HMCS Harry DeWolf was left out of a major exercise in the north because its fire suppression system was not working properly
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One of the navy’s newest Arctic patrol ships, scheduled to take part in a major exercise up north, is still in Halifax harbor due to problems with its security system designed to deal with shipboard fires.
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Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships margaret brooke Y goose bay departed Halifax on August 2 for a two-month deployment to the Arctic as part of Operation Nanook. but hmcs wolf harry it stayed in port because its fire-extinguishing system was not working properly, sailors from the Royal Canadian Navy told this newspaper. The problem on the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) was identified about a month ago, they added.
National Defense spokeswoman Jessica Lamirande confirmed that the Navy is dealing with problems with the fire suppression system, which is required to work properly for a ship to go to sea. To address the issue, the entire system was inspected and parts were cleaned or replaced at HMCS. wolf harry.
“The issue was successfully identified during testing and the fix is being implemented to ensure security,” Lamirande said. “We are now testing the system to ensure it is working properly and that all systems are working to spec. Upon completion of testing, the departure date for Operation Nanook will be determined.”
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Lamirande said that “HMCS is likely to wolf harry He will depart Halifax early next week.”
Although all sailors in the Royal Canadian Navy are trained firefighters, the fire suppression system on board the AOPS is considered a key component in fighting fires at sea, he added.
Lamirande noted that problems have not been found on the other two Arctic and offshore patrol boats, HMCS Margaret Brooke and HMCS Max Bernays.
Operation Nanook 2022 is the maiden voyage of HMCS Margaret Brooke. It will be the second deployment to the north for HMCS Harry DeWolf, according to the Navy.
The AOPS program has faced delays and cost increases over the years. Under the original schedule, the first AOPS was to have been delivered in 2013, with Arctic operations scheduled for 2015.
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But the first ship, HMCS wolf harry, it was not delivered to Canada until July 2020.
In January 2015, the federal government announced that it had awarded Irving Shipbuilding a $2.6 billion contract to build five AOPS. In 2018, that deal was expanded to add a sixth vessel. The DND currently lists the project as costing taxpayers a little over $4.3 billion.
In 2017, the Senate Defense Committee raised concerns about the ships’ capabilities. “This (concern) is based on the fact that these ships cannot operate in ice thicker than a meter, are slower than a BC Ferry, can only operate in the Arctic from June to October and will require an escort from Coast Guard when at sea. northern waters,” the senators noted in their report. The senators also noted that the ships “will lack significant force projection in the form of a weapons system.”
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“These limitations are concerning and raise the question of whether taxpayers are getting value for money spent,” the Senate report stated.
In the past, federal bureaucrats have been sensitive to news coverage of AOPS problems. In March 2019, officials from National Defense and Utilities and Procurement Canada advised Irving Shipbuilding that this newspaper was asking questions about problems with the welds on the AOPS. Irving, in turn, threatened this newspaper with legal action.
However, the National Defense later confirmed that there were indeed minor problems with the welding on the AOPS and the article was published. Irving did not file any lawsuit.
