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.

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.

Boa Barge 37 alongside at the Halifax Shipyard, having arrived earlier this morning.

Boa Bison in the narrows of Halifax Harbour.

The future HMCS HARRY DEWOLFE under construction.

The future HMCS HARRY DEWOLFE sits on the hard, just north of the new assembly building.

The future HMCS HARRY DEWOLFE under construction last year.

Harry DeWolf rollout

There's already lots of photos online of the rolled out midships and stern sections of the future HMCS HARRY DEWOLF (AOPV 430), but what the heck, here's mine. Harry DeWolf is the first and name-ship of a new class of Arctic Offshore Patrol Vessel, or AOPV. Under the Naval Ship Procurement Strategy (NSPS), Halifax Shipyard is to build up to six of these ships.

The midships section (left) rolled out first. The stern section, shown here in the assembly building, was rolled out afterwards, and has since been mated (though not fully welded together) to the midships section.

The stair tower on the left is used by workers to access the hull.

The hull sections sit on a series of cradles which are picked up by wheeled transporters and moved to the land level transfer facility, where the hull sections are joined.

The bow section has not been completed yet, and will be joined when it arrives.

When you are shooting photos through a chain link fence, you don't always get your choice of viewing angles.

The stern section was still sitting in the assembly building on Saturday morning.

This is the first, and so far only, class of Royal Canadian Navy ships to be named after people. Harry Dewolf joined the RCN in 1918 and served in the Second World War, most notably as the first commander of HMCS HAIDA.

HMCS TORONTO leaves Halifax Shipyard graving dock

As of Friday morning, HMCS TORONTO was still in the Halifax Shipyard graving dock undergoing her FELEX refit. 

TORONTO in the graving dock just prior to being floated out.

As of Tuesday morning, I noticed that she had left the graving dock and had been moved to the machine shop wharf as part of the next stage of the refit. 

TORONTO at the machine shop wharf.

As can be told by the amount of staging surrounding the superstructure, she has a ways to go before the refit is complete. TORONTO is the last ship on the east coast in the FELEX refit process. The previous ship, VILLE DE QUEBEC, appears to have just begun sea trials after the completion of her own refit. In February 2015, TORONTO was still alongside in the Dockyard, beginning the disassembly process prior to entering the shipyard. 

These refits are modernizing the weapons and sensor systems of the RCN's HALIFAX class frigates.

Nova Dock tow to Woodside

Photos from the Nova Dock tow by McKeil Marine tugs this afternoon. The dock was towed from Halifax Shipyard to Woodside by four tugs: Salvor in the lead, Tim McKeil and Lois M on the "port" side, and Beverly M1 on the "stern". It is not often that one sees such a large object under tow in the harbour, requiring this many tugs (and fairly large tugs at that).

Salvor

Beverly M1

Lois M and Beverly M1.

Lois M and Beverly M1 turning Nova Dock.

Tim McKeil, Lois M, and Beverly M1 turning Nova Dock 180 degrees.

Atlantic Condor also put in an appearance.