Name Lady Joyce Launched 11 November 1972 In service 1973 Length 58 m Draft 5.2 m | Yard number 180 Completed 24 April 1973 Out of service 1988 Weight 1,076 tons Builder Allied Shipbuilders | |
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HMCS Moresby was an Anticosti-class minesweeper that served in the Canadian Forces from 1989–2000. She was named for Moresby Island, which in turn is named for Fairfax Moresby, former Commander-in-Chief of Pacific Station at Esquimalt Royal Navy Dockyard.
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Design
The vessel was initially constructed for use as an offshore drill-rig supply vessel by International Offshore Services. As a supply vessel, Joyce Tide was 1,076 tonnes (1,059 long tons) with a deadweight tonnage of 1,196 tons. She was 58.3 metres (191 ft 3 in) long overall and 51.7 metres (169 ft 7 in) between perpendiculars with a beam of 13.1 metres (43 ft 0 in) and a draught of 5.2 metres (17 ft 1 in).
The vessel was purchased in 1988 by Maritime Command (MARCOM) of the Canadian Forces and converted into a minesweeping auxiliary. Fully loaded, the minesweeper displaced 1,076 tons and 2,200 tons deep load. Anticosti had astern refuelling gear fitted in 1995.
The Anticosti class was powered by four NOHAB Polar diesel engines driving two shafts and one 550 brake horsepower (410 kW) azimuth bow thruster. This created a maximum speed of 13.5 knots (25.0 km/h; 15.5 mph) and an endurance of 12,000 nautical miles (22,000 km; 14,000 mi).
Service history
The ship was laid down as Lady Joyce by Allied Shipbuilders Ltd. of Vancouver with the yard number 180 and launched on 11 November 1972. The ship was completed on 24 April 1973 and was renamed Joyce Tide in 1974.
As part of the plan for the Naval Reserve to take over minesweeping and coastal operations, MARCOM began its effort to provide ships for training. MARCOM acquired two ships, one being Joyce Tide in March 1988. The ship was converted at Marystown, Newfoundland to an minesweeping auxiliary and commissioned with the classification MSA 112. In March 1997, the ship transferred to CFB Esquimalt. After the Kingston class was commissioned, Moresby was identified as surplus and paid off on 10 March 2000 and turned over for disposal.
Sold in 2000 for commercial use, her name was changed to Echo Star 2000 to 2002. In 2002 the vessel became Malbun, and later that year, her name was changed back to Echo Star. This name lasted until 2004 when her named was changed again to Silver Star. In 2005 the vessel's name was changed back to Echo Star, then back again to Silver Star, a name she kept until 2007. In 2007, the vessel was renamed Ramco 1 and then again to Ramco Express.
Moresby is now a commercial tug in Panama.