2022 RCN Naval Architecture Conference is in the books!

This year’s roll-out of the annual RCN Naval Architecture Conference, held Feb. 22-24, was an outstanding success. Despite, or perhaps because of the virtual nature, there was a great turnout, with more than one hundred people in attendance, representing the Royal Canadian Navy’s technical facilities on both coasts, academia, research, and industry. We had a fantastic mix of topics including: Current RCN fleet issues, new ship capability and delivery projects, Defence Research and Development Canada research, digital solutions from Babcock, lessons learned from Class Societies, decarbonization in the maritime industry, and Royal Navy emergency response.

As the Halifax-class frigates approach the end of design life, the Nav Arch community is addressing two main areas of concern. The first pertains to stability and the management of weight growth until the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) is delivered. The Directorate of Naval Platform Systems (DNPS 2-3) is actively engaged in evaluating the current status of the class, and identifying potential solutions that will allow the ships to meet requirements for intact and damaged stability, while limiting operational restrictions. The aim is to take the margin and stability lessons learned from the Halifax class, and apply them to the design work being undertaken for CSC.

The second area of concern is the 5200-tonne displacement limit outlined in the Halifax Class Design Disclosure Document, and corrosion. The displacement limit is related to the stability challenges, and a separate task (with DNPS 2-2) to re-assess the structure is underway to determine whether this can be exceeded, or if operational restrictions will be necessary. The issues with corrosion are ongoing and not unique to the Halifax class, and are being discussed in the Corrosion Material State Working Group.

For next year’s conference we are hoping that an in-person event will be possible, in conjunction with video teleconferencing, to allow for the widest possible engagement by the Nav Arch community. We are also looking to include presentations from PMO CSC, and the submarine replacement project, so as to involve these growing areas of interest. If you have any questions about the Nav Arch Conference, or are interested in pursuing this engineering specialization, please contact the undersigned.

Most of the presentations from the 2022 Nav Arch Conference are available on the Naval Architecture Conference Sharepoint site (https://collaboration-materiel.forces.mil. ca/sites/MEPM/DNPS/DNPS2/RCNNAC/RCN%20 NAC%202022/Forms/AllItems.aspx), available through the DND Intranet. If you are interested in seeing the full list of presentations, or obtaining copies of the PowerPoint slides, please contact LCdr Mark Bartek, mark.bartek@forces.gc.ca.