Orca class training vessel
Encyclopedia
The Orca class is a ship class of eight steel-hulled Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
training vessels. Based on the Australian-designed Pacific-class patrol boat, the Orca class was constructed by Victoria Shipyards between November 2004 and November 2008, at a total project cost of C$90.7 million. All are in service at CFB Esquimalt
CFB Esquimalt
Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt is Canada's Pacific Coast naval base and home port to Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific Headquarters....
in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. They replaced the YAG 300 class and operate as training platforms and surveillance craft.
Design and construction
During the early 2000s, MARCOM began searching for a replacement for the 1950s-era wooden-hulled YAG 300 class used to train personnel. Training aboard these outdated vessels while useful became less relevant as MARCOM moved to initial training aboard modern land-based simulators for training officers which more accurately replicated the conditions aboard the Kingston class patrol boats and HalifaxHalifax class frigate
The Halifax-class frigate is a class of multi-role patrol frigates that have served the Royal Canadian Navy since 1992...
class frigate. On 8 November 2004, the Department of National Defence announced a C$
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
69.7 million contract for six new ships, with an option for two more, for a total budget of C$90.7 million.
The Orca class ships are based on the Australian training vessel Seahorse Mercator
Seahorse Mercator
Seahose Mercator is a navigational training vessel operated by Defence Maritime Services under contract to the Royal Australian Navy . She is a modified version of the Pacific class patrol boat design and is based at HMAS Waterhen at Sydney. Seahorse Mercator is fitted with an extensive suite of...
, itself a derivative of the Australian-designed Pacific class patrol boat
Pacific class patrol boat
The Pacific class is a class of 22 patrol boats built by Australia and donated to twelve South Pacific countries. Constructed from 1985 to 1997 and operated by militaries, coast guards or police forces of the twelve island nations, these boats are supported by the Pacific Patrol Boat Program...
. Each ship has a displacement of 210 tonnes, is 33 metres (108.3 ft) long, has a beam of 8.34 metres (27.4 ft), and a draught of 2.6 metres (8.5 ft). To meet the training requirement, the Orcas are fitted with a larger-than-normal bridge and carry warship-grade navigational equipment.
The Orcas are capable of 20 knots (10.9 m/s), and have an endurance of 660 nautical miles (1,222.3 km) at 15 knots (8.2 m/s). Propulsion is provided by two Caterpillar
Caterpillar Inc.
Caterpillar Inc. , also known as "CAT", designs, manufactures, markets and sells machinery and engines and sells financial products and insurance to customers via a worldwide dealer network. Caterpillar is the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas...
3516B marine diesel engines, each rated for 2,500 horsepower at 1,600 revolutions per minute.
Each ship can be operated by a crew of four. Accommodation consists of two two-bunk cabins for the crew (Captain, Executive Officer, Bos'n
Boatswain
A boatswain , bo's'n, bos'n, or bosun is an unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The boatswain supervises the other unlicensed members of the ship's deck department, and typically is not a watchstander, except on vessels with small crews...
, Engineer) and four or six-bunk cabins for 20 instructors and trainees for a total of 24 bunks.
The eight vessels were constructed by Victoria Shipyards at Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
. The first ship in the class, Orca, was laid down in September 2005, launched in August 2006, and delivered to MARCOM in November 2006. Delivery of subsequent vessels was set to occur every three months. The project was completed when the eighth vessel, Moose, was delivered on 27 November 2008. The Orcas are not commissioned into service, so do not carry the HMCS
HMCS
HMCS may refer to:* Her Majesty's Courts Service* Her Majesty's Canadian Ship* Her Majesty's Colonial Ship, see Her Majesty's Ship* HMC Investment Securities* Hazardous Material Control System...
ship prefix; instead, the prefix PCT (Patrol Craft Training) is carried.
Employment
The Orca class vessels are designated as "Patrol Craft Training". The craft are primarily used to facilitate the two-to-six-week long 'at sea' component of naval officer training. Their training capability is also extended to other naval personnel, and the Royal Canadian Sea CadetsRoyal Canadian Sea Cadets
Royal Canadian Sea Cadets is a Canadian national youth program sponsored by the Canadian Forces and the civilian Navy League of Canada. Administered by the Canadian Forces, the program is funded through the Department of National Defence with the civilian partner providing support in the local...
. Orcas are vessels of opportunity for surveillance and search and rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
. They are all located at CFB Esquimalt
CFB Esquimalt
Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt is Canada's Pacific Coast naval base and home port to Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific Headquarters....
.
Two vessels were temporarily fitted with .50-cal machine guns for port security
Port security
Port security refers to the defense, law and treaty enforcement, and counterterrorism activities that fall within the port and maritime domain...
during Op PODIUM. Op PODIUM was the Canadian Forces' support of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.