Vancouver shipyard used one new coast guard vessel to repair, deliver another

OTTAWA – New documents show a Vancouver shipyard was able to deliver the first of the coast guard's three new science vessels last week only by cannibalizing parts from one of the other ships for repairs.

The repairs followed the CCGS Sir John Franklin's collision with a breakwater near Victoria while returning from its first day of sea trials in March, which damaged the science ship's rudder and main propeller shaft.

Internal emails obtained by The Canadian Press through access-to-information law show senior coast guard officials scrambling for answers after the collision, whose cause still has not been revealed.

A few weeks later, one official reported to his superiors that Seaspan Shipyards planned to use the third science vessel, the CCGS John Cabot, as a "donor patient" for fixing the Franklin.

While the official said replacement parts for the Cabot would need to obtained "in due course," Seaspan spokesman James Mitchell plays down any impact on the Cabot's delivery.

Seaspan Shipyards officially handed the Franklin over to the coast guard on June 27, two years later than originally scheduled.