Photo: CCGS Private Robertson V.C. on Trials, Halifax Harbour, July 3/2012, Ziobrop, halifaxshippingnews.ca

ShipbuildingTribune.com (as well as other sources) are reporting the acceptance of the third of nine planned “Hero Class” cutters, CCGS Corporal Teather C.V, by the Canadian Coast Guard.

If you see a family resemblance to the Webber Class Fast Response Cutters, it is not your imagination. These are based on the Damen 4207 patrol boat design (42 meters long, 7 meter beam) while the FRCs are based on the closely related Damen 4708 (47 meters long, 8 meter beam). Boats from this family of designs are used by 13 countries.  It appears the USCG will have the largest fleet with 58 of the vessels currently planned, but in addition to Canada’s nine, Mexico already has at least two and reportedly may build up to 28. Only South Africa and the US use the larger 47 meter version.

The contract for the nine vessels reportedly was for $194M (presumably Canadian $). With first steel cut in 2010 and the last of the nine scheduled for delivery in 2013, they seem to be moving the project along smartly.

“Five of the vessels will be used primarily to support Fisheries and Oceans Canada conservation and protection programs in the Maritimes, Quebec and Pacific Regions. The other four vessels will be used in a joint program with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to enhance the maritime security along the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Seaway system.”

The Canadian Coast Guard is not a military service and their vessels are not armed. But there has been talk about arming these and other Canadian Coast Guard vessels.

Like the USCG vessels. these little ships are named after heroes. Unlike the American vessels, the heroes include representatives from other services, including a fisheries officer, Mounties, and the Canadian Army in addition to the Canadian Coast Guard.

One thing I found interesting is that while the Webber class have a nominal endurance of five days, the Canadian vessels are claimed to have an endurance of two weeks. I’ve always suspected the Webbers were capable of more.

The San Diego Union-Tribune has published an interview with the Commandant regarding the possible effects of sequestration.

Mail Online is reporting relations between supposed friends, Spain and the UK, went south when a Spanish OPV, the Tornado, (something very similar to the projected Offshore Patrol Cutter, the article has a photo) decided to poke around in the Gibraltar’s territorial sea.

The Spanish have been attempting to peacefully recover the strategic stronghold, ceded to Britain in 1713.

Britain’s naval presence there is normally limited to only two small patrol boats. The British are speculating that the Spanish are using the issue to divert attention from Spain’s domestic problems.

HMS Sabre, one of two 24 ton, 16 meter patrol boats based at Gibraltar

gCaptain is reporting five crewmembers were killed when a lifeboat on the cruise ship Thomson Majesty fell 65 feet.

Tim Colton’s Maritime Memos is reporting the apparent demise of the joint Navy/American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) efforts to create warship design criteria.

“The latest hot rumor is that the Navy and ABS have come to a parting of the ways with regard to the Naval Vessel Rules.  They are no more.  Gone.  Finished.  Kaput.  I can hear sighs of relief nationwide.  And the Navy’s ships will be less expensive.  But note that this decision does not include the Coast Guard, the one Government agency that should not need anyone else to write its rules.“

The specifications for the Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPC) require that they be built to a Coast Guard modified version of these rules. I believe the Littoral Combat Ships were also required to comply with the ABS NavRules.

The China Defense Blog has new photos of a  trimaran vessel built for the Chinese Navy. They also report that this is to be a rescue vessel. Certainly its armament appears modest, and it doesn’t appear to be much longer than a Webber class Fast Response Cutter.

It features cutouts in the sides of the outer hulls that appear designed to allow retrieving persons from the water, much like those on a motor surf boat, in addition to two RHIBs, and a small helo deck.

But this is a Navy ship, not a “coast guard” ship. I suspect this vessel may be used as plane guard for their new aircraft carrier as they work to develop a cadre of trained carrier pilots.

At least two different hull numbers have been seen. We have seen and discussed this type before:

Unconventional Chinese Rescue Cutter

China Shows 2nd Trimaran Rescue Ship

Tim Colton’s Maritime Memos is reporting additional cases of alledged fraud at Huntington Ingalls Shipyard.

“We reported last month that some folks at Ingalls Shipbuilding had been caught fudging the numbers.  Still no press coverage or announcements from the company, but the latest word is that over 100 supervisors and managers are gone, some let go but others arrested and indicted for embezzlement, based on getting a bonus calculated from fraudulent performance figures.  This is clearly not a small-scale, isolated, incident.  Isn’t it time for a statement from the company, however legalistically worded?  And what’s the Navy’s position?  Does this not raise questions about the costs billed and/or the percentage progress claimed? Has the Navy stopped making payments?  If not, why not?“

Does this effect the National Security Cutter program? We might also ask, what is the Coast Guard’s position?

Derelict destruction used to be a common mission for the Coast Guard, but it doesn’t happen much any more.

Surprisingly gCaptain reports there is now a derelict cruise ship off Canada, that looks like it is on its way to Europe, or is it the Arctic, or Africa? A modern “Flying Dutchman” drifting without lights.

The Acquisitions Directorate (CG-9)’s Master Chief Ayer has addressed the following question: “Q:  I was aboard  one of the new Fast Response Cutters (FRC) last week, and I saw that the water tight  doors were non-standard. Why would we do that? How can we maintain and support  them?”

I do note that despite the Master Chief’s response, the specs for the Offshore Patrol Cutter do call out a particular brand of water tight doors.

Photo: USS Farragut (DDG-99), US Navy photograph

CNN is reporting that the USS Farragut working with the Yemeni Coast Guard has intercepted a large shipment of illegal weapons, including surface to air missiles.

Seems I remember a similar find resulted in Coast Guard 82 footers being sent to Vietnam. Of course we had troops in Vietnam at the time. The Coast Guards Foreign Military Sales program has already provided the Yemeni Coast Guard with two 87 foot Marine Protector Class Cutters with augmented weapons. But that is awfully thin coverage for a coast line similar in length to that of South Vietnam.