New Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship out of action because of flooding, mechanical problems

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One of the Royal Canadian Navy’s newest ships is sitting in a U.S. port awaiting repairs because of flooding and mechanical problems.

HMCS Max Bernays, one of the new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS), is now in Pearl Harbor as specialists try to figure out how long it will take to be repaired, sailors have told this newspaper.

The ship was delivered in 2022 to the navy by Irving Shipbuilding.

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The vessel was to take part in U.S.-led Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) military exercises.

National Defence spokesperson Kened Sadiku confirmed HMCS Max Bernays had to return to Pearl Harbor on July 12 due to mechanical issues and seawater flooding into one of the areas of the vessel. It took the crew about 30 minutes to stop the flooding, but before that could happen around 20,000 litres of seawater entered the ship. Technicians also discovered that there were problems with a pumping and cooling system so they recommended HMCS Max Bernays return to Pearl Harbor.

“The engineering systems are currently being assessed, and timelines for repair completion are unknown,” said Sadiku.

“The impact on HMCS Max Bernays’ participation in RIMPAC 2024 or its future program is currently unknown,” he added.

The incident is the latest of a number of issues plaguing the new ships, which are costing almost $5 billion.

In March, this newspaper reported that problems have led to significant flooding on some of the ships, causing excessive corrosion. In addition, there have been mechanical failures involving anchors, a refuelling system that’s too heavy to use, as well as structural issues hindering the operation of Cyclone helicopters from the vessels.

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The Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships also can’t perform emergency towing, as was required in the original contract, and some cranes on the vessels are inoperable, National Defence officials confirmed.  Other problems, such as contaminated fuel and issues with systems to launch lifeboats, are also being examined or fixed.

In addition, this newspaper reported in 2022 that the first AOPS, HMCS Harry DeWolf, had been taken out of service for several months because of ongoing mechanical problems, including issues with diesel generators. Concerns have also been raised about the safety of drinking water on the vessels.

An investigation revealed that some fittings and valves in the potable water system were manufactured from alloys that exceeded the allowable amount of lead, National Defence confirmed. Irving Shipbuilding installed the fittings and valves on four of the AOPS.

In addition, HMCS Max Bernays was accepted from Irving even though a system that allows the vessel to manoeuvre wasn’t functioning properly. There were also problems with the fire suppression system on HMCS Harry DeWolf.

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But the Royal Canadian Navy and National Defence officials contend the various problems being faced by the AOPS fleet are normal.

However, military personnel, both retired and serving, have come forward to this newspaper to challenge claims by National Defence that AOPS issues are simply teething problems associated with all new vessels. In March, they provided video of one of the ships flooding.

The ships only have a one-year warranty, Canadian military personnel have also pointed out, which means the taxpayer is footing the bill for most of the repairs.

Sadiku said navy personnel and contractors are working to assess the problems on HMCS Max Bernays and “complete the necessary repairs as quickly as possible.”

Irving did not respond by deadline to a request for comment. But in March it noted in a statement that “through the process of designing, constructing, commissioning, and operating new ships, stakeholders work together to identify and resolve a range of issues. This is a normal but essential element of shipbuilding.”

At that time, Irving also pointed to a video released by the navy in December 2023 in which Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee noted the AOPS “are outperforming expectations and proving the value of the National Shipbuilding Strategy.”

This newspaper consulted with a senior retired Royal Canadian Navy officer who pointed out that the flooding that AOPS is dealing with is not normal. Neither are problems with anchors or contaminated water.

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