I actually really think that people don’t give the NSS more credit, it’s done exactly what it set out to do; and it baffles me that we haven’t effectively replicated it to other critical sectors of the economy.
I also think that they should kick off an NSS Phase 2, they’ve got the CDC, Orca Replacement, maybe another two JSS’s, maybe even two GLAAMs, and who knows how many other small/remote craft that’ll need to get built. I also think a big lesson is that they should broaden the NSS to include government customers outside of the security sector; like Transport Canada, DFO, and the Provinces (anyone want to avoid another “ferry going to China” debacle?). There’s lots to build, and the NSS has been a great vehicle, we shouldn’t slow down now that it’s in motion.
The CCG AOP's are both a sign of success and failure of the NSS. To be fair, it's not the NSS that failed, but the government failure to start the NSS earlier and configure the design of the RCD sooner. We should have started steel work on the RCD's as soon as the 6th AOP's rolled out into the yard.
The CCG will make these work, but they will be limited in what they can do in regards to Navaids, which as being 2,000DWT heavier than the 1100Class buoytenders/breakers is a bit of an issue. These likley will get tasked with ODAS placement and retrieval and perhaps assist in placement of some of the Arctic seasonal buoys. Otherwise it's mainly science and research for them.
I would disagree, but only because I suspect lots of people misunderstand the core purpose of the NSS. The primary focus of the NSS was 1. Rebuild a moribund Shipbuilding industry, 2. End the Boom and Bust cycle of the industry, and lastly 3. Build ships. It has done exactly what it set out to do on points 1, 2, and 3. They’ve taken a crawl, walk run approach, in rebuilding the Navy construction; start with a simple ship (AOPs, Crawl), move to something more complicated, but someone else’s design (Type26 River, Walk), and move to full design and build of our own (CDC, Run).
I do understand the job and rebuilding the shipyard mandates. But the two AOP's were a sign of the immaturity of the government/RCN selection and procurement process and that of the design team to marry all the selected components together. In a perfect world, Irving should have laid steel for the RCD, while the 6th AOP's was coming together. Delivering the ships before the Halifax's self-divest is also a core mandate. Don't get me wrong, I am a fan of the NSS, just wished it had gotten off the ground a decade earlier. Looking at the USN frigate fiasco, we are doing ok.
You are entirely correct! And I absolutely agree with your points on timing, and should have started much earlier. But those are the fault of the RCN and the Government, NOT the NSS. The NSS doesn’t tell the government what to buy, how many, or when. It’s just a framework, and the government picks and plugs things into it.
The CCG isn't planning on using their pair of AOPS for Navaids and buoy tending work, they are planned to replace the CCGS Cape Roger and Cygnus as the east coasts primary primary conservation and fisheries protection enforcement vessels. They are also set up to assist with science, research, S&R and support of northern communities through their onboard spaces.
Huzzah for the AOPS! Huzzah!
I actually really think that people don’t give the NSS more credit, it’s done exactly what it set out to do; and it baffles me that we haven’t effectively replicated it to other critical sectors of the economy.
I also think that they should kick off an NSS Phase 2, they’ve got the CDC, Orca Replacement, maybe another two JSS’s, maybe even two GLAAMs, and who knows how many other small/remote craft that’ll need to get built. I also think a big lesson is that they should broaden the NSS to include government customers outside of the security sector; like Transport Canada, DFO, and the Provinces (anyone want to avoid another “ferry going to China” debacle?). There’s lots to build, and the NSS has been a great vehicle, we shouldn’t slow down now that it’s in motion.
The CCG AOP's are both a sign of success and failure of the NSS. To be fair, it's not the NSS that failed, but the government failure to start the NSS earlier and configure the design of the RCD sooner. We should have started steel work on the RCD's as soon as the 6th AOP's rolled out into the yard.
The CCG will make these work, but they will be limited in what they can do in regards to Navaids, which as being 2,000DWT heavier than the 1100Class buoytenders/breakers is a bit of an issue. These likley will get tasked with ODAS placement and retrieval and perhaps assist in placement of some of the Arctic seasonal buoys. Otherwise it's mainly science and research for them.
I would disagree, but only because I suspect lots of people misunderstand the core purpose of the NSS. The primary focus of the NSS was 1. Rebuild a moribund Shipbuilding industry, 2. End the Boom and Bust cycle of the industry, and lastly 3. Build ships. It has done exactly what it set out to do on points 1, 2, and 3. They’ve taken a crawl, walk run approach, in rebuilding the Navy construction; start with a simple ship (AOPs, Crawl), move to something more complicated, but someone else’s design (Type26 River, Walk), and move to full design and build of our own (CDC, Run).
I do understand the job and rebuilding the shipyard mandates. But the two AOP's were a sign of the immaturity of the government/RCN selection and procurement process and that of the design team to marry all the selected components together. In a perfect world, Irving should have laid steel for the RCD, while the 6th AOP's was coming together. Delivering the ships before the Halifax's self-divest is also a core mandate. Don't get me wrong, I am a fan of the NSS, just wished it had gotten off the ground a decade earlier. Looking at the USN frigate fiasco, we are doing ok.
You are entirely correct! And I absolutely agree with your points on timing, and should have started much earlier. But those are the fault of the RCN and the Government, NOT the NSS. The NSS doesn’t tell the government what to buy, how many, or when. It’s just a framework, and the government picks and plugs things into it.
The CCG isn't planning on using their pair of AOPS for Navaids and buoy tending work, they are planned to replace the CCGS Cape Roger and Cygnus as the east coasts primary primary conservation and fisheries protection enforcement vessels. They are also set up to assist with science, research, S&R and support of northern communities through their onboard spaces.