June 6 - HMCS Ojibwa completed its 12-day journey across Canada from Halifax to Hamilton with a little help from Heddle Marine Service Inc and McKeil Marine Limited.
The 2,500 tonne submarine (pictured below) entered Canadian service in 1965 and served the Royal Canadian Navy and NATO throughout the Cold War until her decommissioning in 1998.
Planning for the submarine's 1,200 km voyage required innovative marine solutions and a detailed engineering study of each step to verify stability, deck loading, sea fastening and effects that weather would have on the transportation process.
Ojibwa traveled through the St. Lawrence River and across Lake Ontario on Heddle Marine's floating drydock; towed by the Florence M, part of the McKeil Marine fleet.
"We are proud to be part of Project Ojibwa," said Rick Heddle, who was in Halifax to supervise the loading of the submarine for its safe journey to Hamilton where, it will spend the summer at the Heddle shipyard receiving some early restoration work and permanent cradles to assist in the transportation to its final destination.
On September 7th, the Ojibwa will arrive by barge in Port Burwell to be transported overland to the location that will be her permanent home. After extensive restoration over the upcoming winter, the Ojibwa will open as a military museum in the summer of 2013.
Heddle Marine Service Inc. is a full service ship repair yard that provides expert repair services to all types and various sizes of vessels in the marine industry. Established in 1987, it is the only marine repair firm that operates multiple floating dry-docks on the Canadian side of the Great Lakes.
Operating since 1956, McKeil Marine's core business is providing cost effective marine transportation and project services for a wide array of industries. With its skilled sailing and support crew, marine architects and engineers, the company works closely with customers to provide innovative marine solutions throughout the Great Lakes to Eastern Canada and the Arctic.
"The Hamilton Port Authority is proud that Heddle Marine and McKeil Marine call the Port of Hamilton home and we are delighted to welcome the Ojibwa into Hamilton, one of many interesting cargo types to move through the Port." says Ian Hamilton vice president, Business Development.
