A CCG cutter exercising with a Royal Canadian Air Force CH-149 Cormorant

The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) maintains a fleet of sea and lake going vessels, hovercraft, and aircraft. The variety of equipment allows the CCG to perform its mandated functions of navaids and sea-going transportation management, search and rescue, marine pollution response and the support of other Canadian federal authorities.

Vessels

The Fleet Directorate of the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) is responsible for all ships and their manning requirements. As of October, 2022, it manages and operates a fleet of 123[1][2] vessels in support of: CCG aids to navigation; icebreaking; environmental response; and search and rescue (SAR). The CCG fleet also supports Department of Fisheries and Oceans's Fisheries Conservation and Protection and Marine Science programs.

The ships, ranging from search and rescue lifeboats to icebreakers, are tasked to various programs, often concurrently, and are crewed by 2,400 skilled seagoing personnel. Most vessels have between 4 and 30+ crewmembers.

All CCG vessels are painted uniformly regardless of their use. They are characterized by a red hull and white superstructure, designed to look like a "floating Canadian flag". Their hulls bear a (primarily) white stripe raked forward at a 60 degree angle on each side forward. Larger vessels display a red maple leaf on the funnel. Ship nameplates are typically affixed to the superstructure, and vessels are typically named for persons or places of historic or geographic significance.

Throughout the 1960s–1990s, the CCG painted primary SAR vessels in a different colour scheme: bright mustard yellow superstructure and maple leaf red hull, meant to distinguish them from navaid tenders and icebreakers, and also to improve their visibility on the open ocean in breaking waves. Today, the only distinguishing markings for primary SAR vessels is the large RESCUE-SAUVETAGE lettering on the superstructure. Vessels carry the "Canada" 'federal wordmark', which incorporates the duotone version of the national flag. The words Coast Guard/Garde Cotière appear side by side on the hull.

The prefix "Canadian Coast Guard Ship", abbreviated CCGS, is affixed to all vessels. Minor vessels such as patrol boats and lifeboats carried the prefix "Canadian Coast Guard Cutter", abbreviated CCGC in the past, however, this is no longer the case.

The list of various classes of CCG vessels includes:

Icebreakers

Polar icebreakers

List of Polar Class icebreakers
Class Ship Launched Commissioned Displacement Type Homeport Builder Status
Polar Icebreaker class (Ship to be named)(TBD)Expected 2030~25,800 tonnesPolar Class 2(TBD)Seaspan ULCConstruction Engineering & Prototyping[3]
(Ship to be named)(TBD)(TBD)~25,800 tonnesPolar Class 2(TBD)Davie ShipbuildingNot started

Heavy icebreaker

A very large multitasked icebreaker, approximately 130 metres (430 ft) in length, capable of sustained operations in the Arctic Archipelago over two seasons per year and for escort operations in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and East Coast of Newfoundland. Has a large cargo carrying capacity, a helicopter hangar that will accommodate a CCG helicopter, and carry multiple utility craft. Named after a former Canadian prime minister and the late cancer research activist Terry Fox. Formerly referred to as Type 1300.
List of Heavy Icebreakers
Class Ship Launched Commissioned Displacement Type Homeport Status
Louis S. St-Laurent class CCGS Louis S. St-LaurentJune 1966196915,324 tonnesPolar Class 3CCG Base St. John'sActive
Terry Fox class CCGS Terry FoxApril 198319914,234 tonnesArctic Class 4CCG Base St. John'sActive

Medium icebreaker

A large icebreaker, approximately 100 metres (330 ft) in length, capable of sustained icebreaking and escort operations in the Arctic Archipelago over two seasons per year, the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River and Gulf of St. Lawrence and Atlantic Coast in winter. Has a cargo carrying capacity and carry multiple utility craft. Some may incorporate a helicopter hangar to accommodate a CCG helicopter. Has the capability to deliver many Government of Canada programs such as many CCG programs and scientific missions. Formerly referred to as Type 1200.
List of Medium Icebreakers
Class Ship Launched Commissioned Displacement Type Homeport Status
Pierre Radisson class CCGS Pierre RadissonJune 1977June 19785,910 tonnesArctic Class 3CCG Base QuebecActive
CCGS AmundsenJanuary 1977March 19795,910 tonnesArctic Class 3CCG Base QuebecActive
CCGS Des GroseilliersFebruary 1982August 19825,910 tonnesArctic Class 3CCG Base QuebecActive
CCGS Henry LarsenJanuary 1987June 19885,910 tonnesArctic Class 3CCG Base St. John'sActive
Project Resolute class[4][5]
CCGS Captain Molly KoolFebruary 2001May 20196,872 tonnesICE-10 IcebreakerCCG Base St. John'sActive
CCGS Jean GoodwillOctober 2000November 20206,872 tonnesICE-10 IcebreakerCCG Base DartmouthActive
CCGS Vincent Massey[6][7]March 2000October 20226,872 tonnesICE-10 IcebreakerCCG Base QuebecActive

Multi-tasked

Multi-Purpose Vessels

List of Multi-Purpose Vessels
Class Ship Launched Commissioned Displacement Type Homeport Status
Multi-Purpose Vessels - Flight I (Ships to be named)(TBD)(TBD)~8,987 tonnesPolar Class 5(TBD)Basic Design
Multi-Purpose Vessels - Flight II (Ships to be named)(TBD)(TBD)(TBD)(TBD)(TBD)Concept
Multi-Purpose Vessels - Flight III (Ships to be named)(TBD)(TBD)(TBD)(TBD)(TBD)Concept

High endurance multi-tasked vessel

A large highly adaptable multi-tasked vessel, approximately 85 metres (279 ft) long, with an icebreaking capability to work in the southern and western Arctic, for escort operations in the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River and Gulf of St. Lawrence and Atlantic Coast in winter. Has a shallower draught than the medium icebreaker and is less capable overall. Has a crane, a large cargo hold and deck capacity, has a helicopter hangar that will accommodate a CCG helicopter, can launch and recover rigid-hulled inflatable boats and two utility craft. Has the capability to deliver many Government of Canada programs. Formerly referred to as Type 1100.
List of High Endurance Multi-tasked Vessel
Class Ship Launched Commissioned Displacement Type Homeport Status
- CCGS GriffonSeptember 1969December 19703,096 tonnesArctic Class 2 CCG Base PrescottActive
Martha L. Black class[1][8]
CCGS Martha L. BlackSeptember 1985April 19864,737 tonnesArctic Class 2CCG Base QuebecActive
CCGS George R. PearkesNovember 1985April 19864,737 tonnesArctic Class 2CCG Base St. John'sActive
CCGS Sir Wilfrid LaurierDecember 1985November 19864,737 tonnesArctic Class 2 CCG Base VictoriaActive
CCGS Kopit Hopson 1752 (ex-Edward Cornwallis)[9]February 1986August 19864,737 tonnesArctic Class 2CCG Base DartmouthActive
CCGS Sir William AlexanderOctober 1986February 19874,737 tonnesArctic Class 2CCG Base DartmouthActive
CCGS Ann HarveyDecember 1985June 19874,737 tonnesArctic Class 2CCG Base St. John'sActive

Medium endurance multi-tasked vessel

A large multi-tasked shallow draught vessel, approximately 65 metres (213 ft) long, with a top speed of 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) that can stay at sea up to 28 days. Has a crane, a large cargo hold and deck area, can launch and recover rigid-hull inflatable boats and utility craft. Primarily used for aids to navigation, search and rescue, science and environmental response and has some icebreaking capability. Designed to have a helicopter deck but not generally equipped with one. Named after former Canadian mariners or members of the CCG who have made a significant contribution. Formerly referred to as Type 1050 and 1000.
List of Medium endurance multi-tasked vessels
Class Ship Launched Commissioned Displacement Type Homeport Status
Provo Wallis class CCGS Bartlett(TBD)December 19691,620 tonnesBuoy tenderCCG Base VictoriaActive
Samuel Risley class CCGS Samuel Risley(TBD)April 19852,935 tonnesLight icebreaker (CASPPR Arctic Class 2) / buoy tenderCCG Base Parry SoundActive
CCGS Earl Grey(TBD)May 19862,935 tonnesLight icebreaker (CASPPR Arctic Class 2) / buoy tenderCCG Base CharlottetownActive
Interim light icebreaker CCGS Judy LaMarsh 2010 (TBD) Unknown Shallow-draught icebreaker CCG Base Prescott Refit and conversion

Science vessels

Offshore oceanographic science vessel

Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels

Offshore fisheries science platforms for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, equipped to carry out fisheries science research missions, serving an important role in monitoring the health of fish stocks, understanding the impacts of climate change, and supporting science that allows us to better understand our oceans. The vessels are named after former scientists or explorers who have made a significant contribution.
List of Offshore Fishery Science Vessels
Class Ship Launched Commissioned Displacement Type Homeport Status
Alfred Needler class CCGS TeleostMarch 198819962,405 tonnesFisheries research vesselCCG Base St. John'sActive
Sir John Franklin class CCGS Sir John Franklin[12]December 2017June 20193,212 tonnesFisheries research vesselCCG Base Patricia BayActive
CCGS Capt. Jacques CartierJune 201920203,212 tonnesFisheries research vesselCCG Base DartmouthActive
CCGS John Cabot[13]202020203,212 tonnesFisheries research vesselCCG Base St. John'sActive

Mid-shore science vessel

Medium sized vessel, approximately 40 metres long, capable of sustained operations away from port for up to 14 days, has endurance for 21 days and a top speed of 12–14 knots (22–26 km/h; 14–16 mph) with a cruising range of 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km; 4,600 mi), has minimal ice capability to transit light ice-infested waters. No helicopter capability and limited capacity to carry survey launches. Primarily used for limited ecosystem fishery science, oceanographic missions and geological/hydrographic surveys. Named after former Dominion hydrographers of Canada or former explorers of Canada.

Near-shore fishery research vessel

Small, approximately 20–25 metres (66–82 ft) long, fishery research vessel with a 3–4 metres (9.8–13.1 ft) draught, a speed of 12 knots with a moderate range. Has minimal ice capability to transit light ice-infested waters. Has some lab capacity and has no helicopter capability. Used to conduct trawl surveys. Named after former Canadians who have made a contribution to marine and fishery research or fisheries management.
  • CCGS Leim
  • CCGS M. Perley
  • CCGS Neocaligus
  • CCGS Vladykov

Patrol vessels

Offshore patrol vessel

A large offshore vessel, approximately 75 metres (246 ft) long, that can operate beyond 120 nautical miles (220 km; 140 mi) including outside the Exclusive Economic Zone, has a top speed greater than 20–25 knots (37–46 km/h; 23–29 mph) and can stay at sea for up to six weeks. Can operate year-round in Canadian waters, except the Arctic archipelago, and has a minimal ice capability to transit light ice-infested waters. Carries two rigid-hulled inflatable boats, up to 11 metres (36 ft) long, can accommodate a helicopter with minimal hangar capabilities. Designed to support law enforcement, and has a program operations room. Primarily used for fisheries enforcement and search and rescue. Named after Former Companions of the Order of Canada.[14]

Mid-shore patrol vessel

A medium sized vessel, approximately 40 metres (130 ft) long, that can operate up to 120 nautical miles offshore with a top speed of 25 knots and stay at sea up to 14 days. No requirement for operations in ice-infested waters. Carries one or two rigid-hull inflatable boats with no helicopter capabilities. Primarily used for maritime security and fisheries enforcement. Named after former winners of the Victoria Cross, Star of Military Valour, Medal of Military Valour, Meritorious Service Medal, Star of Courage, Medal of Bravery, Order of Merit of the Police Forces, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Role of Honour of Department of Fisheries and Oceans or CCG members who died in the line of duty.

Other

Emergency towing vessel

UT 722 type anchor handling tug supply vessels built in 1999. Owned by Atlantic Towing Limited and on charter for the Canadian Coast Guard in British Colombia.
  • CCGS Atlantic Eagle
  • CCGS Atlantic Raven

Special navaids vessel

A shallow-draft, flat-bottom vessel, approximately 50 metres (160 ft) long, self-supporting for up to 28 days and can sustain repeated groundings due to shifting river channels, not suitable for open-sea work, no icebreaking capabilities. Can accommodate a helicopter with minimal hangar capabilities. Primarily used for navigational aids on the Mackenzie River. Named with Aboriginal words.
  • CCGS Dumit
  • CCGS Eckaloo

Channel survey and sounding vessel

Small vessel, approximately 20–25 metres long, with sounding speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) with no ice capability. Carries a small utility craft and has no helicopter capability. Primarily used to conduct depth survey operations. Named after former Dominion hydrographers of Canada or former explorers of Canada.
  • CCGS Helen Irene battle
  • CCGS Jean bourdon

Air cushion vehicle (hovercraft)

A medium-sized, fast hovercraft, up to 45 knots (83 km/h; 52 mph), multi-tasked vessel which rides on a cushion of air, capable of working in very shallow areas and littoral zones. Has no helicopter capability. Primarily used for search and rescue, aids to navigation, environmental response and icebreaking. Named with Aboriginal words.

SAR lifeboat (MLBs)

CCGS Cap Nord
Rescue exercise by the Royal Canadian Air Force helicopter and CCGS Cap Aupaluk
CCGS Cap Tourmente
CCGS Cape Sutil at CCG Station Port Hardy.
Small, approximately 14 to 19 metres (46 to 62 ft) long, shore-based self-righting lifeboat capable of search and rescue operations up to 120 nautical miles (220 km; 140 mi) from shore with a top speed of approximately 25 knots with minimal ice capability to transit light ice-infested waters. No helicopter capability. Named after geographical features uniform by class. Canadian capes for high speed lifeboats (47 feet (14 m) MLBs). Canadian bays for high endurance lifeboats (Arun/Severn design). CCG maintains 36 14.6-metre (47 ft 11 in) Cape-class motor lifeboats, those listed with the name prefix Cape (or Cap in french). The exception is CCGS Cap Aux Mueles which is one of ten larger (16 metres, 52 ft) motor lifeboats based on Arun-class lifeboats designed in the United Kingdom. The CCG is in the process of building replacements for the Arun type lifeboats based on the Severn type lifeboat also designed in the United Kingdom. The first Bay-class lifeboats were delivered in late 2017[15]

Arun class

Bay class

  • CCGS Baie de Plaisance[16]
  • CCGS Pennant Bay[17]
  • CCGS Pachena Bay
  • CCGS McIntyre Bay
  • CCGS Sacred Bay
  • CCGS Conception Bay
  • CCGS Cadboro Bay
  • CCGS Florencia Bay
  • CCGS Garbarus Bay
  • CCGS Chedabucto Bay
  • CCGS Barrington Bay

Cape class

Specialty vessel

Small, under 150 GT, shallow-draft vessel of various designs with no ice capability. Generally has no accommodation with a crew complement that is specific to tasks the vessel performs. No helicopter capability. Used for marine and fishery research, conservation and protection patrols, science and aids to navigation. Named after Former Canadians who have made a contribution to marine and fishery research or fisheries management or maritime safety or security or marine transportation.
  • CCGS Cape Light
  • CCGS Caribou Isle - small buoy tender
  • CCGS Cove Isle - small buoy tender
  • CCGS Geliget
  • CCGS Île Saint Ours - small buoy tender
  • CCGS Kelso
  • CCGS Kode & Kin
  • CCGS Pointe Caveau
  • CCGS S. Dudka
  • CCGS Sigma T
  • CCGS Traverse - river buoy tender
  • CCGS Vakta
  • CCGS Viola M. Davidson
  • CCGS Partridge Island

Training vessels

Vessels used for training at the Coast Guard College.

Small/utility craft

A Canadian Coast Guard trailerable buoy tender, named Tech II, at Nepean Sailing Club on Lac Deschênes.
CCG employs various makes and models of small craft, generally less than 15 GT, 12 metres (39 ft) long or less, aboard ships and at shore stations for utility and search and rescue tasks. Large vessels carry work boats such as Rotork Marine's Sea Truck design, similar to small landing craft, which are deployed by davits and used for delivering supplies ashore to light stations and remote communities. Rigid-hulled inflatable boats equipped with outboard or inboard engine propulsion systems are deployed aboard CCG ships or at shore stations as tenders and as fast rescue craft (FRC) for utility and search and rescue tasks. These vessels are not named.
  • Work boats
    • Roseborough Boats RF-246 designs
    • Rotork Marine Sea Truck designs
  • Rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs)
    • Zodiac Hurricane Mark IV, Mark V, Mark VI, 733 and 753 SOLAS designs
    • Roseborough Boats Rough Water 9.11 SOLAS designs
    • There are also two new 40-foot (12 m) high-speed, aluminum Kingston-class search and rescue and environmental patrol boats built by Metalcraft Marine going into Arctic service.

Retired vessels

RCMP Simmonds with CCG Cape Hurd in Toronto
CCGS E.P. Le Québécois in the St. Lawrence River between Quebec City and Lévis
CCGS Tracy
CCGS Frederick G. Creed - scrapped in 2020

The following is a listing of vessels that are no longer part of the Canadian Coast Guard's present fleet.

Aircraft

In addition to various bases located in deep water ports, rescue stations in smaller minor ports, and eighteen ships equipped with aviation facilities such as flight decks and/or hangars, the CCG operates 23 helicopters. There are also eight fixed wing aircraft operated on CCG's behalf by Transport Canada. Rotary wing aircraft are used as ice reconnaissance platforms in the winter (operating from icebreakers and shore bases), while flying maintenance personnel and supplies for servicing aids to navigation year-round. Fixed wing aircraft are flown in support of the Canadian Ice Service and also conduct arctic sovereignty patrols, marine pollution surveillance and fisheries protection patrols as part of the Canadian government's National Aerial Surveillance Program.

As part of the Coast Guard's Fleet Renewal Plan, the Government of Canada has purchased and deployed 23 new helicopters – 16 light-lift helicopters (Bell 429) and seven medium-lift helicopters (Bell 412EPI).

In December 2013, the Minister of National Defence (the lead Minister for Search and Rescue) released the first "Quadrennial SAR Review" in order to provide a comprehensive perspective of Canada's National SAR Program (NSP). In the SAR resources section of the review it states "The Canadian Coast Guard has a total of 117 vessels and 22 helicopters stationed across the country that can deliver maritime SAR services, either in a primary or secondary role".

Rotary-wing deployment

Atlantic Region

Central/Arctic Region

  • Four Bell 429s operate in Quebec City, Quebec; 1 operates in Parry Sound, Ontario
  • Two Bell 412s are operated in Quebec City (1) and Parry Sound (1).

Western Region

  • Four Bell 429s (three operated in Victoria, BC and one from Seal Cove Base in Prince Rupert, BC)
  • Three Bell 412s (two operated from Seal Cove Base in Prince Rupert, BC and one in Victoria, BC)

The Bell 412s replaced the Bell 212s that operated until in 2017.

Fixed-wing deployment

A Dash 8-100 (C-GCFJ) approaching Ottawa Airport.

One fixed wing aircraft (owned and operated by Transport Canada on behalf of CCG) is based in eastern Canadian airports with the facility at Ottawa International Airport providing the main maintenance base. A single fixed wing aircraft is based in British Columbia. The CCG operates two Transport Canada aircraft under contract: an Ottawa-based de Havilland Dash 8, which does pollution control patrols over the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway, and parts of the east coast; and a Vancouver-based de Havilland Twin Otter, which flies fisheries and pollution control missions along the west coast. In addition to the federal government aircraft, a private company Provincial Aerospace Ltd., is contracted to operate four specially modified and equipped King Air 200 aircraft in support of the National Aerial Surveillance Program (jointly funded by Transport Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada), from Halifax, St. John's and Comox, British Columbia.

de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter (C-FCSU) at Vancouver International Airport.

Bases

All CCG regions operate helicopters. However, ice reconnaissance missions are primarily flown in eastern Canada, given the absence of ice surveillance requirements for the West Coast. Unlike fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters can often operate directly out of CCG bases, as is the case in Quebec City and Parry Sound. The majority of CCG aircraft operate from municipal airports located near major CCG bases, as follows:

Fixed and rotary-wing maintenance
Fixed wing operations and maintenance
Rotary-wing operations and maintenance

CCG's fixed-wing operations and maintenance bases are co-located with Transport Canada aviation operations facilities. Maintenance for all CCG aircraft is provided by both CCG and Transport Canada personnel.

Air search and rescue

All Canadian Coast Guard aircraft are able assist the Canadian Forces with search and rescue operations, as well as having a secondary air search and rescue role in the CCG.

Aircraft Origin Type Versions In service Notes
Bell 412 EPI Canada rotary wing 7 7 aircraft acquired to replace the Bell 212, final model delivered March 24, 2017.[21]
Bell 429 Canada rotary wing 16 16 in service, delivered in 2015, 2016, and 2021[22] replacing MBB Bo 105.[23]
de Havilland Canada Dash 8 Canada fixed wing 2 Canadian Ice Service ice reconnaissance and oil pollution surveillance. C-GCFJ is a 1985 DHC-8-102 Dash 8.
Beech Super King Air B200 US fixed wing 4 Contracted by the Canadian government and owned and operated by Provincial Aerospace Limited for ice reconnaissance, marine fisheries and marine pollution surveillance[20]
de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter Canada fixed wing 1 Marine fisheries and marine pollution surveillance. C-FCSU is a 1973 De Havilland Canada DHC-6-300.
de Havilland Canada Dash 7 Canada fixed wing 1 Canadian Ice Service ice reconnaissance and oil pollution surveillance (replaced two specially modified ice patrol Lockheed L-188 Electra's registered as CF-NAY and C-GNDZ that were operated under contract for the Canadian government by Canadian Airlines).

Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary

The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary (CCGA) does not operate an aviation branch. This role is instead provided by the volunteer Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA). Some CCGA volunteers also volunteer with CASARA or have cross-trained with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).

Retired aircraft

CCG has operated the following aircraft types which have since been retired:

Procurement

Many larger vessels in the CCG are close to the end of their planned lifetime, having been constructed from the 1960s–1980s with no replacements in the 1990s–2000s. To replace them, new icebreakers, multi-purpose vessels, patrol ships and science vessels are to be constructed under terms of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy; now known as the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). Under the NSS and since Budget 2006, the following projects have been initiated:

Mid Shore Patrol Vessel Project

The Mid Shore Patrol Vessel Project procured nine vessels to supplement fisheries conservation and protection duties as well as marine security duties in the Maritime, Newfoundland, Pacific, and Central and Arctic regions. It was expected that four of these vessels are to be tasked with marine security duties in Central and Arctic Region and will have an operating area in the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Seaway. The initial procurement process for 12 ships was cancelled in 2008 when bids came in over budget; however, a revised bidding process was reissued in 2009.[24] On September 2, 2009, Public Works and Government Services Canada awarded a contract to Halifax Shipyards to build nine (down from the original twelve) mid-shore patrol vessels based on a 'Canadianized' version of the Damen Stan 4207 patrol vessel.[25][26][27] All vessels had been delivered to the Coast Guard by the end of 2014.

Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel Project

The federal government announced the Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel Project in 2006 to procure vessels that are 67 metres (220 ft) in length and be capable of carrying 22 to 26 crew as well as 19 scientists.[28] Two vessels were provided for in Budget 2006, with funding for an additional vessel added in Budget 2007.[29] The procurement process for these vessels began in September 2009,[30] and actual construction work on the three vessels in the class started in June 2015 at Seaspan ULC's Vancouver Shipyards.[31] They were originally projected to start entering service in 2017. However, the first vessel of the class, CCGS Sir John Franklin, was delivered in June 2019 followed by the second ship, CCGS Capt. Jacques Cartier, in December 2019. In October 2020, the third and final ship of the class, CCGS John Cabot, was handed over to the Coast Guard completing the project.[13] She will be home ported in St. John's, Newfoundland.[32]

Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel Project

The Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel Project is a plan to procure a single vessel that will be 90–100 metres (300–330 ft) in length capable of carrying 30 crew as well as 37 scientists. The ship will replace CCGS Hudson which was Canada's major oceanographic research vessel for 40 years but suffered a "catastrophic motor failure" in 2021 ending her service.[28][10] Funds for the project were initially allocated in Budget 2007.[29] The first phase of the procurement process for this vessel, along with the three offshore fisheries science vessels, was launched in September 2009 when the government issued a Solicitation of Interest and Qualification to identify qualified designers.[30] Although construction was originally scheduled to proceed immediately following the Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel project, construction of this vessel is now taking place between the construction of the two Protecteur-class joint support ships at the Seaspan Yard. In February 2021, a $453.8 million contract was awarded to Seaspan yards to begin construction on the vessel.[33] The full costs, however, were reported to be nearly $1 billion, a figure attracting considerable criticism.[34] The first steel was cut on the new ship in March 2021 with an envisaged completion date of 2024.[35][36][37] However, that in-service date subsequently slipped to 2025.[10] In November 2022, it was reported that the ship's keel had been formally laid down.[38]

Polar Class Icebreaker Project

The February 2008 federal budget designated $720 million for the Polar Class Icebreaker Project[39][40] to replace CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent in FY 2017. In August 2008 the name for this project's sole vessel was announced as CCGS John G. Diefenbaker.[41] This vessel was originally scheduled to start construction at the Seaspan ULC yard in Vancouver in sequence after two new Protecteur-class joint support ships (JSS) were built for the Royal Canadian Navy. However, ongoing delays with the JSS and other projects resulted in the reallocation of this vessel to another yard in 2019 with an uncertain build timeframe.[42] In February 2020, the federal government requested that all interested Canadian shipyards to outline their capacity to potentially construct John G. Diefenbaker with the objective of securing service entry by December 2029.[43] In May 2021, the Government announced that two polar-class icebreakers would be built instead, one at Seaspan and the other at Davie (pending the successful conclusion of the umbrella agreement with Davie which was finally concluded in April 2023). The service entry for the first of these two icebreakers was then projected as being in 2030, though given the delays in reaching an umbrella agreement with Davie that date was somewhat uncertain.[44] In 2021, the Parliamentary Budget Officer estimated the cost of building two vessels at $7.25 billion.[45]

Inshore Fisheries Science Vessel Project

The 2009 federal budget announced $175 million in funding for, among other things an Inshore Fisheries Science Vessel Project which will procure three new Inshore Fisheries Science Vessels. Two 22-metre (72 ft) vessels are to be based in Quebec region, while a third 25-metre (82 ft) vessel will be based in Maritime region (in New Brunswick).[46] In June 2009, the government awarded a contract to Robert Allan Ltd. of Vancouver, British Columbia to design the vessels. The vessels are CCGS Vladykov, CCGS M. Perley and CCGS Leim.[2] In June 2012, the first vessel, CCGS Vladykov, which had been built at Meridien Maritime in Matane, Quebec, arrived at its homeport of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.[47] CCGS M. Perley and CCGS Leim also entered service in 2012. M. Perley is homeported at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, while Leim is homeported at Sorel-Tracy, Quebec.[48][49]

Medium icebreakers

In 2019, the federal government indicated that a third shipyard would be added to the National Shipbuilding Strategy and that the construction of six medium icebreakers, to replace the Coast Guard's existing and aging icebreaker fleet, would be undertaken. A competition was undertaken to select the third yard with the envisaged construction of the icebreakers to proceed starting in the 2020s. In December 2019, it was announced that only the Davie Shipyard had qualified to build the envisaged icebreakers for the CCG. An umbrella agreement was planned to be negotiated between Davie and the Government of Canada by the end of 2020.[50] However, by the end of 2020 no progress had yet been reported. The build and completion schedule is currently unknown, though the Coast Guard's existing icebreaker fleet is aging rapidly with all vessels expected to reach their estimated life expectancies in the 2020s.[51][52] In May 2021 the Government announced that the envisaged umbrella agreement with Davie was now anticipated at the end of 2021, one year later than originally planned. As of the end of 2021, further progress on the conclusion of the umbrella agreement had not yet been reported. In June 2022 the Government again indicated that negotiations had been initiated to conclude an agreement by the end of the year.[53] However, as of early January 2023 and consistent with the pattern of previous years, no further progress had been reported. The agreement to incorporate Davie as a third shipyard within the NSS was finally signed in April 2023 permitting negotiations for the future construction of the icebreakers to begin.[54]

Multi-purpose vessels

Up to 16 Multi Purpose Vessels are now scheduled to be built at the Seaspan yard after the second of the two joint support ships are completed. This project is a new addition to the National Shipbuilding Strategy which is designed to provide greater stability to the build program at Seaspan. The Multi Purpose Vessels will supersede originally envisaged Offshore Patrol Vessels and Multi-Role High-Endurance Vessels (with a similar role) that originally had been planned to be built in two blocks of up to five ships each. Instead up to 16 new vessels (numbers being partially budget dependent) will be built which are envisaged as performing multiple roles for the Coast Guard by replacing several existing Coast Guard fleets.[55][56] Construction work on this project is scheduled to begin at the Seaspan yard in the mid-2020s as work on the second of the two joint support ships winds down.

Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships

Two Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) are planned for the Coast Guard utilizing the same design as the vessels currently being constructed for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). As of 2020, construction of these Coast Guard variants of the AOPS design was scheduled to begin at the Irving Yard in Halifax in 2022 and 2023, coming at the tail end of AOPS production for the RCN.[57] In 2022 it was reported that the two vessels were expected to be delivered in 2026 and 2027 respectively and that the cost would be significantly greater than originally anticipated, totalling about $1.5 billion for two ships.[58] In January 2023, it was announced that the vessels had been ordered and that work on them would begin in the course of 2023.[59] In early 2023, it was also reported that the projected costs for the two Coast Guard ships had increased by an additional $100 million.[60] Steel was cut on the first Coast Guard variant in August 2023, starting construction.[61]

Miscellaneous vessels and repair of existing vessels

The funding announced in Budget 2009 also provided for the procurement of 98 small boats and barges for the CCG, as well as the life extension or repair of 40 of its larger vessels.[62][63]

Light and medium-lift helicopters

On August 20, 2012, the Government of Canada announced a procurement of 24 new helicopters to replace the existing fleet with delivery in 2017.[64] Of these helicopters, two could eventually be assigned to the new Polar-class icebreakers if and when those vessels enter service. The Canadian Government announced it will buy 15 Bell 429 helicopters to satisfy the requirement for light helicopters.[65] The contracts for both the light helicopters and the medium-lift helicopters were signed in 2014–2015, with the seven Bell 412 EPI ordered to fulfill the medium-lift helicopter role in April 2015. Deliveries of the Bell 429 began in March 2015 and all aircraft were delivered by March 2016. Delivery of the Bell 412 EPI was completed in March 2017.

Second-hand vessels

The CCG acquired the Romanian-built commercial tug icebreaker Mangystau-2 in November 2021 from New Brunswick-based Atlantic Towing.[66] The ship traveled from the Caspian Sea in Turkmenistan to CCG Base Prescott where it was converted into a light icebreaker by 2022. In October 2022, it was reported that the ship will be named CCGS Judy LaMarsh, and be ready for the 2022–2023 icebreaking season.[67]

See also

References

Citations

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  8. Saunders, p. 95
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Sources

  • Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2004). Jane's Fighting Ships 2004–2005. Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-2623-1.
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