Sandy's Ramblings: Launching Ships at Halifax Shipyard, and upcoming launch of HARRY DEWOLFE

When the Halifax Shipyard was modernized in recent years in support of the National Shipbuilding Strategy to allow it to construct the new Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) and Canadian Surface Combatants (CSC), the original launching ways were demolished and the construction sheds were reoriented such that vessels under construction would exit the buildings at the north end instead of the south as was the case previously.

Tugs belonging to Atlantic Towing Limited, another Irving company, line up in front of Atlantic Condor prior to the latter's launch from the old launching ways.

Atlantic Larch performs in front of Atlantic Condor, prior to launch.

The old launching ways were on the site where many ships were built previously, including the second group of four Tribal Class destroyers of the Royal Canadian Navy. Those ships were built right on the ways, and were launched stern first. Since the construction of the RCN's fleet of MCDVs, however, things changed slightly. The MCDVs were constructed in a shed further up the hill, and when complete were transferred out onto a "turntable" which transitioned the ships in both the horizontal and vertical so they could be sent down the launching ways. The turntable was upgraded several times over the years to accommodate larger ships, such as Atlantic Towings fleet of offshore support vessels - including Atlantic Condor.

Traditionally, ships tended to be launched stern-first in order to prevent damage to the ship's running gear (e.g. propellers and shafts) and rudders. Atlantic Condor and other recent vessels at Halifax Shipyard, however, launched bow first. As I recall, a protective cradle was welded to the ship's hull to prevent it from damaging this critical gear as the bow starts to float and the stern drops accordingly, and the cradle was removed after the launch. In addition, the Atlantic Condor at least was ballasted down by the bow significantly, so it is also possible that the ship simply floated off the ways on the level in the first place.

Prior to the launch, Atlantic Towing tugs (in this photo, Atlantic Oak) performed for the crowd.

Atlantic Condor heading down the launching ways.

Afloat now, Atlantic Condor can be seen to be heavily ballasted down by the bow.

Atlantic Condor heading alongside to complete her fitting out.

Now, however, ships are built within the new shed in modules which are transported outside to a "land level transfer facility" where the modules are joined. I believe this method is modeled at least in part on that which is used at Bath Iron Works in Maine, and in keeping with BIW, the completed ship is eventually to be transferred onto a semi-submersible drydock or barge in order to be launched. Until today, this last part of the puzzle was missing from the Halifax Shipyard, as the shipyard's two previous floating drydocks, Scotia Dock and Nova Dock, were both removed in recent years.

Tug Boa Odin nudges one half of the Nova Dock onto the semi-submersible barge Boa Barge 33.

A portion of the former Nova Dock being removed from Halifax Harbour on the deck of Boa Barge 33.

The second half of Nova Dock, destined for Florida, on the deck of Boa Barge 33.

Earlier today, Boa Barge 37 arrived in Halifax under tow by Boa Bison. When the future HMCS HARRY DEWOLFE, the first of the AOPS, is ready for launch, she will be transferred onto the deck of Boa Barge 37. The latter will be towed to a position deep enough (possibly in Bedford Basin, though the main harbour would be more convenient for this photographer - hint, hint) to submerge and allow HARRY DEWOLFE to float off.