The Canadian Coast Guard is saying goodbye to a one-story research vessel today and is looking for a replacement to carry out science projects conducted by the ship for the past six decades.
HudsonMade in St. John, NB, by Irvings St. John’s ShipbuildingMade from ice-hardened steel and has been used to conduct oceanographic studies since 1963.
To mark the vessel’s recent decommissioning, past and present crew members, scientists and staff are gathering at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Dartmouth, NS.
The Coast Guard says it is working with the federal Department of Fisheries to transfer Hudson’s science program to other government ships and also plans to rent private vessels for research.
Work on the offshore oceanographic science vessel that will replace the Hudson has been delayed, with Ottawa now saying it expects completion in 2025.
The Hudson was the first ship to operate to both North America and South America, a voyage known as the “Hudson 70 Expedition” that required almost a full year, beginning in 1969 and ending in October 1970.
In March 1976, Hudson rescued the entire crew of the fishing patrol vessel Cape Frills, which caught fire and was abandoned on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland and Labrador.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on July 7, 2022.
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