Mackay Marine preps for sea trials of Canada’s third OFSV

Mackay Marine’s Vancouver project manager, Ben Staggs, will be on board future CCGS John Cabot during sea trials.

Canada’s third Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel (OFSV), the future CCGS John Cabot, recently launched by Seaspan’s Vancouver shipyard, features a broad array of electronics integrated by Thales Canada, whose team includes Mackay Marine.

As a Tier-1 Partner to Seaspan Shipyards and as Electronic Systems Integrator for the OFSV vessels, Thales is responsible for the selection, procurement and integration of electronic systems and equipment, which includes radar, communications, bridge, and mission systems.

“Thales is pleased to have Mackay Marine as part of its electronic systems commissioning team for the future CCGS John Cabot,” said Jerry McLean, Vice President & Managing Director, Thales Canada – Defense & Security. “In light of the unprecedented circumstances surrounding COVID-19, Mackay Marine certainly stepped up to take on additional responsibilities to ensure that this vessel will be successfully delivered to the Canadian Coast Guard.”

Mackay Marine’s Vancouver project manager, Ben Staggs, along with service technicians Hamid Nayebi and Don Kamachi, have been engaged onboard OFSV3 since April.

The pillar of the impressive bridge electronics is the robust Raytheon Synapsis Integrated Navigation System, including 10-each Radar, ECDIS, & Conning Stations; requiring Mackay’s expertise to set-up, network, update software, and commission.

The team also integrated Anschütz gyros, Cassens Type 12 magnetic compass, Cobham’s Sailor FBB500 and GMDSS 6000 Series A3, SAAB AIS, and Olex Navigation & Charting System.

Scheduled to be onboard during sea trials, Mackay’s team will test and finalize commissioning of the Danelec DM100 VDR, Skipper DL2 speed logs, Skipper GDS101 depth sounder, LRIT, Raytheon NP5000 autopilot, and Wärtsilä NACOS DP Platinum dynamic positioning/thrusters.

Once sea trials are completed, the vessel will be prepared for delivery to the Coast Guard and will then sail to its home port in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. It will join in-service CCGS Capt. Jacques Cartier (OFSV2), stationed on the East Coast), and CCGS Sir John Franklin (OFSV1), stationed on the West Coast.

The missions of these ultra-high-tech research vessels will enable fisheries and oceanographic scientific research, marine ecosystem assessment, impacts of climate change, fishing and acoustic surveys, and more. These vessels can also support environmental response or search and rescue missions.