PUBLICATION: Times Colonist (Victoria)
DATE: 2009.04.03
EDITION: Final
SECTION: Capital & Van. Isl.
PAGE: A3
BYLINE: Jeff Bell
SOURCE: Times Colonist
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Fire-damaged sub headed to Victoria
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HMCS Chicoutimi, one of the Canadian military's four submarines, is due to arrive in Victoria in about 30 days -- nine months earlier than previously scheduled.
Chicoutimi, which has not been seaworthy since a 2004 fire that killed one person and injured eight others, is being ferried here from Halifax aboard a heavy-lift ship. The freighter-like ship is designed to carry submarines and other vessels.
Lt.-Cmdr. Nathalie Garcia, spokeswoman for Maritime Forces Pacific, said Chicoutimi will be taken to the Canadian Submarine Maintenance Group facility in Esquimalt. According to a news release from the Department of National Defence in Ottawa, the Chicoutimi will undergo "essential preservation work" prior to a refit. It was announced in 2005 that Chicoutimi's two-year refit would begin in 2010.
Dockwise U.S.A. has been subcontracted by Canadian Submarine Maintenance Group to move Chicoutimi to the West Coast. Defence Department officials didn't give an estimate of how much the move would cost.
Chicoutimi and Canada's three other Victoria-class submarines have been controversial since they were bought second-hand from Britain in 1998 for $900 million. The vessels have all experienced technical problems. Victoria Shipyards and its partner companies were awarded a five-year, $370-million contract to maintain the submarines in 2007, much to the disappointment of shipyard interests in the Maritimes. Officials from Victoria Shipyard -- a subcontractor to the maintenance group -- have said work on the Chicoutimi could create about 175 jobs.
The submarine program at Victoria Shipyards could extend over 15 years and be worth $1.5 billion. The transfer of Chicoutimi to Victoria via a heavy-lift ship will allow the submarine to be brought directly to shore and placed on a temporary stand. "This capability reduces risk to the vessel, is more efficient and will more quickly free up navy resources for other high-priority work," the release said.
The other three submarines are HMCS Windsor and HMCS Corner Brook, which are based in Halifax, and HMCS Victoria, which is undergoing work at Esquimalt's HMC Dockyard.
jwbell@tc.canwest.com