Equipment Of The Canadian Coast Guard

The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) maintains a fleet of sea and lake going vessels, hovercraft, and aircraft. The variety of equipment allows the CCG to perform its mandated functions of navaids and sea-going transportation management, search and rescue, marine pollution response and the support of other Canadian federal authorities.

Vessels

The Fleet Directorate of the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) is responsible for all ships and their manning requirements. As of October, 2022, it manages and operates a fleet of 123 vessels in support of: CCG aids to navigation; icebreaking; environmental response; and search and rescue (SAR). The CCG fleet also supports Department of Fisheries and Oceans's Fisheries Conservation and Protection and Marine Science programs.

The ships, ranging from search and rescue lifeboats to icebreakers, are tasked to various programs, often concurrently, and are crewed by 2,400 skilled seagoing personnel. Most vessels have between 4 and 30+ crewmembers.

All CCG vessels are painted uniformly regardless of their use. They are characterized by a red hull and white superstructure, designed to look like a "floating Canadian flag". Their hulls bear a (primarily) white stripe raked forward at a 60 degree angle on each side forward. Larger vessels display a red maple leaf on the funnel. Ship nameplates are typically affixed to the superstructure, and vessels are typically named for persons or places of historic or geographic significance.

Throughout the 1960s–1990s, the CCG painted primary SAR vessels in a different colour scheme: bright mustard yellow superstructure and maple leaf red hull, meant to distinguish them from navaid tenders and icebreakers, and also to improve their visibility on the open ocean in breaking waves. Today, the only distinguishing markings for primary SAR vessels is the large RESCUE-SAUVETAGE lettering on the superstructure. Vessels carry the "Canada" 'federal wordmark', which incorporates the duotone version of the national flag. The words Coast Guard/Garde Cotière appear side by side on the hull.

The prefix " Canadian Coast Guard Ship", abbreviated CCGS, is affixed to all vessels. Minor vessels such as patrol boats and lifeboats carried the prefix "Canadian Coast Guard Cutter", abbreviated CCGC in the past, however, this is no longer the case.

The list of various classes of CCG vessels includes:

Icebreakers

Polar icebreaker

:''A very large multitasked icebreaker, approximately in length, capable of sustained operations in the Arctic Archipelago over three seasons per year. Has a large cargo carrying capacity, a helicopter hangar that will accommodate two CCG helicopters, and carry multiple utility craft. Has the capacity to over-winter in the Arctic, and the capacity to deliver a large suite of Government of Canada programs. Named after former Canadian prime ministers.''

Heavy icebreaker

:''A very large multitasked icebreaker, approximately in length, capable of sustained operations in the Arctic Archipelago over two seasons per year and for escort operations in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and East Coast of Newfoundland. Has a large cargo carrying capacity, a helicopter hangar that will accommodate a CCG helicopter, and carry multiple utility craft. Named after a former Canadian prime minister and the late cancer research activist Terry Fox. Formerly referred to as Type 1300.''

Medium icebreaker

:''A large icebreaker, approximately in length, capable of sustained icebreaking and escort operations in the Arctic Archipelago over two seasons per year, the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River and Gulf of St. Lawrence and Atlantic Coast in winter. Has a cargo carrying capacity and carry multiple utility craft. Some may incorporate a helicopter hangar to accommodate a CCG helicopter. Has the capability to deliver many Government of Canada programs such as many CCG programs and scientific missions. Formerly referred to as Type 1200.''

Multi-tasked

High endurance multi-tasked vessel

:''A large highly adaptable multi-tasked vessel, approximately long, with an icebreaking capability to work in the southern and western Arctic, for escort operations in the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River and Gulf of St. Lawrence and Atlantic Coast in winter. Has a shallower draught than the medium icebreaker and is less capable overall. Has a crane, a large cargo hold and deck capacity, has a helicopter hangar that will accommodate a CCG helicopter, can launch and recover rigid-hulled inflatable boats and two utility craft. Has the capability to deliver many Government of Canada programs. Formerly referred to as Type 1100.''

Medium endurance multi-tasked vessel

:'' A large multi-tasked shallow draught vessel, approximately long, with a top speed of that can stay at sea up to 28 days. Has a crane, a large cargo hold and deck area, can launch and recover rigid-hull inflatable boats and utility craft. Primarily used for aids to navigation, search and rescue, science and environmental response and has some icebreaking capability. Designed to have a helicopter deck but not generally equipped with one. Named after former Canadian mariners or members of the CCG who have made a significant contribution. Formerly referred to as Type 1050 and 1000.''

Science vessels

Offshore oceanographic science vessel

:''A large multi-tasked offshore noise-reduced vessel, approximately long, capable of extended missions of four to six weeks with a range, no icebreaking capabilities but able to operate in ice infested waters. Equipped with wet labs and has bottom sampling and water column sampling capability, can accommodate a helicopter with minimal hangar capabilities and can launch and recover utility craft. Primarily used for ecosystem and fishery science, oceanographic missions and geological and hydrographic surveys. Named after former Canadian scientists or explorers who have made a significant contribution.''
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* One unnamed vessel to replace former to be built by Seaspan ULC and service entry planned for 2025.

Offshore fishery science vessel

:''A large multitasked offshore noise-reduced vessel, approximately long, capable of extended missions of four to six weeks with a range, no icebreaking capabilities but able to operate in ice infested waters. Equipped with wet labs and able to do trawl surveys and has some water column sampling capability, no helicopter capabilities. Primarily used for ecosystem and fishery science research. Named after former scientists or explorers who have made a significant contribution.''

Mid-shore science vessel

:''Medium sized vessel, approximately 40 metres long, capable of sustained operations away from port for up to 14 days, has endurance for 21 days and a top speed of with a cruising range of , has minimal ice capability to transit light ice-infested waters. No helicopter capability and limited capacity to carry survey launches. Primarily used for limited ecosystem fishery science, oceanographic missions and geological/hydrographic surveys. Named after former Dominion hydrographers of Canada or former explorers of Canada.''
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Near-shore fishery research vessel

:''Small, approximately long, fishery research vessel with a draught, a speed of 12 knots with a moderate range. Has minimal ice capability to transit light ice-infested waters. Has some lab capacity and has no helicopter capability. Used to conduct trawl surveys. Named after former Canadians who have made a contribution to marine and fishery research or fisheries management.''
* CCGS ''Leim''
* CCGS ''M. Perley''
* CCGS ''Neocaligus''
* CCGS ''Vladykov''

Patrol vessels

Offshore patrol vessel

:''A large offshore vessel, approximately long, that can operate beyond including outside the Exclusive Economic Zone, has a top speed greater than and can stay at sea for up to six weeks. Can operate year-round in Canadian waters, except the Arctic archipelago, and has a minimal ice capability to transit light ice-infested waters. Carries two rigid-hulled inflatable boats, up to long, can accommodate a helicopter with minimal hangar capabilities. Designed to support law enforcement, and has a program operations room. Primarily used for fisheries enforcement and search and rescue. Named after Former Companions of the Order of Canada.''
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* Future Multi-purpose vessels (~latter 2020s/2030s)
* Two Future Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships (~latter-2020s)

Mid-shore patrol vessel

:''A medium sized vessel, approximately long, that can operate up to 120 nautical miles offshore with a top speed of 25 knots and stay at sea up to 14 days. No requirement for operations in ice-infested waters. Carries one or two rigid-hull inflatable boats with no helicopter capabilities. Primarily used for maritime security and fisheries enforcement. Named after former winners of the Victoria Cross, Star of Military Valour, Medal of Military Valour, Meritorious Service Medal, Star of Courage, Medal of Bravery, Order of Merit of the Police Forces, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Role of Honour of Department of Fisheries and Oceans or CCG members who died in the line of duty.''
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Other

Special navaids vessel

:''A shallow-draft, flat-bottom vessel, approximately long, self-supporting for up to 28 days and can sustain repeated groundings due to shifting river channels, not suitable for open-sea work, no icebreaking capabilities. Can accommodate a helicopter with minimal hangar capabilities. Primarily used for navigational aids on the Mackenzie River. Named with Aboriginal words.''
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Channel survey and sounding vessel

:''Small vessel, approximately 20–25 metres long, with sounding speed of with no ice capability. Carries a small utility craft and has no helicopter capability. Primarily used to conduct depth survey operations. Named after former Dominion hydrographers of Canada or former explorers of Canada.
* CCGS ''Helen Irene battle''
* CCGS ''Jean bourdon''

Air cushion vehicle (hovercraft)

:''A medium-sized, fast hovercraft, up to , multi-tasked vessel which rides on a cushion of air, capable of working in very shallow areas and littoral zones. Has no helicopter capability. Primarily used for search and rescue, aids to navigation, environmental response and icebreaking. Named with Aboriginal words.''
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SAR lifeboat (MLBs)

:''Small, approximately long, shore-based self-righting lifeboat capable of search and rescue operations up to from shore with a top speed of approximately 25 knots with minimal ice capability to transit light ice-infested waters. No helicopter capability. Named after geographical features uniform by class. Canadian capes for high speed lifeboats ( MLBs). Canadian bays for high endurance lifeboats (/ design).'' CCG maintains 36 s, those listed with the name prefix Cape (or Cap in french). The exception is CCGS ''Cap Aux Mueles'' which is one of ten larger () motor lifeboats based on ''Arun''-class lifeboats designed in the United Kingdom. The CCG is in the process of building replacements for the ''Arun'' type lifeboats based on the Severn type lifeboat also designed in the United Kingdom. The first Bay-class lifeboats were delivered in late 2017

''Arun'' class

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Bay class

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* CCGS ''Pachena Bay''
* CCGS ''McIntyre Bay''
* CCGS ''Sacred Bay''
* CCGS ''Conception Bay''
*''CCGS Cadboro Bay''
*''CCGS Florencia Bay''

Cape class

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Specialty vessel

:''Small, under , shallow-draft vessel of various designs with no ice capability. Generally has no accommodation with a crew complement that is specific to tasks the vessel performs. No helicopter capability. Used for marine and fishery research, conservation and protection patrols, science and aids to navigation. Named after Former Canadians who have made a contribution to marine and fishery research or fisheries management or maritime safety or security or marine transportation.''
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* - small buoy tender
* - small buoy tender
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* - small buoy tender
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* - river buoy tender
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Training vessels

:''Vessels used for training at the Coast Guard College''.
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Small/utility craft

:''CCG employs various makes and models of small craft, generally less than , long or less, aboard ships and at shore stations for utility and search and rescue tasks. Large vessels carry work boats such as Rotork Marine's Sea Truck design, similar to small landing craft, which are deployed by davits and used for delivering supplies ashore to light stations and remote communities. Rigid-hulled inflatable boats equipped with outboard or inboard engine propulsion systems are deployed aboard CCG ships or at shore stations as tenders and as fast rescue craft (FRC) for utility and search and rescue tasks. These vessels are not named.''
* Work boats
** Roseborough Boats RF-246 designs
** Rotork Marine Sea Truck designs
* Rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs)
** Zodiac Hurricane Mark IV, Mark V, Mark VI, 733 and 753 SOLAS designs
** Roseborough Boats Rough Water 9.11 SOLAS designs
** There are also two new high-speed, aluminum Kingston-class search and rescue and environmental patrol boats built by Metalcraft Marine going into Arctic service.

Retired vessels

The following is a listing of vessels that are no longer part of the Canadian Coast Guard's present fleet.
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* – July 2016 – transferred to Parks Canada – now named
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* - previously known as ''Polar Gas II'' - believed to have been sold at auction
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* - Icebreaker, lighthouse supply and buoy vessel decommissioned 1985, scrapped 1989
* – now retired and re-commissioned by Toronto Fire Services as fireboat ''William Thornton'' in 2015
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* - decommissioned 1978 and museum ship since 1980
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* - sold and now MV Leeway Odyssey
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* - delivered in 1983 for SFO and retired 2000; built as ''Beau Bois''
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* - ex-''Lurcher'' No.5 lightship, training ship at the Canadian Coast Guard College in the 1970s
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* - retired 2005 and re-commissioned by Toronto Fire as fireboat ''Sora''; retired in 2015
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* - survey ship sold and renamed ''Heavenbound'' 1984; renamed again as ''Still Watch'' 1995
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File:Cape Mercy, Cobourg Harbour, Ontario 1203 1204.jpg, CCGS ''Cape Mercy''
File:NGCC LOUIS.M. LAUZIER.jpg, The former CCGS ''Louis M. Lauzier'' in service 2012; now sold to LeeWay Marine and operated as MV ''LeeWay Odyssey''
File:CCGV Parizeau.jpg, ex-CCGS ''Parizeau'' sold and renamed ''Destiny Empress''
File:A tug boat in Owen Sound.jpg, ex-CCGS ''Ville Marie''
File:Canadian Icebreaker Ernest Lapointe.jpg, ex-CCGS ''Ernest Lapointe'' icebreaker
File:Aft View of CCGS McIntyre Bay.webm, thumbtime=3, Aft View of CCGS McIntyre Bay transiting Porpoise Harbour on a misty day, near Port Edward, British Columbia
File:Retired lifeboat in Port Alberni, BC.jpg, ''Banfield Lifeboat''

Aircraft

In addition to various bases located in deep water ports, rescue stations in smaller minor ports, and eighteen ships equipped with aviation facilities like flight decks and/or hangars the CCG operates 23 helicopters. There are also eight fixed wing aircraft operated on CCG's behalf by Transport Canada. Rotary wing aircraft are used as ice reconnaissance platforms in the winter (operating from icebreakers and shore bases), while flying maintenance personnel and supplies for servicing aids to navigation year-round. Fixed wing aircraft are flown in support of the Canadian Ice Service and also conduct arctic sovereignty patrols, marine pollution surveillance and fisheries protection patrols as part of the Canadian government's National Aerial Surveillance Program.

As part of the Coast Guard's Fleet Renewal Plan, the Government of Canada has purchased and deployed 23 new helicopters – 16 light-lift helicopters (Bell 429