Glen-class tug (1975)

The Glen-class tug is a class of naval tugboat operated by the Royal Canadian Navy. Constructed in Canada, the class entered service between 1975 and 1977. The five vessels that comprise the class are split between the two major naval bases of the Royal Canadian Navy. The Royal Canadian Navy operated a fleet of tugboats during the Second World War which were also named the Glen class. The vessels of the current Glen class are each named after one of the vessels of the earlier class.

For other ships with the same name, see Glen-class tug (1943).
Glendale and Glendyne at CFB Esquimalt with Fisgard Lighthouse in background
Class overview
Name: Glen class
Builders:
Operators:  Royal Canadian Navy
Built: 1975–1977
In commission: 1975–present
Completed: 5
Active: 5
General characteristics as built
Type: Yard tractor tugs
Displacement: 255 long tons (259 t)
Length: 28.2 m (92 ft 6 in)
Beam: 8.5 m (27 ft 11 in)
Draught: 4.4 m (14 ft 5 in)
Propulsion:
Speed: 11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)
Complement: 6

Description

The Glen class is a series of five yard tractor tugboats designed for coastal/harbour use in Canada's major naval bases. The vessels have a standard displacement of 255 long tons (259 t). As built they are 28.2 metres (92 ft 6 in) long with a beam of 8.5 metres (27 ft 11 in) and a draught of 4.4 metres (14 ft 5 in).[1] They are propelled by two Voith Schneider cycloidal propellers turned by two Ruston-Paxman diesel engines rated at 1,300 horsepower (969 kW).[1] This gives them a maximum speed of 11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph). They initially had a complement of six officers and ratings.[1]

Ships

The five vessels are divided between the two fleets of the Royal Canadian Navy, with three assigned to Maritime Forces Atlantic, based at CFB Halifax and two assigned to Maritime Forces Pacific, homeported at CFB Esquimalt.[2]

Glen class[1]
Name Hull no. Builder Commissioned Homeport Status
Glendyne YTB 640 Yarrow Shipyard, Esquimalt, British Columbia 1975 CFB Esquimalt In service
Glendale YTB 641 Yarrows, Esquimalt, British Columbia 1975 CFB Esquimalt In service
Glenevis YTB 642 Georgetown Shipyard, Georgetown, Prince Edward Island 1976 CFB Halifax In service
Glenbrook YTB 643 Georgetown Shipyard, Georgetown, Prince Edward Island 16 December 1976 CFB Halifax In service
Glenside YTB 644 Georgetown Shipyard, Georgetown, Prince Edward Island 1977 CFB Halifax In service

While the Glen-class tugs are equipped for firefighting, the Canadian Forces maintained a pair of dedicated Fire-class fireboats, the 140-ton Firebrand and Firebird, one each in each port.[3] The crews of the fireboats are cross-trained and able to crew a Glen-class vessel in emergencies. However, Firebird on the east coast was taken out of service and prepared for disposal.[4]

Replacements

On 4 December 2012 the Department of National Defence published an enquiry for Canadian shipbuilders interested in building replacements for the Glen-class tugs¸and Fire-class fireboats.[5][6] A single class would replace both the tugs and the fireboats, and would be operated by civilian crews. The replacement vessels would have water cannons that could be controlled remotely, by a single individual. The replacement vessels would have bollard pull of 40 tons. The replacement vessels would be limited to 33 metres (108 ft 3 in) or less, and limited to a draught of 6 metres (19 ft 8 in) or less. Since their intended role would be harbour duties, they would have limited range and crew berthing capacity.

On 29 April 2019 the Government of Canada announced Ocean Industries of Isle-aux-Coudres, Quebec was awarded the contract to build four tow-tug / rescue vessels to replace both the Fire-class fireboat/tractor tugs and Glen-class yard tugs with delivery expected from 2021 to 2023.[7]

See also

References
  1. Moore 1980, p. 81.
  2. "Canadian Forces Small Ships — the Glen class YTB Tractor Tug". Canadian American Strategic Review. Archived from the original on 2 March 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2008.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. "Canadian Forces Small Ships — the Fire class YTR Rescue Boats". Canadian American Strategic Review. Archived from the original on 2 March 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2008.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. vanKampen, Stephanie (10 December 2014). "Royal Canadian Navy cuts fire service in Halifax Harbour". CBC News. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  5. "Future CF Harbour Tugs – The Naval Large Tug Construction Project: Replacing the CF Glen and Fire Class Large Tugs – MERX P&A Notice". Canadian American Strategic Review. 4 December 2012. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012.
  6. "Future CF Harbour Tugs – The Naval Large Tug Construction Project". Canadian American Strategic Review. August 2013. Archived from the original on 6 August 2013. Note that the Naval Large Tug Construction Project is not part of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy. Under Section 10 of the NSPS Umbrella Agreement, ships displacing less than 1,000 tonnes must go to competition outside NSPS-contracted shipyards. That was meant to spread the Federal spending among the smaller yards. That sounds good but DND wants all six Naval Large Tugs to be built by a single yard. So much for spreading it around.
  7. Pugliese, David (29 April 2019). "Ocean Industries to build four tugs for the Royal Canadian Navy". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019. The firm from Isle‑aux-Coudres, Quebec, was awarded the contract for $102 million under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. The new tugs will provide towing, firefighting and other critical support services to the Royal Canadian Navy. They will replace the navy’s five civilian-crewed Glen-class large tugs and two Fire-class rescue boats.

References
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