The Canadian shipyard Seaspan Shipyards has handed over a new Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel (OOSV) to the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG).
The newbuild “CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk” is the fourth large unit to be completed under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) and the second ship class to be built under this program.
The new research vessel measures around 88 m in length and 17.6 m in width. The displacement is around 5,058 tons. The draught is designed for use in Arctic waters. The unit can reach speeds of up to 13.4 knots and has a range of more than 12,700 nm. The Polar Class 6-certified construction is designed for safe ice operations and offers space for up to 34 crew members and 26 scientists from Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Due to the pandemic and a reprioritization of the “National Shipbuilding Strategy”, the project was set back further and further, so that the “CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk” was ultimately delivered eight years late and around 1,000% over budget.
A handover ceremony was held at the Vancouver Shipyards with representatives of the Canadian government and the Coast Guard. In addition to Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, speakers included Jonathan Wilkinson, Member of Parliament for North Vancouver-Capilano, and Seaspan CEO John McCarthy. The delivery is seen as further evidence of the progress made by NSS, which has triggered significant investment in shipbuilding in Western Canada since 2012.
Multifunctional tasks thanks to sensor technology and special equipment
The “Naalak Nappaaluk” will be the central platform for the oceanographic tasks of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The ship has several wet and dry laboratories, its own sampling room, a scientific seawater system and a modern drop keel with extensive sensor technology. This allows data to be collected on currents, temperature, oxygen and salt content, underwater acoustics and sediments, among other things. The unit also supports the CCG in habitat management, marine surveys and search and rescue operations.
The ship bears the name of a respected personality from Nunavik who has rendered outstanding services to the Inuit language and culture. It replaces the “CCGS Hudson”, which was decommissioned in 2022 after 59 years of service.
Before its later deployment at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Halifax, the OOSV will first be relocated to Patricia Bay, where the CCG will carry out training trips and briefings.
Technical data:
- Ice class: Polar Class 6
- Displacement: 5,058 tons
- Length: 88 m
- Width: 17.6 m
- Capacity: up to 60 people
- Area of operation: Atlantic coast, Gulf of St. Lawrence and Arctic and sub-Arctic regions in summer
