CCGS Jean Goodwill - back from the Gulf and another CCG update

 CCGS Jean Goodwill returned today from its first ice assignment with the Canadian Coast Guard.

Although I was not tracking the ship carefully on AIS I did notice it working around the Gulf of St.Lawrence, including the Northumberland Strait. It must not have encountered very much ice since its hull paint still appears to be pristine.

The Jean Goodwill arrived in Halifax November 27, 2020 fresh from its rebuild at Chantier Davie  Canada Inc, Lévis, QC. The former icebreaking offshore tug/supplier Balder Viking is one of three ships bought by the CCG as "interim" for use until new ship are built. 

See more detail at: ccgs-jean-goodwill-arrives

CCGS Hudson

According to a March 29 news item Seaspan Shipbuilding in North Vancouver has recently begun cutting the first steel for the Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel (OOSV) to replace CCGS Hudson. Projected to cost $966.5 million, the government is also projecting a 2024 completion date. Based on previous estimates, I would suggest that both may be optimistic. (Its construction has been rescheduled to occur between the first and second Joint Support Ships for the RCN,)

CCGS Hudson in a work cocoon at BIO this morning will hatch sometime this spring. It will be expected to remain operational until its replacement is delivered in 2024.

Perhaps the irony of the current ship's name has not escaped the powers that be and they will refrain from naming the replacement the Hudson. Although supposedly named for the Bay (a fleet mate was named Baffin - also for the Bay) and not the man Henry Hudson, the ship nevertheless once again commemorates, if indirectly, another discredited explorer. Aside from his many notable "discoveries" Hudson's 1609 voyage stopped in LaHave, Nova Scotia where his crew attacked a First Nations village with firearms and stole furs and boats. His record was no better in the United States, but locals were able to strike back and one of his crew died of an arrow to the neck.

No trace was ever found of Hudson, his son and seven crew who were cast away in a small boat by starving mutineers in Hudson Bay in 1611. If they made shore they had no means of finding sustenance and likely met a gruesome fate.

It is unlikely that the river, strait and bay named for him will ever be renamed, but surely we do not need another ship carrying his name too. The current ship has achieved great fame and (again) legendary status and will long be remembered without having to perpetuate its name.

No New Name

Speaking of names the CCGS Edward Cornwallis was expected to complete its Vessel Life Extension (VLE) at Irving Shipbuildings Inc's Shelburne Marine Shipyard at the end of March, but the date seems to have been extended to the end of April. That gives the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans one more month to find a suitable new name for the ship, in consultation with First Nations. 

With First Nations fisheries at the top of the agenda for the Minister, perhaps my suggested name Donald Marshall will be selected. (There were two Donald Marhalls - father and son - both worthy candidates for the honour, and that is why I prefer to omit the Sr and Jr from the name, so as to include both.)

The first CCGS Edward Cornwallis of 1949 after which the second ship was named in 1986. The first ship was christened during the 200th anniversary year of Halifax, which was founded by Cornwallis.

 

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