The brand new Canadian Coast Guard vessel Sir John Franklin crashed into Victoria’s breakwater on March 22, crumpling a side of its back-end. The 64-metre vessel, was heading into port when it banged into the wall, damaging it as well as the breakwater.
Specifically, the Franklin was returning from its first week of sea trials and being piloted by a contractor when it ran into the Ogden Point breakwater, reported Seaspan Shipyards vice-president Tim Page.
Brian Cant, manager of communications and marketing for the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority commented
It is fairly unprecedented that it would happen. Out of an abundance of caution, we have a dive team looking at the structure on Monday or Tuesday.
While small chunks of concrete were seen at the area of the incident, Cant notes an above-water inspection shows the damage to the breakwater to be superficial.
No one was injured but an initial assessment by Seaspan found the Franklin’s propeller and rudder were damaged. The shipyard is working to determine the cause of the crash and whether it will further delay delivery of the vessel to the coast guard.
Sir John Franklin is the first of three new Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels (OFSV) being built in Canada by Seaspan as part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy.
The OFSV vessels, which contain wet and dry labs, will be the primary offshore fisheries science platforms for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, carrying out science research missions. The ships will aid in monitoring the health of fish stocks, the ocean environment, and understanding the impacts of climate change.
Launched in December 2017 to much fanfare, Sir John Franklin is still in the hands of Seaspan while builder’s trials are conducted. The ship was expected to be delivered to Canadian Coast Guard by end of June.
