Canadian Coast Guard – Offshore Fisheries & Science Vessels

Hawboldt Industries built up to three ships for the Canadian Coast Guard fleet. The project replaced four aging Coast Guard ships on the east and west coasts of Canada that provided a platform from which critical scientific research and ecosystem-based management can be performed.

CTD Winch = conductivity, temperature, and depth – in reference to water samples. CTD winches lower an array of sampling bottles which are triggered to open at varying depths. The samples are analyzed for conductivity and temperature to calculate a profile for the water column in that particular location. Most CTD cables are EM so that the bottles are triggered to open from a signal sent at the surface.

The OFSVs are the first vessels to be built under the $8 billion NSPS program for non-combat vessels. The OFSVs replaced aging vessels operated by the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) in the Pacific, Maritime and Newfoundland and Labrador Regions of Canada. These vessels are used for fisheries assessments and scientific ocean research.

Hawboldt Industries is responsible for the design and manufacture of the entire scope of deck equipment for the fisheries and science missions, including deck cranes, all fishing winches and controls, the science winches along with specialized launch and recovery systems.

The OFSVs serve a diverse end user group that challenge vessel design and operations. The CCG through their naval architect partners looked to add as much ocean science and fishing research capability within a limited vessel size. 

Working closely with architects, VSY design team and CCG, Hawboldt was able to provide a full suite of electric and hydraulic fisheries and ocean science research equipment (over 35 unique pieces) as well as hydraulic integration within the vessel design.