The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) maintains a fleet of 14.6 m (47 ft 11 in) Cape-class motor lifeboats[2] based on a motor lifeboat design used by the United States Coast Guard. In September 2009 the CCG announced plans to add five new lifeboats, bringing the total number of Cape-class lifeboats to 36.
 CCGS Cape Sutil at Port Hardy, British Columbia.
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Cape class |
| Builders | Textron Marine and Victoria Shipyards |
| Operators | Canadian Coast Guard |
| Preceded by | Arun Class |
| Succeeded by | Bay Class |
| Cost | US $1,214,300 |
| In service | 1997–present |
| Planned | 36 |
| Completed | 36 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Search and rescue motor lifeboat |
| Displacement | 33.79 GT, 25.34 NT |
| Length | 14.6 m (47 ft 11 in)[1] |
| Beam | 4.27 m (14 ft 0 in)[1] |
| Draught | 1.42 m (4 ft 8 in)[1] |
| Propulsion | 2 x Caterpillar 3196 diesel engines rated 450 hp (340 kW) at 2100 rpm (373 usable imperial gallons) fuel capacity[1] |
| Speed | |
| Range | 200 nmi (370 km; 230 mi) cruising[1] |
| Complement | 4 crew, 5 passengers[1] |
The vessels are staffed by a crew of four, of which at least one is a rescue specialist.[3][4][5] In spite of its name, the CCGS Cape Roger is a larger patrol vessel, not a Cape-class lifeboat. The CCG also maintains some larger motor lifeboats based on Arun-class lifeboats designed in the United Kingdom. In 2021 a contract was awarded to Ocean Pacific Marine to upgrade the class over a 7 year period.[6]
Design
editCape-class motor lifeboats have displacements of 33.79 GT, total lengths of 47 feet 11 inches (14.61 m) and beams of 14 feet (4.3 m).[7] Constructed from marine-grade aluminium, ships have draughts of 4 feet 8 inches (1.42 m). They contain two Caterpillar 3196 diesel engines providing a combined 900 shaft horsepower (670 kW). They have two 28-by-36-inch (710 mm × 910 mm) counter-rotating, four-blade propellers. Each ship's complement is four crew members and 5 passengers.[7]
The lifeboats have a maximum speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) and a cruising speed of 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph). Cape-class lifeboats have fuel capacities of 1,560 litres (410 US gal) and an designed operational range of 200 nautical miles (370 km; 230 mi) when cruising.[7] They are capable of operating in sustained wind speeds of 50 knots (93 km/h; 58 mph) and wave heights of 30 feet (9.1 m). They can tow ships with displacements of up to 150 tonnes (170 short tons) and can withstand 60-knot (110 km/h; 69 mph) winds and 20-foot (6.1 m)-high breaking waves. These ships must meet stringent stability requirements.[7]
Communication options include Raytheon 152 HF-SSB and Motorola Spectra 9000 VHF50W radios, and a Raytheon RAY 430 loudhailer system.[7] The lifeboats also support the Simrad TD-L1550 VHF-FM radio direction finder. Raytheon provides a number of other electronic systems for the lifeboats, including the RAYCHART 620, the ST 30 heading indicator and ST 50 depth indicator, the NAV 398 global positioning system, a RAYPILOT 650 autopilot system, and either the R41X AN or SPS-69 radar systems[7]
Class list and distribution
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "Motor Life Boat 47-Foot MLB". United States Coast Guard. 25 August 2010. Archived from the original on 30 December 2011. Retrieved 2012-02-29.
- ^ "New vessels ordered for Canadian Coast Guard". Marine Log. 3 September 2009. Archived from the original on 6 September 2009.
- ^ "Vessels, Aircraft and Hovercraft: CCGC Cape Sutil". Canadian Coast Guard. 7 November 2007. Retrieved 4 March 2008.
- ^ "CCG Cape Sutil". Canadian Coast Guard. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011.
- ^ "COAST GUARD MOTOR LIFEBOAT CCGC SUTIL CHRISTENED TODAY IN PORT HARDY, BC". Department of Fisheries and Oceans. 1 August 2000. Archived from the original on 19 October 2003. Retrieved 4 March 2008.
- ^ "Campbell River company awarded $23.4 million federal contract to renew Coast Guard motorboats". 16 December 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f "Motor Life Boat 47-Foot MLB: International Affairs (CG-DCO-I)". United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security. 1 July 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
- ^ "CCG lifeboats". SARCentral. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011.
External links
edit
- Canadian Coast Guard Datasheet on the 47 MLB
- US Coast Guard Datasheet on the 47 MLB
- USCG COMDTINST M16114.25B 47ft Motor lifeboat operator's handbook
- Textron Marine contractor for the USCG 47 MLB
- MetalCraft Marine contractor for the CCG 47 MLB
- military.com