Research and Development at Sea

DRDC Atlantic Fact Sheet

 

CFAV Quest” in Newfoundland

The research, development, and testing of the systems needed by the Canadian Navy to maintain a state of readiness for maritime warfare often requires that the laboratory be transported to the field, so that the work can be performed under "real world" conditions.

To this end, the Defence R&D Canada – Atlantic employs the Canadian Forces Auxiliary Vessel QUEST. Maintained by the Navy and manned by Maritime Forces Atlantic Auxiliary seamen, QUEST conducts 7 to 10 trials per year, spending up to 160 days at sea. These trials encompass a wide range of R&D activity, from research on the acoustic properties of the ocean to experiments on ship signatures and safety. As well, the evaluation of prototype acoustic detection systems is often the first step in the process leading to procurement of new systems for the Navy.

This broad range of R&D activities requires a capable and versatile vessel, thus QUEST was designed with spacious laboratories, large working deck areas, and very capable marine cranes and specialized equipment handling systems. The vessel was designed with a large margin of stability and this, combined with its roll-stabilization system and constant displacement systems, makes QUEST a safe and stable platform from which to carry out experiments, even in heavy seas.

Of particular note are the acoustic quieting features of the vessel, which reduce the ship’s radiated noise to virtually undetectable levels when the vessel is configured in its "quiet state". QUEST has conducted research in support of other Government Departments, Universities, and Canadian Industry, where joint research is mutually beneficial. QUEST has participated in Canadian and NATO naval exercises requiring the operational evaluation of prototype equipment.

General

Designer: • Canadian Department of National Defence

Builder: • Burrard Shipbuilding & Drydock Ltd., Vancouver, Canada (1969)

Construction: • General Purpose Research Vessel (Steel), Lloyd’s Class 100A1 Ice Class1

Mid Life Refit: • Friede Goldman Newfoundland (FGN), Newfoundland, Canada (1997/99)

Ship Characteristics

Dimensions: • 76m x 12.6m x 4.8m (length x beam x draft)

Displacement: • 2130 tonnes standard; 2200 tonnes full load

Main Propulsion: • Diesel electric, twin shaft, twin rudder, 2 – 10 cyl. Fairbanks-Morse 38D8 diesels driving 2 – GE electric motors

Auxiliary Propulsion and Electrical: • 1 – 750kw gas turbine driving 2 – 500kw generators in tandem Propulsion providing AC for ship service and/or DC for propulsion and a 150kw and Electrical: emergency diesel generator

Steering: • Integrated Steering & Autopilot RC Marine

Other: • Retractable bow thruster, ship roll stabilization system and water displacement fuel tanks

Max Speed: • 15 knots

Endurance: • 10, 000 nm @ 12 knots, 35 days

Complement

• 10 officers, 14 crew, up to 21 scientific and trials personnel

Electronics

Radar: • Racal-Decca Bridgemaster 2, "X" band and "S" band

Communication and Navigation: • Full suite of modern navigation and communication and Navigation equipment

Special:
• Echo sounders
• Sub-bottom profile
• Current profiler
• Directional wave measurement system
• Wave height meter
• Environmental sensor
• Bathymetry
• Expendable bathythermograph launcher
• Radio direction finder
• Underwater telephone

Unique Features

Stabilized Electrical Power: • In combination with fitted heavy batteries, the 125 kva uninterrupted power supply (UPS) provides power to scientific instrumentation in the event of shipboard power interruption, and for quiet state operations.

Acoustic: • Main propulsion diesels raft mounted and acoustically hooded with raft de-coupled from the hull. The 750kw gas turbine, for quiet state operations, is located in superstructure (02deck) and is also acoustically isolated. The hull and sea-bays are coated internally with thick visco-elastic acoustic and de-coupler tiles. Internal divisions consist of special transmission loss bulkheads and acoustic ceilings, ventilation and piping systems, designed to minimize noise, and the steering hydraulics noise is suppressed. Unique, 5-bladed propellers provide low noise performance.

Laboratories and Workshops: • Spacious "wet" and "dry" laboratory spaces capable of holding and Workshops: up to 53 "racks" of scientific instrumentation, plus well equipped electronics and mechanical workshops. All scientific areas and workshops are linked to a local area computer network.

For more information

Manager/Technical Services
Phone: (902) 426-3100 ext. 143
E-mail:

Defence R&D Canada – Atlantic
P.O. Box 1012, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 3Z7
Phone: (902) 426-3100 Fax: (902) 426-9654

www.atlantic.drdc-rddc.gc.ca
Fact Sheet No. TS0102
© DRDC Atlantic 2002

[Download PDF file]