots to the vessels. He appreciated their level of professionalism and individuality – something which he had not been exposed to in other areas of the profession. Twenty-two years later, he made the life-changing decision to begin a new adventure and apply as a BC Coast Pilot. With a successful application in hand, he officially became a part of the BCCP family in 2000. Robin has served two terms as Director at Large for the company, three terms as Vice-president and three terms as President. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his five sons, and riding his motorcycle with his wife or other pilots. 
"Safeguarding the waters of BC is our responsibility"
– Captain Robin Stewart
"Piloting makes a difference to the people and the environment of Canada every day.
It is that responsibility that, for me, makes piloting an extremely rewarding career."
– Roy Haakonson
Captain Ron Carey
BC Coast Pilots Director

Captain Ron Carey

BC Coast Pilots Director

Captain Ronald Carey grew up in Prince Rupert, BC, and lived most summers on a float house in Iceberg Bay north of Prince Rupert, beach combing logs and towing small barges with his father on the family's small tug.  After a childhood on the water, he tried various other jobs ashore, but found his heart and soul to be on the water!  Ron spent years hand logging, tow boating and fishing on the north coast, gaining sea time before acquiring certificates and gaining valuable coastal knowledge and experience by working for various tow boat companies on the south coast.  Captain Carey is very proud to be a part of The BC Coast Pilots, a Company involved with protecting the Coast and environment, while providing safety, reliance and economic solutions and benefits for all of BC and Canada.
"I started my marine career on a tugboat when I was 15. Everyone starts somewhere, and it’s not all at the same place."
– Steve Stangroom
Captain Dean Nelson
BC Coast Pilots Director

Captain Dean Nelson

BC Coast Pilots Director

Check back for an update on Capt. Nelson's bio!
"I have always been drawn to the ocean. I love that I have a job protecting the natural environment I have grown to respect so much."
– Peter Koehle
Captain Glen Ritchie
BC Coast Pilots Director

Captain Glen Ritchie

BC Coast Pilots Director

Born and raised in Campbell River, Glen has spent a lifetime on the water. His journey began at the age of 14 as a deckhand on a commercial fishing boat, and by his early 20s, he was skippering fishing vessels up and down the British Columbia coast . After 30 years in commercial fishing, and a few thousand pots of coffee later, he faced an unexpected turning point in his career. Through word of mouth, he discovered the world of marine pilotage and found his next calling.

Now an unlimited licensed Pilot on the BC Coast, Glen is living proof that a career in marine pilotage is not only rewarding, but accessible to anyone with the determination to master ship handling and pursue a life on the water. His practical experience, sharp instincts, and down-to-earth humour make him a respected presence both on the bridge and in the boardroom.

As a Director, he brings a deep understanding of marine operations, a passion for mentorship, and a commitment to engaging the next generation of seafarers. He believes the best Pilots aren't born - they're made - through hands on experience, strong fundamentals, and a love for the sea.
"When I started on a commercial fishing vessel as a teenager and heard about a career in pilotage, I didn’t know how far I could go. Ask me to tell you a story"
– Brad Taipalus