BMT Fleet Technology will commence work to enable the decommissioned submarine, HMCS Ojibwa to become the centrepiece at the new Elgin Military Museum of Naval History being built in Port Burwell, Ontario.
Ojibwa has completed its route from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia to its temporary home in Hamilton, Ontario where it has been transferred to a shallow-draft barge and is currently being fitted with permanent cradles, designed by the BMT project team. Other engineering work such as the safe removal of any hazardous material will ensure the vessel’s integrity before it embarks upon its final journey to the museum in early September 2012.
Andy Wills, a Project Manager at BMT Fleet Technology explains: “We have achieved a major project milestone with the transfer to Hamilton and are delighted to be able to support the preservation of Canada’s naval heritage. Meticulous planning for every aspect of the move and mounting of the submarine means that the final steps are in place to give Ojibwa the prominent final resting place it deserves.”
Ojibwa has a proud history as Canada’s first Oberon Class submarine, purpose-built at the Chatham Ship Yards in England, to provide service to Canada and NATO during the Cold War. Many members of the Canadian Navy hold Ojibwa close to their hearts through the bonds formed when the submarine played its part in maintaining Canadian sovereignty.
Ian Raven, Executive Director of the Elgin Military Museum says: “BMT has played an integral role in the evaluation, movement and mounting of HMCS Ojibwa and we have been very fortunate to have their support. We are confident that their engineering insight and knowledge will allow us to safely transport Ojibwa to its permanent foundation overlooking Otter Creek and Lake Erie where it will educate and entertain visitors from all over the world.”
BMT delivers support to major project management offices in the Department of National Defence. Most recently, it was awarded a 12-month, $9.8M design project to further develop the Contract Design as one possible option for the Canadian Forces’ (CF) new Joint Support Ship (JSS).