Vanguard Magazine

Worldwide Exercise RIMPAC 2022 Successfully Concludes with Extensive Participation from Canada Coast Guard, has awarded Heddle Shipyards, Hamilton, Ontario, a contract to complete ves- sel life extension work on the CCGS George R. Pearkes. The vessel, stationed in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, officially en- tered into service in 1986. It primarily per- forms light icebreaking and buoy tending and is available for search and rescue and envi- ronmental response operations on Canada's east coast. "A strong, well-equipped, Canadian Coast Guard fleet is essential to protect Canadians on the water, and the marine environment," said The Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard. "This Government continues to make important investments through the National Shipbuilding Strategy so that Canadian Coast Guard personnel have state of the art equip- ment to perform their crucial work. With the vessel life extension of the CCGS George R. Pearkes, Canadian Coast Guard personnel will continue their key role in supporting Canada's blue economy." The vessel life extension work includes: • steel hull reinforcement; • hull, superstructure, deck and mast recoat- ing; • galley modernization; • replacement of the bow thruster, cyclocon- verter, propulsion generator and the inter- nal communication system; • tail shaft and rudder inspections; and • domestic and auxiliary system upgrades. This contract award is categorized under the repair, refit, and maintenance pillar of the Na- tional Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). The NSS ensures that Canada has a safe and effective fleet of ships to serve and protect Canadi- ans for years to come while creating ongoing opportunities for shipyards and suppliers across the country. "Canadians from coast to coast to coast know the importance of our Coast Guard. I am thrilled that a company from Hamilton will be able to help ensure that personnel of Canada's Coast Guard have a safe and effective fleet of ships to serve and protect. This contract award today demonstrates that the National Shipbuilding Strategy provides economic op- portunities for shipyards across Canada. Can- ada's skilled shipbuilding workforce is helping us repair and maintain our fleets, while sup- porting economic growth across the country," concluded The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Public Services and Procurement. In order to ensure the safety of Canadian waters, the Canadian Coast Guard will real- locate its other maritime resources while the ship undergoes vessel life extension from Winter 2023 to Spring 2024. The 22nd Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise concluded on August 4th with over 800 Cana- dian sailors, aviators, and soldiers having par- ticipated in this year's iteration of the biennial exercise that took place in and around the Ha- waiian Islands from June 29 to August 4. The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) deployed HMCS Vancouver and Winnipeg, two CP-140 Au- rora aircraft, and two CH-148 Cyclone helicopters to RIMPAC 2022. Canada also occupied key lead- ership positions at the mission, including Deputy Command of Combined Task Force RIMPAC and Command of the Combined Force Air Component. This year's exercise involved 26 nations: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands and New Zealand. Other nations sent observers including Belgium and Fiji. "Canada's contributions to RIMPAC this year went beyond the tactical employment of our two CP-140 Auroras and embarked CH-148 Cy- S SIT REP www.vanguardcanada.com AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2022 11 Evan Deputy Technical Director Only here can I be in it from the beginning on a once in a generation program. Many engineers dream of working on large, complex projects. With Lockheed Martin Canada, I get to do just that by guiding engineers working on the Royal Canadian Navy's newest fleet. Only here can I be part of the team bringing Canada's most technically advanced ship to life. clone helicopters," said Brigadier-General Mark Goulden, Commander Combined Force Air Com- ponent Command. "Whether during strategic planning, or operational execution of the Com- bined Air Operations Centre weapons system, Canadians were well positioned to deliver air power effects during the world's premier joint and combined maritime exercise." Canada has participated in every Rim of the Pacific Exercise since 1971 and was one of only three nations to do so in the 28th iteration. "This year, I had the privilege to serve as the second in command of the largest maritime exercise in the world, alongside Commander, U.S. Third Fleet. Once again, we maintained a long-standing tradition of excellence as a ca- pable and adaptive partner. We continue to serve alongside like-minded nations who val- ue the rule of law, the freedom of the seas, and the rules-based international order," conclud- ed Rear-Admiral Christopher Robinson, Deputy Commander Combined Task Force RIMPAC.

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