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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Capt Jacques Cartier - Basin Trials and another name

 The CCGS Capt Jacques Cartier [*]  has spent the weekend anchored out in Bedford Basin. Whether this is part of its commissioning or some other activity I have no idea.

The ship is not in official service yet as far as I can tell, however it was delivered in the spring and should be just about ready by now despite COVID related delays.

* see my carping about ships named after people on April 1, 2020

Meanwhile on the topic of names, the life extension refit continues at Shelburne on CCGS Edward Cornwallis which will be renamed on completion.

One of four trailers at Fairview August 27.

The labels called the contents "gensets" which would likely be correct for main engines for a diesel electric ship.

If these are just being delivered now it seems that it may be some time before the refit is completed - perhaps beyond the January 2021 date previously published.

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Saturday

Ensuring self-isolation I did manage to get out to see what was happening in the harbour today without making any contact with other humans.

Just outside the mandatory pilotage zone the crane rig Thialf is getting set to work.

The supplier Atlantic Kestrel alongside merely emphasizes the immense size of this rig.
(See also today's Tugfax for a bit more.)

Sailing from Halifax this evening CCGS Edward Cornwallis made a strange sight minus its cargo boom.

Descriptions of the vessel's life extension refit soon to begin at Shelburne indicate that the derrick will be replaced. It has obviously been removed already. The ship is reporting that it is headed for SAR patrol to the southwest.

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Sir William Alexander in refit

CCGS Sir William Alexander was to have been in refit in July and August as per published schedules. However I have observed that its crane has been removed, whether for repair or replacement, so the vessel remains out of service. CCGS Earl Grey and Edward Cornwallis may also be in refit at the Bedford Institute, but CCGS George R. Pearkes appears to be operational.

Sir William Alexander with crane removed.

Sir William's crane was not original equipment to the ship, but was installed in 1998, mounted on the main deck forward, replacing the original derrick that had not performed properly since new. Sister ship Edward Cornwallis retains the derrick, making it easy to distinguish between the two ships. They are also the only ships of their class with a three a deck superstructure. Other ships of the Martha L. Black class have four decks.

George R. Pearkes on the right has an additional deck compared to Edward Cornwallis (left).

Near my home, in Victoria Park in Halifax, a stone cairn commemorates Sir William Alexander, (1567-1640) First Earl of Stirling:

Erected by the North British [i.e. Scottish] Society in 1957, containing stones from Alexander's home castle, it carries a bronze plaque recognizing the poet, statesman and colonizer as the founder of Nova Scotia. At the time, that also included present day New Brunswick and much of the state of Maine. When the territory was returned to the French in 1632, Alexander was reduced to poverty. He never set foot in Nova Scotia, although his son (of the same name) spent a winter at Port Royal (now Annapolis Royal).

A confidant and Secretary of state to King James I of England / James VI of Scotland, Sir William Alexander (the elder) was also named Viscount of Canada.

CCGS Sir William Alexander is the second ship of the name. The first, launched in 1959 by Halifax Shipyards,  served until 1989, the last two years as William when teething problems delayed delivery of its replacement.
The following is extracted from my post of November 12, 2014:

SIR WILLIAM ALEXANDER (i)

One of the finest ships ever built by Halifax Shipyards, it was launched December 13, 1959 and served with distinction until July of 1989. Its service was memorable enough that its replacement received the same name- as much in recognition of the man who had Nova Scotia as an idea, as for the ship itself. The ship was built to the proven pattern established by the Edward Cornwallis (i) as a light icebreaker buoy tender.

 The prototype steamer Edward Cornwallis and the evolved, diesel version Sir William Alexander

Longer and narrower, but to perform the same basic work, Sir William Alexander was the epitome of the Canadian Coast Guard light icebreaker and buoy tender. The winch control room below the bridge and derrick mounted to to the superstructure was dropped in subsequent ships.

Powered by four Fairbanks Morse engines of 1333 bhp each, driving two electric motor it delivered 4250 shp to two controllable pitch props.

Built with a helicopter deck, the telescoping hangar was added later. In 1970 it was host to a Bell 206 A/B the standard CCG 'copter of the day.

The ship's most famous exploit was in rescuing the crew of the tanker Kurdistan in ice in the Cabot Strait in March 1979 when the tanker broke in two. Sir William Alexander assisted in escorting the ship to the Strait of Canso where it was pumped out and patched up for towing to a repair yard.

 

Sir William Alexander tied up at the eastern approach wall to the Canso Canal, standing by salvage operations. The DPW boat Maces Bay is ferrying people out to the Kurdistan, which is anchored beneath Cape Porcupine with a McAllister salvage barge alongside.

Renamed William in 1987 she was kept in service until July 1989 due to delivery problems with her namesake replacement.

In April 1987 William had the rare responsibility of lifting navigation aids in Halifax harbour when flow ice from the Gulf of St.Lawrence blew in. It had to navigate in heavy ice, but was not required to break the ice, since it had already broken up on its way south. Note her bridge wings had been plated in during a previous refit.

 
When finally laid up she became H-22, in February 1990. After sale to Bahamian owners she languished in Halifax until 1992, then moved to Pointe-de-Chêne, NB for another year. Finally she became the Belize flag Pilar del Caribe. When drugs were found aboard in Kingston, Jamaica in 1995 authorities seized the ship. Before it could be sold for scrap it parted its lines and blew ashore. Beyond salvage it was left on the beach at Bull Bay where it became local landmark.

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Edward Cornwallis - an open letter

Halifax Regional Municipality Council has (finally) ordered the removal of a statue of Edward Cornwallis from a prominent city park. The statue (erected t in 1931) to honour the founder of Halifax and Governor of Nova Scotia (1749-1752) has become a lighting rod for protests over the treatment of indigenous peoples.
There is much to be reviled about Cornwallis. His treatment of Scottish highlanders in putting down the Jacobite Revolution would certainly be grounds for a charge of war crimes today. No less heinous was his proclamation of a bounty to "take prisoner or scalp" for Mi'gmaq fighters and take women and children as prisoners. Cornwallis' less than stellar military career, term as a British MP and Governor of Gibraltar (1761-1776) - (surely a subtle form of exile) came to an end with his death in 1776.
How society is to remember Edward Cornwallis is open to debate, since we should never forget the damage he inflicted. However removing his name and statue from places of prominence is an important first step in expressing our regret for his actions.

This brings us to the subject of CCGS Edward Cornwallis a High-Endurance Multi-Tasked member of the Canadian Coast Guard fleet since 1986, and its predecessor of the same name from 1949. Surely it is time for the name to be painted out from that ship and a new one selected.

The following is the text of an open letter I sent today to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, PC, MP.

"As Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, you are aware that there is a Canadian Coast Guard vessel named CCGS EDWARD CORNWALLIS.

Named for the founder of Halifax, and a Governor of Nova Scotia, and bearing the same name of a previous Coast Guard ship, the vessel has provided good service to the Coast Guard and the people of Canada since 1986.

However we are now aware that Edward Cornwallis, the man, was not a figure to be revered. His actions as governor did much to entrench a racism that is still pervasive in our society. His name stands in the way of meaningful dialog between friends and neighbours.

The City of Halifax has seen fit to order the removal of a statue commemorating Edward Cornwallis, and may be moving toward removal of his name from streets and other public venues.

It is my opinion that the the Canadian Coast Guard must now remove the name EDWARD CORNWALLIS from that ship. I am therefore requesting that you use your authority as minister to set that process in motion.

The Canadian Coast Guard has naming policies for vessels of all sorts, (Fleet Order 103.00). In that order it states that the Minister is responsible for approving name selections for vessels. May I suggest sir, that the importance of selecting an appropriate name to replace the current one, is an opportunity to make an important statement.

Appendix A of that policy now states that vessels of this class (High Endurance Multi-Tasked Vessel) are to be named after former Canadian Governors General. I can think of several holders of that office whose names might be appropriate, including your late father. However I wonder in this case if it might be possible to deviate from that policy and select the name of an eminent historical leader of the Mi'gmaq, whose position would be the equivalent to a governor general."

 

I have also copied the Member of Parliament for Halifax, Andy Filmore, in hopes that the matter will be addressed during the current session.

The Coast Guard missed a perfect opportunity to rename the ship while it was in refit in St.John's last summer, but it is never too late to right a wrong. 

CCGS Edward Cornwallis (i) built 1949, retired 1987.

CCGS Edward Cornwallis (ii) built 1986, renamed 2018?

    

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Edward Cornwallis from 1986

The first post World War II ship to be designed and built for the Department of Transport was retired in 1986 at the venerable age of 37. It is hard to believe that its successor is now 30 years old with only the faintest glimpse of a replacement on the horizon.

Deckloaded with Buoys CCGS Edward Cornwallis (i) at the Dartmouth Coast Guard base.

(CCGS Louis S St-Laurent and CCGS Tupper also aappear in the background)

The first Edward Cornwallis was the prototype for a whole fleet of navigation aids tenders. It was not classed as an icebreaker, although many of its descendants were, it certainly did its fair share of work in ice fior a ship that was only ice strengthened.
Its name was selected to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the founding of Halifax in 1749 by Edward Cornwallis, Nova Scotia's first governor. The man has since been discredited over his treatment of indigenous peoples and his name has become highly charged politically. A minor noble, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant General in the British army, despite a very spotty career, marked by two notable retreats both of which saw him court martialed, but exonerated.  His prior experience in suppressing the highland rebels in Scotland and at the battle of Culloden, made him no particular friend of Scots either. He went on to become governor of Gibraltar where he died.

Soundlessly sailing up Halifax harbour, the first CCGS Edward Cornwallis was a fine ship.

The ship named for him was built by Canadian Vickers Ltd in Montreal in 1949 and equipped with two Vickers-built uniflow-type steam engines driving twin screws.

When the replacement ship was nearing completion at Marine Industries Ltd in Sorel in May 1986, the first ship was renamed Edward so that the second could takes its name. Defendants of the choice of name claim that the second ship was named for the first, not for the governor. This is of course completely ridiculous, since there is no way of separating the two. Despite the infamy of the namesake, the second ship still carries the name.  Let's hope saner heads prevail when the next batch of navaids tenders comes along. Maybe in seven or eight years or so, just in time for the 275th anniversary of the founding of Halifax.

A decommissioned and forlorn Edward sits at pier 2 (now Navy Jetty Bravo) awaiting its fate.

Edward was paid off on October 5, 1987 and it left Halifax in tow of the tug W.N.Twolan for Coburg, ON. After it over stayted its welcome as a nightclub, it was eventually "evicted" and in December 1993 it went off in tow to Port Maitland, ON where it was broken up.


The second ship of the name, completed in 1986 has also proven to be a fine ship, and has just recently undergone a significant refit, ensuring a good many more years of service, probably to exceed the 37 its predecessor put in.

Down to her marks with a load of buoys, Edward Cornwallis vents off some excess steam.

(CCGS Labrador is partially visible behind.)

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Ted and Bill - back home after their excellent adventure

The Canadian Coast Guard ships Edward Cornwallis and Sir William Alexander are tied up at the DFO pier at the Bedford Institute for the first time in a month.
Both vessels, classed as light icebreakers, were sent out far afield from Halifax this winter and spring, to provide icebreaking services in Newfoundland, and only appeared in their home port a month ago for crew change.

Sir William Alexander with the newly commissioned Corporal McLaren M.M.V.
 

Sir William Alexander left her home baser in January and aside from the May 14 crew change, was working in Newfoundland, PEI and the Gulf of St.Lawrence.

Edward Cornwallis and G.Peddle SC.

Edward Cornwallis was last in Halifax May 13 for crew change and returned immediately to Newfoundland, only sailing for home June 7. Newfoundland-based Cape Roger was in Nova Scotia waters covering her for Search + Rescue and patrol until this week.

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Icy names, icy games Tundra, Louis, Edward and Laura 1

In very un-arctic weather the bulker Tundra made a brief call in Halifax to unload steel coils. I believe these are stainless steel tire cores for Michelin. It has been some time since we have seen this cargo unloaded from a bulker, I suspect they have been arriving from Brazil by container recently.

As a member of the Canfornav charter fleet, the ship is named for a species of ducks, found commonly in the north. Temperatures near the teens yesterday resulted in dense fog. This morning however the temperature had dropped to a more seasonable zero (C) and the air cleared when the ship sailed for Altamira, Mexico.

Built in 1909 by Shanhaiguan Shipbuilding Industry in Qinhuangdao, China, the ship is registered in Cyprus and measures 19,814 grt and 30,803 dwt. As with most Canfornav ships it is a sometime caller in the Great Lakes, but was not there in 2013.

CCGS Louis S. St-Laurtent FINALLY got underway this morning for the Gulf of St. Lawrence to start its winter icebreaking season. The ship had been in refit at its Newfoundland base, but came to Halifax January 11 to fuel and complete some other work.

 The navy tug Glenevis assisted the ship off its old berth at the old Coast Guard base. Once it was clear of the dock it was able to use its thruster to complete the turn. A seal took an interest in the departure (it is visible just below the ship's funnel).

 Always an impressive sight, the Louis slowly heads for sea.

Having already been pressed into icebreaking service to cover for the Louis in western Newfoundland, the light icebreaker Edward Cornwallis has returned to its normal duties and arrived soon after Louis' departure with a load of buoys from Cape Breton for storage and maintenance at the old Coast Guard base.

After landing the navigation markers in Dartmouth Edward Cornwallis headed back to Cape Breton for more.

A ship that made it through the ice, but was damaged when it brushed the icebreaker CCGS Henry Larsen in the lower St.Lawrence finally sailed this evening after repairs. (see January 10). A week seems to be a long time for repairs to damage that did not effect the ship's seaworthiness, but who am I to doubt the sincerity of the CCG's press release. 

 Damage to the ship's starboard bow was never visible from the Halifax side of the harbour, but it was apparently well forward since repairs took place in number on hold.

All week a lot of banging and crashing could be heard though the open hatch cover. The ship sailed this evening for the balmier climes of Savannah, GA.

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Canadian Coast Guard, more news as the NSPS continues to roll out

There was another announcement on Wednesday regarding shipbuilding as part of the massive replacement/ modernization of Canada's government fleet.

First it was the combatant (Halifax Shipyard) and non-combatant (Seaspan Shipyard) ships, announced last year as part of the NSPS (National Ship Procurement Strategy) both of which will inject major money into the economy for a long time to come. The government finally woke up to the fact that shipyard's are good for the economy, and became willing to build not just ships, but a whole shipbuilding industry. How that will work out in the long term remains to be seen, but it cannot be denied that we will get a whole bunch of new ships for the navy and Coast Guard, and a vastly upgraded shipbuilding industry. Whether it will pay back a return on the government's investment is a moot point, since it is so far beyond any one government's normal planning process. It is a kind of Keynesian attitude of leaving it to future generations to worry about.
Irving Shipbuilding's Halifax yard is a beehive of activity already, where it is expanding northward to build the bigger ships.

The research ship CCGS Alfred Needler is one of the ships to be replaced under the larger NSPS announcement. The new ship will be built in Vancouver.

Second was the announcement in February that $360 mn will be put into 18  Coast Guard ships to upgrade them and give then life extensions. This includes the four heavy icebreakers (Amundesn is already done now.  Because of engine failures last year it had a major rebuild at St.Catharines over the winter.)

CCGS Edward Cornwallis is one of the six multi-tasked vessels to get a life extension.

Six multi-tasked vessels, (3 based here), one medium endurance (based here) one science, two offshore patrol, two special navaids and two air cushions will also be upgraded over the next ten years - none too soon for some of them. There may be no NSPS restrictions on which yard can bid on this work.

CCGS Early Grey is the medium endurance ship that will get a life extension/upgrade.

Wednesday's announcement of $488 mn for Coast Guard small ships and craft, under 1,000 tonnes, which will not be built by Irving or Seaspan (that was also part of NSPS) will see 18 to 21 new boats added in the next seven years. These would not be good fits for the big yards anyway, and it was NSPS  strategy to give some boatbuilding yards and some smaller shipyards some needed business too.

Still to come are new tugs for the navy, both large and small. We are sure to get that announcement fairly soon as the summer spending continues.

 The navy will be replacing all its tugs (large and small) and its fireboats.

Meanwhile there are some puzzles. Such as CCGS Matthew which has not re-entered service this year after its winter layup. The survey ship has not been mentioned in any announcements, so presumably it is idled by lack of funds.Built in 1991 it is one of the newest ships in the CCG/DFO and and uniquely a hydrographic ship - it doesn't seem to perform any other function, and recent government cuts may be to blame.

A forlorn CCGS Matthew sits alongside BIO- not in service this summer. That is Halifax Traffic VTS station on the hill behind.

CCGS Sir William Alexander - ready for a refit

1. CCGS Sir Wialliam Alexander arriving this afternoon,April 22, showing some signs of wear and tear after a busy fall and winter with buoy removals and now spring replacements. Note the port bridge wing platform is folded upright, adding to the rust streaks.

CCGS Sir William Alexander (call sign CGUM) arrived at BIO this afternoon April 22.On Wednesday April 24 there will be a bidders conference on board prior to her alongside refit scheduled for June 13 to July 19 at BIO.
Completed in 1987 by Marine Industries in Sorel, QC, the Type 1100 light icebreaker and navaids ship has been based in Halifax since its arrival here in May 1987 (it called in at Charlottetown en route - its alternate home port.)

The ship had its moment of glory in June 1995 when it hosted dignitaries during the G-7 Summit:

2. Escorted by high speed patrol boats and helicopters, some G-7 leaders are hosted under a tent on the helo deck for a harbour cruise between Shearwater and Historic Properties. (The ship appears as built, with a cargo derrick).

From August to September 1998 it had a major overhaul during which saw its derrick removed and the installation of a crane in its place. Sister ship CCGS Edward Cornwallis, also based in Halifax, still has the derrick, making it easy to distinguish between the two ships (as long as you remember it is the Sir Bill with the crane, and Ed with the derrick).

Earl Grey - back from dumping day

1. CCGS Earl Grey returns to base at BIO this morning.

CCGS Earl Grey returned to port this morning after standing by for dumping day. The start of the annual local lobster from Halifax round to the Bay of Fundy sees hundreds of boats putting to sea loaded with  traps, and some inevitably get into trouble and need assistance. The start of this year's season was delayed by a day because of high winds, so conditions were virtually ideal for this morning's start.
The Canadian Coast Guard's ships are all on standby and spotted in various locations for dumping day. Since all ships are multi-tasked for search and rescue, the buoy tenders are included.
Earl Grey was built in Pictou, NS in 1986 to a design by Robert Allen Ltd, and has been based in this region ever since. Built along supply ship lines and fitted with a heavy crane it was a departure from the standard CCG light icebreaker / buoy tender design. It will be interesting to see if replacement ships, which may be announced soon, will follow this pattern or revert to the more traditional look.
Earl Grey was named after Canada's governor general, 1904-1911, who was also the donor of the Grey Cup, awarded annually to the Canadian football championship team. This year marked the 100th anniversary game, although the cup was donated in 1909.
CCGS Edward Cornwallis was built in 1986 and has the traditional layout of accommodation aft and working deck amidships. It is performing similar standby duty off southwestern Nova Scotia today. It has the added capability of of helicopter deck and hangar.

2. CCGS Edward Cornwallis sails from BIO November 18, headed for the southwest.

At least two rescues were carried out in the southwest this morning-one by helicopter.