Design and Construction
During the early 2000s, the Canadian Forces Maritime Command, (MARCOM) began searching for a replacement for the 1950s-era wooden-hulled YAG 300 class training tenders. Training aboard these outdated vessels while useful, was less relevant as MARCOM moved the initial training of ship operators to modern land-based simulators that more accurately replicated the conditions aboard the Navy's capital ships. On 8 November 2004, the Department of National Defence announced a C$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, itself a derivative of the Australian-designed Pacific class patrol boat. Each ship has a displacement of 210 tonnes, is 33 metres (108 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 (37 km/h; 23 mph), and have an endurance of 660 nautical miles (1,220 km; 760 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). Propulsion is provided by two Caterpillar 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 (Officer in Charge, Executive Officer, Bos'n, Engineer) and four or six-bunk cabins for 20 instructors and trainees for a total of 24 bunks.
The eight tenders were constructed by Victoria Shipyards at Victoria, British Columbia. 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 ship prefix; instead, the prefix PCT (Patrol Craft Training) is carried.
Read more about this topic: Orca Class Patrol Vessel
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