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In July 2007 Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced plans for the Arctic Patrol Ship Project which will see the construction of 6-8 vessels for Canadian Forces Maritime Command. These vessels were initially announced to be based on the Norwegian Svalbard class and were projected to cost $3.1 billion CAD to construct; the total project procurement was budgeted to cost $4.3 billion in order to cover maintenance over the 25 year lifespan of the vessels. The first ship in the class was expected to be delivered in 2014.

Project History

In 2006 Prime Minister Stephen Harper had spoken about building 3 to 4 heavy arctic icebreakers capable of traveling through thick ice. In 2007 it was announced that the Canadian Navy would purchase 6 to 8 Arctic Polar Class 5 patrol ships capable of ice breaking. This announcement was met with some controversy, and the proposed ships have been called "slush-breakers", by Dr. Gary Stern, a scientist aboard CCGS Amundsen, and Jack Layton of the NDP. However, it is notable that of the 19 Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers currently in service, only 6 have a polar ice class equivalent that is higher than Polar Class 5.Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).

Design

The vessels' design was initially intended to incorporate a conventional icebreaking bow for cruising, and would have proceeded backwards for breaking heavy ice. The vessels' stern would have been designed for ice breaking and they would have employed azipods for propulsion and for chewing through resistant ice. However, due to cost constraints, a conventional bow-first design was chosen for both light and heavy icebreaking. The propulsion would be provided by diesel-electric twin shafts with bolt on propellers, similar to existing Canadian Coast Guard icebreakers.

The vessels would have a hangar and flight deck capable of employing and maintaining the same maritime helicopters as Maritime Command's other vessels, the CH-148 Cyclone when it enters service, and the similar sized Canadian Forces Search and Rescue CH-149 Cormorant.

In 2008, a contract was awarded to BMT Fleet Technology and STX Canada Marine to assist in developing technical specifications and a design for the project. The technical specifications will be used to draft a Request for Proposals. It is likely that project implementation will begin when the contracts are expected to be awarded in August of 2010.

See also

• Joint Support Ship Project
• CCGS John G. Diefenbaker
• Canadian Forces Maritime Command
• Canadian Coast Guard
• Canada First Defence Strategy

References

1. "Dep't of National Defence / Canadian Forces News Release Armed Naval Icebreakers – the Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ships". Canadian American Strategic Review. 2007-07-10. Archived from the original on 2009-05-09.
2. "Background — AOPS Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship Icebreaker". Canadian American Strategic Review. April 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-05-09.
3. "Defining and Managing the Canadian Forces Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship Project". Canadian American Strategic Review. June 2008. Archived from the original on 2009-05-09.
4. "Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship — Proposed Ship Capabilities & Technical Statement of Operational Requirement Features". Canadian American Strategic Review. Archived from the original on 2009-05-09.
5. "Background – Armed Naval Icebreaker / Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship". Canadian American Strategic Review. Archived from the original on 2009-05-09.
6. ^ "Arctic patrol ship could have double acting hullform". Warship Technology. 2009-03. Archived from the original on 2009-10-11. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
7. James Travers (2007-07-10). "Arctic issues make for good politics". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 2009-05-09.
8. "Tories' ambitious defence plan needs more money". CTV News. 2006-02-18. Archived from the original on 2009-05-09.
9. Diane DeMille, Stephen Priestley (2005-12-22). "Stephen Harper announces the new defence policy put forward by the Conservative Party of Canada – Pt 2". Canadian American Strategic Review. Archived from the original on 2009-05-09.
10. Stephen Priestley (April 2006). "Armed Icebreakers and Arctic Ports for Canada's North? Costing Three New Canadian Heavy Armed Icebreakers". Canadian American Strategic Review. Archived from the original on 2009-05-09.
11. Gordon J. O'Connor (2007-07-09). "Speaking Notes for The Honourable Gordon J. O'Connor, PC, MP Minister of National Defence". Ministry of National Defence. Archived from the original on 2009-09-05.
12. Bartley Kives (2008-02-28). "Red Amundsen our flag in white Arctic". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
13. "Canadian Sovereignty". New Democratic Party. Archived from the original on 2009-09-05.

• Proposed ships
• Canadian Forces Maritime Command