Name Edmonton Laid down 8 December 1995 Homeport CFB Esquimalt Construction started 8 December 1995 Length 55 m Builder Halifax Shipyard | Namesake Edmonton, Alberta Commissioned 21 May 1997 Identification MM 703 Launched 31 October 1996 Draft 3.4 m | |
 | ||
HMCS Edmonton is a Kingston-class coastal defence vessel that has served in the Canadian Forces since 1997. Edmonton is the fourth ship of its class, all of which were built for the Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel Project. The ship is the first vessel to use the designation HMCS Edmonton. The ship is assigned to Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) and is homeported at CFB Esquimalt.
Contents
Hmcs edmonton in seafair fleet 2010 parade
Design and description
The Kingston class was designed to fill the minesweeper, coastal patrol and reserve training needs of the Canadian Forces, replacing the Bay-class minesweepers, Porte-class gate vessels and Royal Canadian Mounted Police coastal launches in those roles. In order to perform these varied duties the Kingston-class vessels are designed to carry up to three 6.1-metre (20 ft) ISO containers with power hookups on the open deck aft in order to embark mission-specific payloads. The seven module types available for embarkation include four route survey, two mechanical minesweeping and one bottom inspection modules.
The Kingston class displace 970 long tons (990 t) and are 55.3 metres (181 ft 5 in) long overall with a beam 11.3 metres (37 ft 1 in) and a draught of 3.4 metres (11 ft 2 in). The coastal defence vessels are powered by four Jeumont ANR-53-50 alternators coupled to four Wärtsilä UD 23V12 diesel engines creating 7.2 megawatts (9,700 hp). Two LIPS Z-drive azimuth thrusters are driven by two Jeumont CI 560L motors creating 3,000 horsepower (2,200 kW) and the Z drives can be rotated 360°. This gives the ships a maximum speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) and a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph).
The Kingston class is equipped with a Kelvin Hughes navigational radar using the I band and a Kelvin Hughes 6000 surface search radar scanning the E and F bands. The vessels carry an AN/SQS-511 towed side scan sonar for minesweeping and a Remote-control Mine Hunting System (RMHS). The vessels are equipped with one Bofors 40 mm/60 calibre Mk 5C gun and two M2 machine guns. The Kingston-class coastal defence vessels have a complement of 37.
Service history
Edmonton was laid down on 8 August 1995 by Halifax Shipyards Ltd. at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and was launched on 31 October 1996. The ship underwent sea trials on the east coast before transferring to the west coast, accompanied by Moresby. The vessel was commissioned into the Canadian Forces on 21 May 1997 at Esquimalt, British Columbia and carries the hull number MM 703.
In June–July 2002, Edmonton and sister ships Nanaimo and Saskatoon participated in the naval exercise RIMPAC 2002 off Hawaii.
In February 2016 Edmonton and Saskatoon sailed from Esquimalt to join Operation Caribbe. On 25 March, in conjunction with the United States Navy destroyer Lassen, Edmonton intercepted drug smugglers in international waters off the coast of Central America. After being stopped the smuggling vessel attempted to dump its cargo overboard. Edmonton, working with a United States Coast Guard detachment, recovered 27 bales of cocaine equalling 650 kilograms (1,430 lb). Edmonton and Saskatoon returned to Esquimalt on 29 April 2016. On 6 October, Brandon and Edmonton left Esquimalt to participate in Operation Caribbe along the Pacific coast. Between 15 and 18 November, Edmonton disrupted three separate shipments of illegal narcotics. On 15 November, Edmonton recovered 40 kg (88 lb) from the ocean after a fishing vessel was intercepted by the United States Coast Guard. On 17 November, a second fishing vessel was stopped by the United States Coast Guard and Edmonton recovered 16 bales of cocaine weighing roughly 760 kg (1,680 lb) from the ocean. On 18 November, Edmonton took 15 bales of cocaine weighing roughly 710 kg (1,570 lb) from the ocean after the drug smugglers escaped. Brandon and Edmonton returned to Esquimalt on 16 December.