TSAMTO, October 19. The Canadian Coast Guard has announced the acceptance of the third medium icebreaker, which has been repaired and refitted at the Chantier Davie enterprise in Levi (prov. Quebec) as part of the third component of the National Shipbuilding Strategy.
The vessel "Vincent Massey" has arrived at the home port of Quebec City (Quebec) to prepare for the upcoming icebreaking season. The vessel joins a fleet of medium-sized icebreakers that ensure the safety and accessibility of the waterways of Eastern Canada during the winter months.
According to TSAMTO, in accordance with the contract signed on August 10, 2018, the Chantier Davie company located in Quebec had to purchase three civilian icebreakers on the commercial market and refit them according to the requirements of the Canadian Coast Guard to eliminate the acute shortage of platforms of this type. The vessels will be used by the Coast Guard until the completion of the construction of new icebreaking vessels.
In preparation for operation, all three vessels underwent repairs and re-equipment at the Chantier Davie enterprise.
The new icebreakers will provide icebreaking operations on important waterways: the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes region in winter and will be used in the Arctic regions of Canada for supply in summer. In addition to icebreaking operations, the vessels will participate in other Coast Guard tasks, including search and rescue operations and environmental protection.
Initially it was reported that the value of the contract signed in August with Chantier Davie is 610 million kanad. However, judging by the latest report, the delivery of three icebreakers cost 912.5 million kanad. USD. The increase is explained by the fact that the first amount included only the initial costs for the purchase of three ships built in Norway in the early 2000s and the conversion of the first of them for commissioning at the end of 2018.
The lead of the three icebreakers acquired, Captain Molly Cool, was handed over to the Coast Guard on December 14, 2018. The second vessel, the Gene Goodwill, was delivered to the Coast Guard in November 2020.
The length of the icebreakers is 93.7 m, width – 18 m, cruising speed – 12 knots, maximum speed – 16 knots. Icebreakers can maintain a speed of 3 knots in ice up to 1 m thick.
