Launch of Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment
Soon the first of two Auxiliary Oilers Replenishment (AOR)1, the future His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Protecteur, being built by Seaspan Shipyard under the Joint Support Ship (JSS) project for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), will be named and launched. The following are short descriptions of some of the terms that could be used during such occasions.
Launch. A ship can be launched stern first, bow first or sideways (beamwise) down a building slip or slipway directly into the water, or ‘transitioned,’2 that is, carried by specialized vehicles from the wharf where it was built onto a barge. The barge is moved away from the wharf and semi-submerged, allowing the ship to float up. The launch usually occurs after a naming. The future Protecteur will be launched by being transitioned back to a careen, the term Seaspan uses for a type of drydock, which will submerge allowing the ship to float up
Building slip. An inclined launching berth or ramp where a ship is built. Seaspan is building ships on a flat area, not on inclined slips.
Naming. Though traditionally naming ceremonies were filled with religious aspects, increasingly they have become secularized. In the RCN the ceremony historically was called a christening but in modern times that has been changed to naming. A naming may occur coincident with a launch though with modern building using float ups the two events can be well separated. At a naming ceremony, after speeches and prayers, the sponsor breaks a bottle of wine or other liquid on the ship’s bow as a form of toast and then declares the ship’s name. It is at this point that the ship is officially named. Prior announcements are declarations of the intended name, and ships have on occasion had their name changed before their naming ceremony. During building a JSS project AOR is really ‘Seaspan Hull ###’ though it can also be known3 as ‘future HMCS Name’ or ‘future Name.’ The future HMCS Protecteur, JSS1, is Seaspan Hull 194 and the second AOR, the future HMCS Preserver, JSS2, is Seaspan Hull 195.
Acceptance. The occasion of signing a certificate by ship project and other government staff and by shipbuilder representatives indicating that the builder has achieved contract requirements to date and that the government will now assume responsibility for the ship. The occasion is marked by a small ceremony, usually in the ship’s captain’s cabin. For Protecteur, acceptance will occur some time after the launch and after builder’s trials and the government’s acceptance trials are completed, and before trials and the commissioning ceremony. Acceptance can be considered as ‘delivery’ of the ship by the builder, though that may be affected by contractual stipulations. After the acceptance a naval officer assumes command of the ship (having been ordered or commissioned to do so), relieving the shipbuilder’s civilian master. The ship is legally in commissioned service as of this time, and the identifier HMCS is put as part of the ship’s name.
Builder’s Trials4. Evaluation trials and inspections conducted by the builder alongside and at sea for the purpose of assuring the builder and the Navy that the ship is, or will be, ready for acceptance trials. These trials are a comprehensive test of all ship’s equipment and approximate the scope of the acceptance trials.
Commissioning. The ceremony marking the taking into active naval service of a ship. The event may be some months after the date when a naval officer took command and the ship entered commissioned service. Commission refers to the orders to take command; it is not the ship per se that is commissioned.
Sponsor. A person, traditionally a woman, selected for her or his relationship to the ship’s namesake or role and who represents the crown/state at ceremonies. It is said that the sponsor’s spirit and presence guides the ship throughout the service life of the ship.
Transition5. The movement, often sideways although can be longitudinally, of a ship from wharf to launch barge.
Wharf6. Marine infrastructure laid out parallel to the shore.
Notes:
1. “Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment” https://rusi-ns.ca/auxiliary-oiler-replenishment/
2. Seaspan uses the term ‘careened’ though that usually has a different meaning to mariners.
3. “Warship Orthography” https://rusi-ns.ca/warship-orthography/
4. “Defence Acquisition Glossary” https://www.dau.mil/glossary/pages/1513.aspx
5. “Shipbuilding Terms” https://rusi-ns.ca/shipbuilding-terms/
6. “Jetties, Piers and Wharfs” https://rusi-ns.ca/jetties-piers-wharfs/
photo: Seaspan
