CCGS John Cabot begins sea trials in record time since launch

The future Coast Guard vessel the CCGS John Cabot cruised out of English Bay in Vancouver to begin sea trials on August 18th, marking another major milestone for this third Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel (OFSV) built by Seaspan Shipyards under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS).

The future CCGS John Cabot begins sea trials just six weeks after its official launch on July 3 at Seaspan’s North Vancouver shipyard.

Seaspan said that the time span between launch and sea trials is considered best-in-class in the shipbuilding industry and echoes the ship’s 97% complete status at launch.

Over the next ten days the ship will be put through its paces during rigorous full-scale exercises where specialists from Seaspan Shipyards, representatives from the Coast Guard and key equipment suppliers will conduct a series of performance and seaworthiness tests.

The tests ensure that the ship operates as designed and that all systems – including mechanical, electrical, hydraulics, fishing and laboratory, communications, navigation, as well as fire and safety systems – are fully operational.

On completion of sea trials, the future CCGS John Cabot will be prepared for an anticipated delivery to the Canadian Coast Guard in September before sailing to her home port St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador where she will take her place in the Coast Guard fleet alongside sister ships CCGS Sir John Franklin and CCGS Capt Jacques Cartier.

“Moving from launch to sea trials in record time, particularly during a global pandemic, is a testament to the incredible talent and determination of the Seaspan Shipyards team, and intense collaboration and teamwork from our supply chain partners and the Canadian Coast Guard,” says Mark Lamarre, Chief Executive Officer, Seaspan Shipyards.

The CCGS John Cabot measures 63.4 meters and is fully equipped to support Fisheries and Oceans scientists in the collection and analysis of data on Canada’s marine ecosystems and the impacts of climate change.

The floating laboratory, like her sister ships, features a deployable sensor-laden drop keel, high-tech fishing trawls and four science labs — a wet lab, a dry lab, an ocean lab and a control lab.

The OFSVs, although primarily focused on science and research, also have the capability to support search and rescue, and environmental response and operations as required.