Name Leonard J. Cowley Operator Canadian Coast Guard Completed June 1985 Launched November 1984 Draft 4.5 m | Namesake Len Cowley Yard number 590 Commissioned 1984 Length 72 m Endurance 1.2 months | |
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Builder West Coast Manly Shipyards Limited | ||
CCGS Leonard J. Cowley is an ice-strengthened fisheries patrol vessel of the Canadian Coast Guard. The ship entered service in 1984 is still currently in service. During the Turbot War, the patrol vessel took part in the detainment of the Spanish fishing vessel Estai. Leonard J. Cowley's home port is St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
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Design and description
Leonard J. Cowley is similar in design to CCGS John P. Tully. Leonard J. Cowley is 72 m (236 ft 3 in) long overall with a beam of 14.2 m (46 ft 7 in) and a draught of 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in). The ship has a full load displacement of 2,080 long tons (2,110 t) with a gross tonnage (GT) of 2,188 and a net tonnage (NT) of 655. The ship is propelled by one controllable-pitch propeller driven by two Polar Nohab F312V geared diesel engines creating 3,160 kW (4,240 hp). This gives the ship a maximum speed of 15 knots (28 km/h). The ship also carries one Caterpillar 3306 emergency generator. The vessel carries 420.00 m3 (14,832 cu ft) of diesel fuel giving the ship a range of 10,000 nmi (19,000 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h) and allowing Leonard J. Cowley to stay at sea for up to 35 days.
The vessel is ice-strengthened, being certified as Type B. Leonard J. Cowley has a flight deck capable of operating a light helicopter of the MBB Bo 105 or Bell 206L types and a retractable hangar. The fisheries patrol vessel has a complement of 19, with 9 officers and 11 crew and 20 additional berths. Due to the nature of the vessel's duties in fisheries enforcement, Leonard J. Cowley often carries an armed boarding team.
Service
The ship was constructed by West Coast Manly Shipyard in Vancouver, British Columbia with the yard number 590. The vessel was launched in November 1984 and completed in June 1985. The vessel entered service with the Canadian Coast Guard in 1984. The ship was named for Len Cowley, a Newfoundland biologist who served with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans as deputy minister. The ship is registered in Ottawa, Ontario and homeported at St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
At the height of the Turbot War in June 1994, a dispute between Canada and the European Union over fishing rights, Leonard J. Cowley was tasked with monitoring the European fishing fleet on the Grand Banks. During the arrest of the Spanish fishing vessel Estai for illegal fishing, Leonard J. Cowley was used as the command vessel during the operation and her crew were ordered to fire machine gun bursts across the bow of the Spanish vessel. The operation was successful and the nets from the Spanish fishing vessel were later used to vindicate Canada's actions in the affair.
On 10 January 1996 the merchant vessel Amphion was damaged in a storm 485 miles (781 km) southeast of St. John's. The ship began to take on water and requested assistance. Leonard J. Cowley was among the vessels dispatched to the scene, arriving on 11 January. The crew of Amphion were taken off and brought to the fisheries patrol vessel while the merchant vessel was brought to port by the tugboat Tignish Sea.
On 22 February 2009, the vessel was instrumental in rescuing the crew of FV Monte Galineiro.
Beginning in February 2015, Leonard J. Cowley underwent a $8.5 million refit performed by NEWDOCK St. John’s Dockyard Limited in St. John's. The refit lasted until October and was part of the plan to renew the Coast Guard fleet.
Popular culture
Bryan Williston of the Canadian folk band Two Roads Home has adapted the poem "The Amphion" (written by Holmes Hooke) into a lively song. Both the song and poem tell of the rescue of a ship called The Amphion by the crew of Leonard J. Cowley.