Author: Christine

On July 31, 2020 at CFB Halifax dockyard, HMCS Harry DeWolf Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) was officially delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN).

HMCS Harry DeWolf, named for Canadian wartime naval hero Vice-Admiral Harry DeWolf, is the first ship built for the Royal Canadian Navy under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) and is the lead vessel of a new class of Arctic and offshore patrol ships.

As the prime contractor for the original Design, Engineering, Logistics and Management Support (DELMS) services contract, BMT assisted Canada’s AOPS Program Management Office (PMO) in the project Definition Phase and assembled a Canadian-led design team that comprised Canada’s foremost Arctic marine designers.

BMT’s extensive background in ship design was complemented by a skilled team of specialists from Vard Marine, with extensive experience in the design and construction of ice breakers and patrol vessels.  This team delivered a class design package for the AOPS and a ship specification which formed the basis for the AOPS contract with Irving Shipbuilding Inc.

Designed to patrol Canadian waters, this new class of ship is at the core of an enhanced Arctic presence for the RCN that will add to the country’s fleet of current and future ships in performing critical reconnaissance and surveillance.

The Harry DeWolf-class patrol ships will be capable of operating in challenging Arctic ice conditions, giving the RCN unescorted access to waters that were previously inaccessible to naval vessels.  Upon commissioning, Harry DeWolf will be able to participate in international operations such as anti-smuggling and anti-piracy, as well as providing support for Search and Rescue (SAR), emergency / disaster response and humanitarian missions.

Upon delivery of Harry DeWolf, Wade Carson CEO of Vard Marine said:

“Vard Marine congratulates the Royal Canadian Navy on the acquisition of a capable and versatile vessel. As the lead naval architect on the AOPV program over a decade ago, I had the opportunity to be a part of the skilled Vard Marine and BMT team, working with the Project Team, in taking the design from a set of requirements, on to several concepts, and through the Class design stage. The HMCS Harry DeWolf represents the successful collaboration of Canadian industry to deliver a novel and flexible ship that will serve her crew and country well for decades to come. The Vard Marine team is proud to be a part of reinvigorating the Canadian shipbuilding industry through the AOPV program and the Canadian National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS).

“It’s incredibly gratifying to see the Harry DeWolf move from design to sea-trials and acceptance.  We are proud of the work of this team in the development of an important asset for the RCN” said Darcy Byrtus, President of BMT in Canada.  “By leveraging Canadian-led talent, this project confirms the extraordinary expertise to be found in-country and underscores our ability to successfully manage and execute on some of the most complex engineering programs in the world.”

Harry DeWolf will remain docked at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Halifax while the Navy conducts post-acceptance trials to verify major ship systems and overall performance while providing an opportunity for the Navy to conduct crew training.  Once the training and post-acceptance work is complete, the ship will undergo a formal commissioning ceremony (summer 2021) and officially enter active service.

For Vard Marine, the health and well-being of our staff and customers is our top priority and we are constantly reviewing the situation as it evolves to determine our actions.  In response to the COVID 19 pandemic, Vard Marine has implemented a work from home policy for all employees commencing today, March 18^th, 2020 and will remain in effect until April 6^th as a minimum.  The ability for our staff to effectively telework has been available since last year and therefore the systems and related infrastructure are already in place and we expect to see only a very minor impact on the ability to maintain our engineering activities.   Rest assured that any inquiry will be handled in a timely manner.

We fully expect to continue business as effectively and efficiently as possible through the duration of this period. We are technically prepared for this scenario and remain in close contact with all our clients – we are confident we can maintain close to full business continuity.

Please all take the necessary precautions against the virus and stay safe.

-Dave McMillan – CEO/President Vard Marine Inc.

Vard Marine Inc. has been contracted to complete the basic class design package of a new generation of Siemens powered SeaFloat power barges to support New York’s Gowanus Repowering Project.  Working under the guidance of Stantec, the project’s engineer of record, Vard Marine will supply the barge arrangements, structural design package, marine engineering and naval architecture for the project.

Vard Marine’s Houston Vice President, Darren Truelock, said, “We are very pleased to be partnered with Stantec and Siemens in such an important initiative that reduces potential emissions in New York City and provides peaking power to the city and state.”

The two barges will be equipped with eight Siemens SGT-A65 Aeroderivative gas turbines and will replace the four older barges currently operating in the Gowanus Generating Station in Brooklyn, New York City. They will have a generation capacity of approximately 300 megawatts (MW) each.

Vard Marine’s current portfolio of floating power plants span from 40 MW to 220 MW units of both diesel and gas turbine power generation.

“We are proud to partake in the city’s strategy to leave a greener footprint and are excited to see the environmental impact the two barges will have,” Truelock further stated.