RCN Imagery of 2020

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic curtailed my daily walk to work for much of 2020, and I didn't go into the office at all during the period of mid-March to mid-September. This greatly reduced my opportunities for photographing the ships of the Royal Canadian Navy in Halifax Harbour, as I didn't get my daily ferry ride. Nevertheless, I did manage to capture some of the comings and goings.

Two RCN ships are currently painted in Second World War camouflage schemes, including REGINA on the West Coast and MONCTON on the East Coast (pictured below).

Early in 2020, TORONTO was up on the Syncrolift for maintenance, and I took the opportunity to capture the ship in a variety of lighting conditions.

The depths of winter are usually favourable to capture sea smoke, and fortunately I caught at least one instance before I stopped travelling into the office. Below, M/V Asterix is seen at the new jetty intended for the Harry Dewolf-class ships.

HARRY DEWOLF herself started the year still alongside at Halifax Shipyard, but went on to pass a number of key milestones during 2020 in advance of her formal commissioning in 2021.

SUMMERSIDE underway before lockdown.

In June, SACKVILLE made an assisted sailpast of the waterfront, dressed overall in signal flags. Although not open to visitors, SACKVILLE went alongside in her customary berth on the waterfront near the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, and staff were available to interpret the ship from the shore. In addition, the ship went into refit in the autumn.

HARRY DEWOLF underwent sea trials over the summer in advance of being delivered to the Navy.

The RCAF's Cyclone helicopters resumed flying operations after the tragic crash in the Ionian Sea in April.

At the end of July, HMCS TORONTO departed Halifax to relieve FREDERICTON on NATO duty in Europe.

A few days later, FREDERICTON herself was led into Halifax by Bluenose II and HMCS ORIOLE.

HARRY DEWOLF was handed over to the Navy, and began the Navy's own set of sea trials. 

In September, with her mast already removed in advance of her upcoming refit, SACKVILLE hosted the committal ceremony for a number of veterans, including Sub-Lt. Abbigail Cowbrough (a victim of the April 2020 Cyclone crash) and the ship's own former CO, Jim Reddy.

Asterix returning to port:

Usually alongside at the dedicated AOPV jetty, I took the opportunity to get this shot of HARRY DEWOLF amidst the other ships in Dockyard on November 11th. 

Earlier trials presumably having gone well, HARRY DEWOLF ventured further afield and rounded Newfoundland, before I caught her on her return to Halifax.

I was lucky to capture FREDERICTON hoisting anchor and heading out of Halifax one day in early December.

After 193 days deployed, TORONTO returned to Halifax two days before Christmas. 

Most of these images, and more, can be found on my Smugmug website.

Starting in September, SACKVILLE entered a refit period at HMC Dockyard after being lifted out of the water on the Syncrolift, and being moved into the Submarine Maintenance Shed.

The current refit is seeing the existing hull plating recladded with new 1/4" steel plating below the waterline.

The refit is expected to last until April 2021, and it is expected that the recladding will buy the ship another 10 years while fundraising proceeds for future work that is required to reskin the entire hull below the waterline with new plating. The refit is being documented in photos here.