CCGS Sir William Alexander is one of six Type 1100 ships in the CCG fleet. It was built by Marine Industries Ltd in Sorel, QC in 1987.
Two federal ministers descended on St.John's Friday January 22 to announce the latest expenditures in the $360mn Coast Guard upgrade program. The new of Public Services and Procurement and the new minister of Fisheires, Oceans, and the Coast Guard revealed the nature of the work aboard CCGS Ann Harvey.
Wartsila Canada has been awarded a $6.2 mn contract for design and supply of new propulsion control systems for CCGS Sir William Alexander and CCGS Ann Harvey. The systems will improve vessel operation and reduce maintenance. (Specifics were very thin. No mention is made if they will be more fuel efficient, or produce less SOx and NOx, so I guess not.)
Completion of the supply portion is due in two years (I am assuming it also includes installation.)
The contract has an option to extend the work to include all the other Type 1100s for another $12.7mn.
That would see CCGS Edward Cornwallis, Martha L. Black, George R. Pearkes and Sir Wilfrid Laurier all brought up to the same standard.
Both the Sir William Alexander and Ann Harvey are type 1100 light icebreaker / navaids ships that also multi-task in SAR and patrol duties.
The ships have diesel electric propulsion systems, consisting of three Alco / Bombardier diesel engines, three generators and two electric motors driving twin screws.
Different ships in the class have slightly different overall propulsive power according to Lloyd's Register:
George R. Pearkes, Martha L. Black and Sir William Alexander have 2,991 bhp main engines and 3,550 shp electric motors for a total power of 8,937 hp.
Ann Harvey and Edward Cornwallis have 3,500 bhp main engines, 3,549 shp electric motors for a total power of 10,500 hp.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier has 3,500 bhp main engines, 3,549 shp motors and a total power of 10,650 hp.
The ships also vary in appearance. The two Halifax based ships, Edward Cornwallis and Sir William Alexander have one less deck in the superstructure below the bridge, and the latter ship is fitted with a crane instead of the traditional goal post mast and derrick.
.