CCGS Cape Hurd

CCGS Cape Hurd is a 21.4-metre (70 ft) mid-shore patrol vessel formerly serving with the Canadian Coast Guard and last stationed in Sarnia, Ontario.[1] The vessel is classed for inland waters (Great Lakes) with no ice-class. It now serves as a fireboat in Toronto.

ex-CCGS Cape Hurd berthed in Toronto
History
Canada
Name:
  • Cape Hurd
  • William Thornton
Operator:
Builder: Breton Industries Limited, Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia
Yard number: 800748
Launched: 1982
Christened: 1982
Completed: 1982
Acquired: 1982
Commissioned: 1982
Recommissioned: 2015 with Toronto Fire Services
Decommissioned: 2015 from CGS
In service: 1982–present
Stricken: 2015
Homeport:
Identification:
Fate: Transferred as reserve ship for the Toronto Fire Services
Status: Retired from CCG in 2015 and active service with TFS since 2015
General characteristics
Type: Inland waters patrol boat / utility fireboat
Tonnage: 55 gross tons
Length: 21.4 m (70 ft 3 in)
Beam: 5.5 m (18 ft 1 in)
Draft: 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in)
Propulsion: 2 MTU 8V396 Diesel engines
Speed: 18 knots (33 km/h)
Range: 1,400 nautical miles (2,600 km)
Endurance: 2 days
Complement: 4

History

Cape Hurd was built by the now defunct Breton Industries Limited in Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia and delivered to the CCG in 1982. The ship was decommissioned by the Coast Guard and acquired by the Toronto Fire Services The ship entered service as William Thornton, named for William Thornton, the first Toronto fire fighter to die on duty. The ship replaced Sora, another ex-Coast Guard vessel. William Thornton is berthed at Station 334 along Queens Quay.[2]

The vessel offers more capability than Sora as backup to the main fireboat William Lyon Mackenzie,[2] but it does not have ice-breaking capabilities and removed from the waters during the winter. The vessel is equipped with a small crane and can launch a RHIB from the rear of the vessel. Upgrades were performed before it entered service with the TFS.

See also

Other utility ships in CCG:

  • CCGS Isle Rouge - sister ship to Cape Hurd built in 1980 by same builder and sold by CCG
  • CCGS Louisbourg - a large mid shore vessel built at same shipbuilder as Cape Hurd in 1977

References
  1. Canadian Coast Guard. "CCGS Cape Hurd". Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  2. "T.O. fireboat to be named after 1st fallen firefighter". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2017-02-12.
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