Backgrounder: Canadian Coast Guard’s Near-Shore Fisheries Research Vessel

As part of its fleet renewal plan, the Canadian Coast Guard is acquiring a new Near-Shore Fishery Research Vessel (NSFRV). It will be the Canadian Coast Guard’s first-ever hybrid-electric vessel, designed to reduce carbon emissions and fossil fuel consumption while supporting critical operations.

The NSFRV is equipped with a diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system with a battery energy storage system, the first-of-its-kind in the Canadian Coast Guard’s fleet.

A number of the ship’s systems have been specifically designed to reduce fuel consumption. In addition, the hull has been improved not only for maximizing hull efficiency but also for enhancing seakeeping and operational performance, all while limiting the overall size of the vessel.

Certain deck equipment powering systems were designed so that excess energy can be fed back into the batteries through regenerative braking. The gyroscopic stabilizing units, which consists of a control system that reduces tilting movements of the ship, are capable of feeding energy back to the batteries in certain navigation situations.

All electrical equipment (e.g. lights) have been selected to optimize power-efficiency and reduce discarded elements such as bulbs and tubes, throughout the vessel’s life-cycle by using long-life LED lights.

Where possible, pumps and fans have been specified as Variable Frequency Drive controlled, resulting in a reduced load on the motor when full power is not required, significantly reducing the consumption of fuel and electricity. The NSFRV’s battery bank will have the capability to be charged from on-shore power sources, or from on-board equipment. The vessel is able to perform some low speed operations on battery for 30-60 minutes per day. In addition, the batteries can support overnight operations to avoid using generators in harbour, and in so doing generate less pollution and ambient noise.

Overall, the NSFRV will emit less greenhouse gas than a traditional non-hybrid vessel, which is a step towards a more sustainable and flexible Canadian Coast Guard fleet. It is anticipated that the NSFRV will achieve significant reductions in particulates and hydrocarbons relative to a traditional diesel propulsion system.

The ultimate goal for the hybrid NSFRV will be to match similar vessels already in service that have reached a 25% reduction in CO2 emissions and fuel savings through the change in technology and a change in operating practices.

Towards a greener Canadian Coast Guard Fleet

The Government of Canada is committed to providing Canadian Coast Guard members with the modern vessels they need to continue their important work, while reducing carbon and greenhouse gas emissions of its fleet and operations. The NSFRV build contract award is an important step in Canadian Coast Guard’s efforts to reduce its emissions and contribute to Canada’s Net-Zero objectives by 2050.

In support of the Government of Canada’s Greening Government Strategy, the Canadian Coast Guard is finding innovative ways to minimize its fleet’s environmental impacts, while working closely with Canadian cleantech businesses and suppliers to share best practices related to vessel design, power-efficiency and the inclusion of green technologies in Canadian Coast Guard vessels.

NSFRV general specifications

The Near-Shore Fishery Research Vessel is designed to collect the fisheries and oceanographic data and information needed to understand our marine environments and make sustainable decision for Canada’s fisheries and ecosystems. The vessel can also assist in Search and Rescue as well as other Canadian Coast Guard operations on an opportunity basis.

The new NSFRV will increase the Canadian Coast Guard’s capacity to support fishery science in the St. Lawrence River and Gulf. It is expected that the new NSFRV will be delivered to the Canadian Coast Guard in 2027.

Vessel’s general specifications include:

• 32 meters length
• 10.5 meters beam, with approximately 552.62 gross tons displacement
• Can accommodate a crew of 5 Canadian Coast Guard members and six Fisheries and Oceans scientists for a total of 11 crew members
• Equipped with a wet lab, a dry lab, and a mud room (a storage and preparation area used for crew members).
• as well as a wide range of science equipment such as sensors and sonar.

The National Shipbuilding Strategy

The construction of the NSFRV falls under the small vessels construction pillar of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, as part of a $2.5 billion funding investment to complete the renewal of the Canadian Coast Guard announced by the Government of Canada on May 25, 2023. On October 20, 2023, Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of the Canadian Coast Guard, awarded the contract award to Chantier Naval Forillon of Gaspé, Quebec, to build the NSFRV.

Through the renewal of its fleet, the Canadian Coast Guard is transitioning towards more capable and more efficient vessels, increasing the Coast Guard’s capacity to keep our waters safe on behalf of all Canadians.

The National Shipbuilding Strategy is a long-term investment that is delivering results now: ships for the Canadian Coast Guard and good jobs for Canadians working in the shipbuilding and marine sectors. So far, three large vessels and 17 small vessels have been delivered to the Canadian Coast Guard under the National Shipbuilding Strategy.

Contracts under the National Shipbuilding Strategy are estimated to have contributed approximately $21.26 billion ($1.93 billion annually) to Canada’s gross domestic product, and created or maintained over 18,000 jobs annually between 2012 and 2022.