Martha L. Black-class icebreaker

The Martha L. Black-class icebreakers are a class of six light icebreaker and buoy tenders constructed for and operated by the Canadian Coast Guard. Built in the 1980s, the class operates on both coasts of Canada and have been used for operations in the Arctic region, including the search for the ships of Franklin's lost expedition. They are rated as "high endurance multi-tasked vessels" under Canadian Coast Guard naming rules.

Name ship of the class Martha L. Black entering the port of Rimouski
Class overview
Name: Martha L. Black class
Builders: Various
Operators:  Canadian Coast Guard
Built: 1985–1986
In service: 1986–present
Completed: 6
Active: 6
General characteristics for George R. Pearkes
Type: Light icebreaker and buoy tender
Tonnage:
  • 3,809.1 GT
  • 1,517.3 NT
Displacement: 4,662 long tons (4,737 t) full load
Length: 83 m (272 ft 4 in)
Beam: 16.2 m (53 ft 2 in)
Draught: 6 m (19 ft 8 in)
Ice class: Arctic Class 2
Installed power: 3 × Alco 251F-16V
Propulsion: Diesel electric
Speed: 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Range: 14,500 nmi (26,900 km) at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Endurance: 150 days
Boats & landing
craft carried:		 1 × self-propelled barge
Complement: 25
Aircraft carried: 1 × light helicopter
Aviation facilities: Hangar and flight deck

Design and description

All vessels in the class displace 4,662 long tons (4,737 t) fully loaded and are 83.0 metres (272 ft 4 in) long overall with a beam of 16.2 metres (53 ft 2 in) and a draught of 5.8 metres (19 ft 0 in).[1][2] The vessels have varying commercial tonnages; George R. Pearkes has a 3,809.1 gross tonnage (GT) and a 1,517.3 net tonnage (NT);[3] Martha L. Black has a gross tonnage of 3818.1 and a net tonnage of 1529.4;[4] Sir Wilfrid Laurier has a gross tonnage of 3812.1 and a net tonnage of 1533.6;[5] Ann Harvey has a gross tonnage of 3823 and a net tonnage of 1528;[6] Sir William Alexander and Edward Cornwallis have a gross tonnage of 3727.2 and a net tonnage of 1503.0.[7][8]

The vessels are powered by is propelled by two fixed pitch propellers and bow thrusters powered by three Alco 251F diesel-electric engines creating 8,847 horsepower (6,597 kW) and three Canadian GE generators producing 6 megawatts of AC power driving two Canadian GE motors creating 7,040 horsepower (5,250 kW).[1][3] The ships are also equipped with one Caterpillar 3306 emergency generator. The speed of the vessels ranges from 15 to 16.5 knots (27.8 to 30.6 km/h; 17.3 to 19.0 mph).[3][6] The vessels have varying diesel fuel capacity, ranging from Ann Harvey at 780 long tons (790 t) to George R. Pearkes and Martha L. Black at 1,086 long tons (1,103 t).[3][4][6] The range of the vessels, based on speed and fuel capacity, is varied. The ships are certified as Arctic Class 2.[3][8]

The icebreakers are equipped with one Racal Decca Bridgemaster navigational radar operating on the I band.[1] Sir William Alexander and Edward Cornwallis have one less deck in the superstructure.[2] The ships are equipped with a flight deck and a hangar that can house two light helicopters of the MBB Bo 105 or Bell 206L types.[3] However, the vessels are only allotted one helicopter.[1][3] Deck equipment varies between the ships, with some equipped with speedcranes capable of lifting up to 20 long tons (20 t) and a 980 m3 (35,000 cu ft) cargo hold.[1][9] Some vessels carry a self-propelled barge.[9] Ship's complements range from 25–27, with 10 officers and 15–17 crew. Additional berths range from 9 to 26 additional berths.[5][8]

Ships in class
Sir Wilfrid Laurier in Cambridge Bay prior to departing to search for Franklin's lost expedition
Martha L. Black class
Name Builder Launched In service Status
Martha L. Black Versatile Pacific Shipyards Limited, North Vancouver, British Columbia 6 September 1985 30 April 1986 Active in service
George R. Pearkes 30 November 1985 17 April 1986 Active in service
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Canadian Shipbuilding, Collingwood, Ontario 6 December 1985 15 November 1986 Active in service
Edward Cornwallis Marine Industries, Tracy, Quebec 24 February 1986 14 August 1986 Active in service
Sir William Alexander 23 October 1986 13 February 1987 Active in service
Ann Harvey Halifax Dartmouth Industries, Halifax, Nova Scotia 12 December 1985 29 June 1987 Active in service

Operational history

The ships in the class all entered service in 1986–1987.[2] The Canadian Coast Guard classifies all the ships in the class as "high endurance multi-tasked vessels" within their classification system.[10] Martha L. Black and George R. Pearkes were assigned to the Western Region, based at Victoria, British Columbia. Sir Wilfrid Laurier was initially assigned to the Laurentian Region, home ported at Quebec City, Quebec. Ann Harvey was assigned to Newfoundland Region, based at St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador and Edward Cornwallis and Sir William Alexander were assigned to the Maritimes Region, based at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Martha L. Black and Sir Wilfrid Laurier swapped places, while George R. Pearkes was reassigned first to Quebec City then to St. John's in 2004.[2][3]

The vessels are used for buoy placement, retrieval and monitoring, scientific research, construction programs, search and rescue, icebreaking, and pollution control.[9] They have been deployed on special missions, such as the 2005 operation to Louisiana by Sir William Alexander as part of Canada's aid to the United States following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina.[11] Sir Wilfrid Laurier deployed in 2014 as part of the search for John Franklin's ships, Erebus and Terror, during the Victoria Strait Expedition. Erebus was found during the search.[12][13]

On 17 December 2007, Edward Cornwallis was dispatched to recover the 140-metre (459 ft 4 in) barge Houston carrying diesel fuel that had cast adrift in St. George's Bay near Port Hood, Nova Scotia. Facing 70 km/h (43 mph) winds and 5-metre (16 ft) waves, members of the crew boarded the barge. They rescued the crew and kept the barge from going aground until a tugboat arrived on 19 December. Five members of the crew were later awarded medals for their efforts.[14] Sir William Alexander was involved in a fatal towing incident involving the fishing vessel L'Acadien II during the 2008 Canadian commercial seal hunt.[15]

On 1 April 2015, Ann Harvey ran aground 5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) southwest of Burgeo, Newfoundland and Labrador. The ship had been performing work on buoys when she hit bottom. A hole was torn in the hull and as she pulled back off the rocks, water flooded the motor propulsion room.[16] The ship lost power and was towed to Connaigre Bay where temporary repairs were made. Ann Harvey was then towed to St. John's to undergo further repairs and refit.[17][18] In March 2016, Canadian Coast Guard trials with the Schiebel Camcopter S-100 took place aboard George R. Pearkes off the Atlantic coast of Canada.[19]

References

Citations
  1. Saunders, p. 95
  2. Maginley and Collin, pp. 177–78
  3. "CCG Fleet: Vessel Details – George R. Pearkes". Canadian Coast Guard. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  4. "CCG Fleet: Vessel Details – Martha L. Black". Canadian Coast Guard. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  5. "CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier". Canadian Coast Guard. 4 February 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  6. "CCG Fleet: Vessel Details – Ann Harvey". Canadian Coast Guard. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  7. "CCG Fleet: Vessel Details – Sir William Alexander". Canadian Coast Guard. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  8. "CCG Fleet: Vessel Details – Edward Cornwallis". Canadian Coast Guard. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  9. "CCGS George R. Pearkes". Canadian Coast Guard. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  10. "Fleet of the Canadian Coast Guard". Canadian Coast Guard. Archived from the original on 21 December 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  11. Tracy, p. 282
  12. Rennie, Steve (9 September 2014). "Franklin expedition ship found, PMO says". National Post. Canadian Press. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  13. "Lost Franklin expedition ship found in the Arctic". CBC News. 9 September 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  14. Bresge, Adina (12 July 2016). "Coast Guard crew honoured for 'nick of time' heroics that prevented catastrophe". CTV News. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  15. "Report on the Events Related to the Capsizing and Sinking of L'ACADIEN II off the Coast of Cape Breton – 28 and 29 March 2008". Canadian Coast Guard. 2013. Archived from the original on 1 October 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
  16. "Coast guard vessel Ann Harvey hits sea bottom". CBC News. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  17. "Coast guard ship Ann Harvey anchored near Burgeo after striking bottom". CBC News. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  18. Nakonechny, Simon (6 July 2016). "Coast Guard ship Ann Harvey sidelined until at least 2017". CBC News. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  19. Jean, Grace (21 April 2016). "Schiebel's Camcopter supports Canadian Coast Guard's icebreaking operations in trials". janes.com. Retrieved 3 December 2016.

Sources
  • Maginley, Charles D.; Collin, Bernard (2001). The Ships of Canada's Marine Services. St. Catharines, Ontario: Vanwell Publishing Limited. ISBN 1-55125-070-5.
  • Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2004). Jane's Fighting Ships 2004–2005. Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-2623-1.
  • Tracy, Nicholas (2012). A Two-Edged Sword: The Navy as an Instrument of Canadian Foreign Policy. Montreal, Quebec and Kingston, Ontario: McGill-Queens University Press. ISBN 978-0-7735-4051-4.
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