CAPT JACQUES CARTIER

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Coast Guard closely monitoring problems of new vessels

The Canadian Coast Guard was closely monitoring problems affecting components on all three of its new offshore fisheries science vessels. Two different components — a propulsion shaft tube and valves controlling seawater intake — have needed repair or replacement on the 'Sir John Franklin', 'Capt. Jaqques Cartier' and 'John Cabot'. The problems included corrosion, premature wear or mislabelling. The failure of a third component — a switch that controls motor speed — caused a fire on board the B 'John Franklin'' and led to a stop-sail order from independent inspectors working on behalf of Transport Canada Marine Safety. The defective controller was found to be an isolated incident. The Seaspan Shipyard in Vancouver built the ships at a cost of $778 million as part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy. The ships entered service between 2019 and 2021, providing fisheries science and monitoring in the Pacific and Atlantic. The forward and aft propulsion shaft stern tube bearings allow the propeller to turn smoothly. The part has been repaired on the 'Sir John Franklin' and and 'John Cabot' which was the newest of the fleet and based in St. John's. Halifax-based 'Capt. Jacques Cartier' will be pulled out of the water in April for a refit, Its propeller shaft tube bearings will be replaced. The tender closes next week. There were signs of premature bearing wear. Seawater piping and valve failures required part replacements on all three ships. That work has been completed. There was a report with various potential causes identified, including fluid flow rates, dissimilar metals (galvanic corrosion), and mislabelled valves. The ships have a one-year warranty after delivery. Only the 'John Cabot' was still under warranty when Seaspan repaired its stern tube bearings in January 2022. The 'Sir John Franklin' was in dry dock for other items in fall 2021 and had its stern tube bearings repaired as additional work at a cost of $410,978.53. Although the propulsion variable frequency drives fell under an extended material and workmanship warranty, the failure ccurred after that warranty had expired. The starboard variable frequency drive was repaired during the $2.4-million refit. Upon investigation, it was determined that the mechanism of failure was extremely rare and there was no evidence to suggest that the same issue existed on the other two vessels. When the refit was completed in December, the stop-sail order was lifted by the American Bureau of Shipping, which provides regulatory inspections. The ship returned to service in January.

New CGCS ship still not operational

The CCGS 'Capt. Jacques Cartier' still isn't operational 1,5 years after the delivery to its Halifax-area base. She has yet to complete sea trials or begin the training missions needed before it can become operational. Equipment failures, delays receiving parts, and COVID-19-related travel restrictions in Nova Scotia have combined to upend the timetable. The ship is expected to depart the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Dartmouth this week to resume sea trials to test and calibrate instruments, including a vital trawl winch that seized up and stopped working entirely during the last trial in December 2020. A series of short sea trials last fall tested oceanographic equipment — which measure conductivity, temperature and depth — and acoustic and trawling gear on board, showing data communication and software issues with acoustic sensors and malfunctions with the winches, according to records released under access to information laws. The most serious mishap was the total failure of the starboard trawl winch which reels up the nets and heavy metal weights used to keep the nets on the ocean bottom. The winch stopped working with more than two kilometres of cable in the water and could not be restarted. The acoustic sensors have since been repaired and are awaiting testing. The winch issue has also been identified and fixed. It was attributed to a singular bearing failure rendering the gearbox non-operational. The bearing has been replaced under warranty and the gearbox issue has been resolved. Since the last sea trial, the 'Capt. Jacques Cartier' has undergone one alongside refit where the cooling system was cleaned and flushed under warranty. Inspections were underway last week. The ship was also waiting for parts for the sea water system. The 'Capt. Jacques Cartier's first alongside fishing trip is planned with the CCGS 'Alfred Needler' which underwent a $1.7-million refit at Newdock shipyard in St. John's which was supposed to end in April. It had to be extended due to expanded steel work. She is not expected back in service until mid-June. The original plan for the 'Capt. Jacques Cartier' and the 'John Cabot' called for comparative fishing to start in April 2020 and conclude in December 2021, involving eight calibration experiments totalling 43 additional weeks of vessel time.