Tag Archives: CCGS Alfred Needler
With a coast guard research vessel facing decommission, N.L.’s fisheries union has concerns
On Thursday, the Canadian Coast Guard announced the research vessel CCGS Alfred Needler is being decommissioned after 40 years in service due to “significant mechanical and structural failures” in late 2022 and early 2023. “The coast guard determined that the ship was beyond repair and further investment would not allow it to return to reliable and safe service,” Gary Ivany, assistant commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard’s Atlantic region, said Friday. The decommissioning causes problems for DFO scientists, whose job is it to determine how much shrimp and cod should be fished each year. >click to read< 12:09
Statement from the Canadian Coast Guard: Decommissioning of the CCGS Alfred Needler
Following over 40 years of service to Canada as a fisheries science vessel, the CCGS Alfred Needler is being decommissioned. In late 2022 and early 2023 the CCGS Alfred Needler suffered a number of significant mechanical and structural failures. Following an evaluation of the condition of the vessel, it has been determined that the vessel is beyond repair and further investment would not allow it to return to a reliable and safe service. The CCGS Alfred Needler has been a key platform for the Department’s fisheries science program, most recently participating in comparative fishing work alongside the Canadian Coast Guard’s new Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels (OFSV). All three new OFSV have been added to the fleet as planned replacements to the older aging vessels. >click to read< 07:58
Canadian Coast Guard can’t retire old fisheries science vessels on East Coast
Canada is extending the life of its two aging offshore fisheries science vessels on the East Coast as the Canadian Coast Guard struggles to bring their replacements into service. The transition has floundered because of breakdowns, unplanned maintenance and refits on both new and old fisheries science vessels. In response, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has now postponed the planned retirement of 40-year-old CCGS Alfred Needler on Dec.31 and 34-year-old CCGS Teleost set for March 2023. >click to read< 09:18
Aging fleet, broken parts force DFO to cancel northern cod stock assessment
As the 30th anniversary of the cod moratorium approaches, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans says it can’t complete research on northern cod stocks because of broken parts on an aging vessel. Mechanical issues on a Coast Guard survey ship has forced DFO to cancel the assessment of Newfoundland and Labrador’s northern cod stock for this year. The department said it had to make changes to data collection in 2021 due to offshore weather and the condition of its research vessels. The situation is also affecting research on the province’s capelin stock, which will see an update this year rather than a full assessment. >click to read< 14:23
