Coast Guard ramps up

The Canadian Coast Guard has taken delivery of a new ship and transferred patrol vessels to cover for sahips in refit and under repair.

In Quebec City, the CCGS Captain Molly Kool has joined the icebreaker fleet after an initial refit. The former supply vessel Vidar Viking is the first of three icebreaking ships purchased from Sweden last summer to supplement the fleet. Named for the legendary Saint John, NB woman who became the first Canadian female to be licensed as ship's captain, it will work on the St.Lawrence and Saguenay Rivers and Gulf this winter. Meanwhile the two sister vessels Balder Viking and Tor Viking will be fitted out for service in the north next summer. At that point Captain Molly Kool will complete its refit. Its base will be St. John's NL.

Patrol capability on the east coast has been supplemented with the transfer of Corporal Teather CV  and A. Leblanc from the Central and Arctic Region. The Halifax based Corporal McLaren M.M.V.  was damaged in drydock and will be out of service for repairs, leaving only G.Peddle to carry out patrols. All the patrol boats of this class were built at Halifax Shipyard.

 The  A. Leblanc, G.Peddle and Corporal Teather tied up in a row at the BIO this afternoon.

CCG ice ops, etc.,

With one of the heaviest ice seasons in recent memory, the Canadian Coast Guard is working full out in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. As a result, icebreakers that would normally be based in Newfoundland have moved west to assist, and ships from Nova Scotia are working in Newfoundland and eastern  Gulf. Recent reports have Sir William Alexander on the west coast of Newfoundland and Earl Grey in the Belle Isle Strait.
Edward Cornwallis made a brief over night stop in Halifax and sailed at noon time for St.John's.

The major non-participant in all this activity is the flagship of the fleet, CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent which has been sitting out the game at BIO since February 10. It had arrived in Halifax that week for a crew change, but aside from running some ranges on Halifax the night of February 10 it hasn't moved.

The Newfoundland based Cape Roger is working from Halifax and the two patrol boats, CCGS G.Peddle and CCGS Corporal McLaren MMV are also covering for the absent ships.

The newly built CCGS A.LeBlanc was registered February 27, and has made another trials trip March 3, but has not been handed over yet.

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Coast Guard Bow Wows

Captain Goddard M.S.M. on the launch way this week.

With the end of the construction of the Canadian Coast Guard Hero class patrol boats in sight, and several of the boats in service, one has to wonder if the CCG is entirely happy with build quality. I have certainly heard that they are happy with the boats' performance - in fact exceeding expectations for sea-keeping and speed, but I have to wonder if the wrinkly bow plating really meets expectations.

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