Final Voyage of CCGS Hudson

Commissioned in 1964 as Canadian Survey Ship (CSS) Hudson, she was the first dedicated hydrographic and oceanographic vessel built for Canada and served the Canadian Oceanographic Service until 1996 when she was transferred to the Canadian Coast Guard fleet to become CCGS Hudson. I have photographed this ship many times over the last 25 or so years.

Hudson transiting the narrows of Halifax Harbour at sunrise in March 2007.

A scan from film, probably in either the late 1990s or early 2000s.

Hudson returning from sea in April 2016.

Hudson in July 2021, fresh out of refit and looking like new.

Despite a recent refit that was intended to extend the ship's life until replacements could come online later in this decade, one of the ship's two electric motors that drive the ship suffered a catastrophic failure and has been deemed not worth repairing. The ship will therefore be retired and returned from St. John's, NL, to Halifax on her one remaining motor on what was her final voyage under her own power.

I managed to catch her return from the Macdonald Bridge this past Monday, January 24. She was escorted for at least a portion of her voyage by CCGS Sir William Alexander, who preceded Hudson and saluted the latter using her firefighting monitors, and the lifeboat Sambro and an inflatable also escorted her into the harbour.

 

Sir William Alexander showing off her firefighting monitors.

The first view of Hudson from the bridge.

Sir William Alexander leading Hudson.

Sir William Alexander leading Hudson.

CCGS Sir William Alexander.

Hudson with the escorting RHIB and lifeboat.

Hudson about to pass under the bridge.

Lifeboat Sambro.

With Hudson now gone, the Canadian Coast Guard will have a large gap in their research fleet until her replacement comes online.

For more coverage of Hudson's return, see Mac Mackay's Shipfax blog.

Aerial views of HMCS SACKVILLE in refit

HMCS SACKVILLE's current refit is still ongoing, and the Dockyard's submarine maintenance shed provides some interesting views of the ship from above. The usual views from the mezzanine look like this:

There is also a higher platform (that is not always accessible) that is used to access the overhead cranes, which provides an aerial perspective of the ship:

This seemed like an interesting position to have Gary Reddy, the ship's Commanding Officer, pose for a photo. 

The ship is a bit messy, being in the middle of this refit, and we are hoping to get a second set of photos from this position when the refit is completed (and the decks a little tidier).

The refit is progressing well, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and about 25% of the hull plating has been cladded with new steel plating to date.