Canmoore

Ottawa buying up to 8 Arctic patrol ships

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, announced today that six to eight craft will be constructed in Canada, these will be arctic patrol craft. Capable of traversing arctic waters, were other Naval Vessels cannot operate.

"The Polar Class 5 Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships will be custom-built, state of the art and made in Canada, Harper said during a ceremony at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt on Vancouver Island.

The ships will cost about $3.1 billion, with about $4.3 billion for operations and maintenance over their 25-year lifespan."

rickusn

Navy to get six Arctic patrol ships
News Services
Published: Monday, July 09, 2007
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor will be Esquimalt this morning to announce that Canada's navy will be getting six new Arctic patrol vessels at a cost of about $2 billion.

The vessels, nearly as large as the navy's frigates and with extra-thick hulls that can smash through fresh ice, are described as "warships" but at a class below the armed Arctic icebreakers the Tories had promised in the last election.

The patrol ships will allow the government to say it has ships that not only can cut through ice but can be deployed to wherever multi-purpose vessels are needed, said University of B.C. Prof. Michael Byers, director of the Liu Institute for Global Issues.

omon

i wonder if it has anything to do with russia claming north pole?

Canmoore

Not really, Harper made a promise when he was elected that he would boost CF presence in the Arctic, and that included the purchase of new ships capable of asserting Canadian Sovereignty in the north.

Mainly because a melting ice cap, would make the NW passage a favorable route for commercial ships, smugglers and military vessels alike. The Canadian government wants have full control over access of the NW passage, and know who and what is entering Canadian territory. This has as much to do with Sovereignty, as it does with the environment. An oil tanker that struck the bottom in the arctic would be catastrophic, as the arctic ecosystem is extremely fragile.

tim46

The news is they will sell off the MCDVs and use the Reservists to crew the new Arctic Patrol Vessels.

The Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels currently provide consistant maritime patrols such as fisheries patrols and drug interiction that DND has found cheaper to provide with a 30 person crew MCDV to a 200 person crew of a patrol frigate. They also provide a mine clearing and route suvey service that no other regular force platform can.

Will the PM admit that there will be a manning issue and maritime, not arctic coastal patrol shortfall when these hulls are in the water?

Canmoore

I think that by the time these vessels are actually built that the number of Naval personell will be higher. The number of people enlisting is at its highest since the 80's if the government were to give signing bonuses for joining the Navy , than the CF should have no problem manning these vessels.

BudW

25 years seems short for the life span?

omon

can,t blame them for that.

Stan

its their right too. I for one hope they get it and keep it. much rather buy oil from them than any one else

tim46

Last I checked, they don't give signing bonuses to reservists. I was one.

Canmoore

Thats Canmoore to you

..and what are you talking about?

jtl310

bonuses are pretty sweet ... if ure a doctor and u sign full tim for wat 3-4 yrs ure bonus is something like 300k .... (not entirely sure about the number it is app.)

BenRoethig

Could we get three to replace Storis, Acushnet, and Alex Haley?

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Alyeska

As an Alaskan, I'd rather get several Thetis class vessels from the Danish--big, pretty, well equipped, and designed for nasty weather. And yes, I know this is a delusional fantasy

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BenRoethig

The canadian design to going to be based off of the svalbard-class. svalbard is very close to to the Thetis class except they are a decade newer, have a twin helicopter hanger, and are further reinforced for ice. I think being able to operating a little further into ice (and assisting the Polar class and Healy with minor icebreaking) and carrying a a pair of Dolphins would really be advantageous in SAR missions.