ABB to Undertake Major Modernizations of Canadian Coast Guard Ships

ABB will modernize 10 out of 14 Medium Icebreakers and High Endurance Multi Task Canadian Coast Guard ships to extend operational life of the vessels by another 20 years. These ships undertake major search and rescue operations and are instrumental in keeping northern Canadian shipping lanes ice free.

“For more than 75 years ABB has been working at the cutting edge of icebreaker technology and we are delighted to bring this expertise to these Canadian Coast Guard ships,” said Jyri Jusslin, Senior Vice President of ABB Global Marine & Ports Service. “We have a long successful track record of working with both AC and DC systems and we are delighted the Canadian Coast Guard recognizes ABB as a reliable partner.”

Design and work supply on first of the ten vessels, CCGS Pierre Radisson, is already underway and will be completed in July 2017. From then on the remaining nine vessels will be completed in following order: CCGS Ann Harvey (2018), CCGS Des Groseilliers (2018), CCGS Sir William Alexander (2018), CCGS Martha L. Black (2018), CCGS Henry Larsen (2019), CCGS Edward Cornwallis (2019), CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier (2020), CCGS George R. Pearkes (2020), CCGS Amundsen (2020).

Medium Icebreakers and High Endurance Multi Task Vessels typically work year round, performing search and rescue, maritime navigational aids, ice breaking, oceanographic studies, patrol and protection of Canada coastline. In winter, the vessels are assigned to icebreaking and ship escort operations at Canadian waters, St. Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes. Every summer CCGS Amundsen is charted by a scientific consortium and makes her way to the Canadian Arctic to conduct a wide variety of scientific missions. While in the Arctic, the vessels also serve as a primary search and rescue unit and provides support to scientific missions when possible.

Three of the vessels equipped with DC-propulsion system are upgraded to utilize latest control technology while maintaining DC-motors and generators. On the remaining seven vessels ABB will replace the Propulsion Cycloconverter Drives. The Propulsion Control and Monitoring systems will be upgraded in all the vessels with proven marine approved products including Control Levers, Generator Excitation Systems, Dynamic Brake and Excitation Transformers. The replacement work includes all project services from engineering to installation and commissioning.

“These modernizations are a reflection of ABB’s long history of working with icebreakers but also our dedication to utilizing new technologies,” said Nathalie Pilon, Country Manager of ABB Canada.

The modernizations will be conducted while the vessels are afloat, under the Canadian Coast Guard’s custody, and docked at their home ports. The installation is done in cooperation with Canadian installation company specialized to electrical systems in ships.