The Hero-class patrol vessels, previously the Mid-Shore Patrol Vessel Project, is a series of nine patrol vessels constructed by Halifax Shipyards for the Canadian Coast Guard. Based on the Dutch Damen Stan 4207 patrol vessel, construction began in 2011 and the first vessel entered service in 2012. The vessels are assigned to the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Canada, used for coastal patrol duties.
Vessel design
The initial Mid Shore Patrol Vessel Project centred on medium-sized patrol boats of 37 to 42 metres (121 to 138 ft) in length, operating up to 120 nautical miles (220 km) offshore at a maximum speed of 25 knots (46 km/h). Each vessel would carry one or two rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs) and have accommodation for nine Canadian Coast Guard personnel as well as up to five Department of Fisheries and Oceans or Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers. The vessels were originally designed to be equipped with a stern launching ramp, allowing RHIBs to be launched and retrieved while the vessel was in motion.[1]
The final design for Hero-class vessels is based on those of the Dutch Damen Stan 4207 patrol vessel. The vessels are 42.8 m (140 ft) long overall with a beam of 7 m (23 ft) and a draught of 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in). The vessels have a 253 gross tonnage (GT) and a 75 net tonnage (NT). The ships are propelled by two controllable pitch propellers and bow thrusters powered by two MTU 4000M geared diesel engines creating 4,992 kW (6,694 hp). This gives the vessels a maximum speed of 25 knots (46 km/h). The Hero class have a diesel fuel capacity of 34.00 m3 (7,480 imp gal), a range of 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h) and can stay at sea for up to 14 days.[2]
The vessels are equipped with two RHIBs launched by a single Allied Marine TB10-23 davit. The patrol ships have Sperry Marine Visionmaster FT radar that operates on the S and X bands. The Hero class have a complement of nine with capacity for five more.[2] According to CBC News on 13 November 2012, Canadian Minister of DefencePeter MacKay announced that Canada was considering arming the Hero-class vessels, during a speech he delivered at the launch of CCGS Caporal Kaeble V.C., the second vessel of the class.[3] MacKay said the Organization of American States had suggested Canada reconsider arming Canadian Coast Guard vessels to help counter the drug trade and people smuggling. Coast Guard vessels have never been armed before, while, occasionally, when carrying elements of the RCMP, the RCMP have carried small arms. A Senate committee recommended Coast Guard vessels should be armed. Michael Byers, a law professor and commentator on Arctic sovereignty and maritime law has argued that Canadian Coast Guard vessels should have the "quiet authority of a deck-mounted gun".[4]
Criticism of the design and capabilities were raised by safety representatives, citing eleven issues.[5] The vessels suffered numerous issues over their first years of service, including bad wiring, premature corrosion and gearbox failure.[6] Irving Shipbuilding responded to the claims, acknowledging the problems as minor, but stating that Canadian Coast Guard officials and representatives from the marine classification society Lloyd's Register certified the vessels.[7] Five vessels of the class are to receive redesigned galleys after the initial ones were deemed unsafe.[8]
Procurement history
In 2006, the Government of Canada under Prime Minister Stephen Harper promised to continue the Mid Shore Patrol Vessel Project initiated by the government of former Prime Minister Paul Martin that envisioned eight vessels; however, no funding was provided. The 19 March 2007 Federal Budget committed $324 million four mid shore patrol vessels and two offshore fishery science vessels.[9]
On 25 March 2008, in an announcement that cancelled the bidding process for the Joint Support Ship Project for Canadian Forces Maritime Command, the Government of Canada placed the coast guard's Mid Shore Patrol Vessel Project on hold due to bids that were significantly higher than budgeted allocations. The Canadian Coast Guard submitted a modified vessel design based on reduced capabilities and cost. On 26 February 2009, the Government of Canada reissued a call for bids for twelve mid shore patrol vessels.[citation needed]
Each of the nine Hero-class patrol vessels are named after personnel from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (officers), Canadian Coast Guard (sailors, aircrew), Department of Fisheries and Oceans (fishery officers) and Canadian Forces (soldiers, sailors, aircrew) who are credited with performing exceptional or heroic acts during their service.[12][13][14]
The main task for these vessels is to provide maritime security and fisheries enforcement off Canada's Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Secondary tasks are marine search and rescue and marine pollution control. Four of the vessels are providing security on the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence Seaway.[23] The first vessel, Private Robertson V.C. entered service in 2012 and the last, Captain Goddard M.S.M. in 2014.[2][24] In November 2015, G. Peddle S.C. was taken out of service for two months due to issues with the lifeboat system.[25] In May 2016 Corporal McLaren M.M.V. was taken out of service to address corrosion on stern plates.[26] In February 2017, a government report claiming poisoned water aboard some Canadian Coast Guard vessels named Private Robertson V.C., Corporal Teather C.V. and Constable Carrière among them.[27] While undergoing a refit at Sambro, Nova Scotia, on 17 November 2018 Corporal McLaren M.M.V. was released from the vessel's cradle, allegedly due to vandalism. The vessel had slid down the slip and lay partially submerged in the water, though the damage was light.[28][29] The ship was refloated on 26 November 2018 and taken to a dock in Sambro, Nova Scotia where the full extent of the damage would be assessed.[30] In 2019, it was reported that the vessels suffered from stability issues in adverse weather conditions that prevented them from sailing.[31]G. Peddle S.C. was taken out of service in June 2020 after the vessel suffered a complete failure of its engines. The ship was lifted out of the water and its two main diesel engines were removed. The ship is expected to return to service in mid-2021.[32]
^"Government to consider arming coast guard vessels". CBC News. 13 November 2012. Archived from the original on 17 November 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2016. He said the Organization of American States has been putting pressure on Canada to arm its coast guard to aid in combating drug and other contraband from entering North America.
^Boswell, Randy (21 October 2010). "Tories to consider arming Arctic-bound coast guard ships". Nunatsiaq News. Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2016. And Michael Byers, a University of British Columbia expert on international law, said the "quiet authority of a deck-mounted gun" is a reasonable show of force in the Arctic, and does not constitute a provocation to foreign countries or "preparing for war with the Russians." All coast guard icebreakers, he said, should be "multi-purpose vessels" that not only perform navigational assistance, conduct scientific research and provide search-and-rescue services, but also bring both the symbolic and practical might of a "light machine gun" to the job of enforcing Canada's sovereignty in the Arctic. He added that sending two ships worth millions of dollars to deal with an Arctic security breach — an unarmed coast guard icebreaker, for example, and an armed Canadian Forces vessel — defies logic given the vastness of the Canadian Arctic and the evident efficiency of sending a single, armed vessel with a full range of capabilities.
