VPA Welcomes First Patrol Boat in 10 Years

Allied Shipbuilders of North Vancouver, B.C. delivered the new patrol vessel Takaya to Vancouver Port Authority (VPA) – its first new patrol vessel in 10 years. The vessel’s namesake is attributed to the First Nations people who inhabit Burrard Inlet.

Designed by Robert Allan, Naval Architects of Vancouver, under the direction of Hans Muhlert, the new vessel is representative of an investment ensuring that the VPA is able to offer the utmost in services to its clients on an ongoing 24-hour a day basis. Equipped to handle the VPA’s normal duties of inspecting ships calling in the Port, as well as pollution response, the vessel will have search and rescue, and VIP harbor tour capacities. Classed in accordance with Transport Canada’s regulations for small passenger vessels for Home Trade III voyages, Takaya is propelled by twin high-speed diesels, each driving a specially designed high blade-area, five-bladed propeller through a reverse-reduction gearbox.

Robert Allan also served as the Owner’s Representatives throughout the bidding phase, and provided overseeing and supervision of work quality on behalf of the owners throughout construction and trials. Designed to offer a balanced combination of speed, maneuverability and seakeeping, the vessel’s configuration was developed by the designers in concert with a team of representatives of the Port boat crews, and was based on an extensive review of the features of the existing harbor patrol boat Kla-Wichen – also designed by Robert Allan in 1984. The design boasts a spacious forward cabin with all-round and overhead visibility, control stations forward, and a large seating area aft. The engine compartment can be accessed by a single large water-tight hatch in the aft deck, operated by gas springs, permitting ready access to the machinery for servicing, or for removal of engines or any large components. Takaya has also been designed to be fitted, at a future date, with an independent diesel-driven fire-fighting system.