The following is text of a news release from Seaspan Shipyards:
(NORTH VANCOUVER, British Columbia) — The future Capt. Jacques Cartier, the second of three offshore fisheries science vessels (OFSV) to be designed and built by Seaspan at its Vancouver Shipyards, began sea trials Thursday as scheduled from Seaspan’s Vancouver dry dock, where final outfitting, set to work and commissioning has taken place since its launch in June.
This milestone on the second OFSV follows its launch on June 5 and the delivery of the first OFSV, CCGS Sir John Franklin, on June 27. CCGS Sir John Franklin is the first large vessel to be built and delivered under the National Shipbuilding Strategy.
Sea trials mark the final major phase in a shipbuilding project before delivery. Sea trials are conducted to ensure that the ship operates as it was designed to and that all systems are fully operational. This includes mechanical, electrical, hydraulics, fishing and laboratory, communications, navigation, as well as fire and safety systems.
The three OFSVs are equipped with the latest equipment to support vital science and research work for the Department and Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and the Canadian Coast Guard, including monitoring Canada’s marine ecosystems and supporting search and rescue missions along Canada’s coasts.
Given the important scientific work to be performed by the OFSV class, specific attention is also given during sea trials to the extensive array of ship sensors that are embedded in the ship’s drop keel and to the quietness with which the ship’s engines perform at cruising and at fishing speeds and when in idle.
Sea trials will be largely conducted in the Strait of Georgia as part of a continuous 15-day exercise. Upon completion of sea trials, the future Capt. Jacques Cartier will be moored at Ogden Point on Vancouver Island to prepare the vessel for delivery to the Canadian Coast Guard, which is scheduled for later this year.
“With the future Capt. Jacques Cartier headed out to sea today, excitement in our NSS program is growing. I want to thank all our employees, partners and most especially our Coast Guard community for your teamwork and dedication in achieving this major milestone. We are looking forward to delivering this second vessel to the Coast Guard later this year, which will enable them to do their critical work focused on the protection, preservation and conservation of Canada’s coastal waters," said Mark Lamarre, chief executive officer, Seaspan Shipyards
