AOPS #2 the future HMCS Margaret Brooke was loaded onto the launching barge at the shipyard this afternoon. Based on the schedule of the first ship, the launch will occur in the basin tomorrow, though this is unconfirmed at this point.
UPDATE: Pilot order for the Move to the basin is for 13:00 Tomorrow. timing suggests the actual launch will be after dark tomorrow evening.
The Boa Barge 37 was spun around at the shipyard today, in preparation of launching AOPS #2. With 2 coasting trade applications, the barge can be used between Oct 17 and Dec 23. an extension was requested, as the original application ended on Nov 17. The SPMT Transporters are also on site, and assembled.
Finally, word is the future HMCS Harry DeWolf, will begin sea trials this Friday. the ABCO landing craft is also sitting on the pier. its a good looking boat.
HNLMS De Ruyter is a De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate of the Royal Netherlands Navy. She was commissioned in 2004 and is the Third of four ships of her class. Allion unsuccessfully bid the class for the CSC.
Dutch ships are infrequent visitors to halifax. I do not have a recollection of this class having a recent visit, though we have had vistis form one of the Royal Netherlands Navy’s Supply ships, 2 submarines, and HNLMS VAN SPEIJK took part in the most recent Cutlass Fury Exercise.
the ship is scheduled to move to pier 9 tomorrow afternoon, before sailing in the evening.
As part of Defsec Atlantic, Federal Fleet and Hepburn Engineering, the Toronto based company that supplied the RAS gear were offering tours of the ship at Pier 23.
The first arrivals for exercise cutlass fury showed up in Halifax Yesterday and Today.
HMS Northumberland is missing below, its tucked in out of the way at the moment. HDMS PETER WILLEMOES had not yet arrived.
Exercise Cutlass Fury is taking place September 9. The announcement has said 22 ships will take part.So Far, it appears NATO Standing maritime Group 1 will be in attendance. SNMG1 currently consists of:
– USS Gridley (American)
– BNS Leopold I (Belgium)
– NRP Francisco de Almeida (Portugal)
– KNM Thor Heyerdahl (Norway)
I am also hearing that the new Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth will be making an Appearance. It has in the past traveled with a Destroyer and Supply ship.
This post will be updated as i learn more details.
UPDATE 1. Marlant has confirmed Asterix will be participating via a tweet.
UPDATE 2. the Royal navy confirmed HMS Northumberland will be sailing to Halifax. the release also states that Northumberland is part of the QE Carrier strike group with HMS Dragon and RFA Tideforce.
UPDATE 3: Arrivals are beginning to be posted – On September 5th, HDMS PETER WILLEMOES (Danish),HNLMS VAN SPEIJK (Dutch) and HNOMS THOR HEYERDAHL (Norwegian) are due.
UPDATE 4: USNS PATUXENT and NRP FRANCISCO DE ALMEIDA also now confirmed.
UPDATE 5: A US navy Submarine is Due on the 4th. it is USS New Hampshire, Virginia class, fast attack . Other confirmed arrivals include USS GRIDLEY, USS JASON DUNHAM , and BNS LEOPOLD
UPDATE 6: HMS Queen Elizabeth will be in Halifax in this month. She is traveling with HMS Dragon, and RFA Tideforce
Defence watch reports HMC Ships Fredericton, Ville de Quebec, St. John’s, Shawinigan, and Glace Bay will be participating for Canada.
Incidentally – the previous reports mentions 22 Ships and 8 countries. So far we have:
Canada – 6 ( Fredericton, Ville de Quebec, St. John’s, Shawinigan, Glace Bay and Asterix)
US – 4 (USS GRIDLEY, USS JASON DUNHAM, USNS PATUXENT USS New Hampshire)
UK – 1 (HMS Northumberland)
Portual – 1 ( NRP FRANCISCO DE ALMEIDA)
Norway – 1 (HNOMS THOR HEYERDAHL )
Netherlands -1 (HNLMS VAN SPEIJK )
Denmark – 1 (HDMS PETER WILLEMOES)
France is likely a participant, and will probably send a Frigate and a Submarine as they did in 2016. Add the Leeway Odyssey we have 18 ships. The HMS Queen Elizabeth, RFA Tideforce and HMS Duncan bring us to 21 ships. the RN Carrier group also includes a Astute class Submarine.
UPDATE 7: the French anti-submarine frigate La Motte-Picquet was spotted working with HMS Queen Elizabeth and RFA Tideforce.
The Asterix returned to Halifax this morning, and anchored in the Basin for Asian Gypsy Moth Inspection. it will move to Jetty NN – which is the Bedford Magazine, and then finally tie up at Pier 9.
Asterix’s arrival completes a 502-day deployment involving a wide range of international naval exercises, real world operations and diplomatic visits throughout the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Pacific Ocean, South China Sea, Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf.
Since Federal Fleet Service’s Combat Support Ship departed Halifax on the 11th April 2018, she has sailed 150,721 nautical miles – the equivalent of five times around the world.
During the deployment, Asterix completed 197 supply operations with 40 Canadian, NATO and allied warships from 12 different countries; supplying 30.8 million litres of ship’s fuel and over 530,000 litres of aircraft fuel.
The Ship is due to head to Davie for a work period in October.
We posted some details about the Exercise and the fly past in July.
Despite having celebrated 50 years of operational service in 2013, and Officially being retired last year. 15 CH-124 Sea Kings will live on, having been sold to Rotor Maxx Support Limited of BC.
Rotor Max specialized in the support and maintenance of the the Seaking, and its S-61 civilian variant. The 15 Helicopters will be refurbished and leased out to Rotor Max clients to compliment their fleet of eight S-61’s. The acquisition includes a significant inventory of parts, tooling and equipment which will support Rotor max’s business going forward.
the Ex RCAF Seakings were delivered in 1963.
Work Continues on the first ship, with testing under way – the Boat Davit appears to have recently load tested, given the empty bag still hanging from it. some of the construction coverings are coming off, and system testing is under way.
the Launch of the Second ship is Due sometime between October 19 and November 19, based on the Coasting trade application for the use of the Boa Barge. that would suggest the plan is to turn the first ship over to the navy before then.
I suspect the yard is under political pressure to hand the ship over prior to the start of the federal election campaign.
