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From this week's Lookout http://www.lookoutnewspaper.com/archive/20070226/Lookout_Newspaper_8.07.pdf
Navy Public Affairs
Last November, Orca 55, the first of eight new Patrol Craft Training (PCT) ships, was formally accepted
into the Canadian Navy’s Pacific Fleet.
PCT ships replace the YAG 300 class woodenhulled tenders that have served the Canadian Navy in a
training role for more than 50 years.
Now alongside in its temporary berth at B Jetty, Orca is generating much interest among members of the
naval community, particularly from the three primary user groups: Venture, the Naval Officers Training
Centre (NOTC); Naval Reserve Divisions (NRD); and the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets (RCSC).
Many people are curious as to how Maritime Operations Group Four (MOG4) intends to qualify personnel
to operate them, and how the ships will be employed.
Recently, Orca completed its Sea Readiness Inspection by Sea Training Pacific (Minor War Vessel). The ship
is currently conducting local area operations in order to develop standard operating procedures.
Orca will be available for training operations on April 1 and the next PCT ship Raven 56 should be available
on May 14. While all three user groups will have access to the new ships, NOTC has priority to meet its
training schedule.
Victoria Shipyards recently accelerated the production of the PCTs and the navy may have all eight ships by
the summer of 2008.
The first three ships, Orca, Raven and Caribou, come with an Initial Cadre Training (ICT) package that is taught
by the ship’s contractor. Written to Naval Qualification Standard and Plan requirements, the first ICT occurred
from Oct. 25 to Nov. 3, 2006. The training included a week of classroom and on board familiarization followed
followed by a week of day sails. The initial ICT was a “train the trainer” opportunity involving personnel from
MOG4 Naval Tender Section (NTS), NOTC, and Canadian Forces Fleet School Esquimalt (CFFSE). Representatives
from NOTC and CFFS(E) are now busy fine tuning the ICT documents and developing the material for then Steady
State Class Training Package.
The second ICT session was Feb. 5 to16 and the third will be in May. The Directorate of Maritime Training and
Education loaded the February course, and will soon solicit nominations from Naval Reserve Divisions for the May
course. Naval Reserve Headquarters will coordinate the selection for these positions based on nomination messages
from individual units.
Early experience with the new ships has determined they require a minimum crew of five qualified personnel. Three
must be PCT qualified/endorsed. The Officer-in-Charge (OIC), Engineer and Chief Boatswain’s Mate (Buffer), all
must complete PCT familiarization training (ICT or navy steady state) and be endorsed by MOG4/Canadian Fleet
Pacific Engineering Staff, as applicable. The remaining two members of the crew must be NETP/O qualified as a minimum.
To be eligible for the PCT familiarization trainings OIC, Regular and Reserve Force Maritime Surface (MARS) Officers
require their Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate. PCT qualification will be granted once the candidate passes the MOG4
practical assessment (and a formal Tender Command Board for those who have not already done so for YAGs).
As with the current tenders, a Boatswain, QL6A or equivalent, may gain PCT endorsement as OIC after completing
42 days at sea in a Tender; 14 as 2 I/C and the same familiarization training, practical assessment and board as
the MARS Officer.
Officers of the Cadet Instructor Cadre (CIC) who are Tender C o m m a n d / C h a r g e qualified are eligible for the
PCT Familiarization training as OIC. PCT qualification will be granted once the candidate passes the MOG4 practical
assessment (and a formal Tender Command Board for those who have not already done so for YAGs).
Non Tender Charge/ Command CIC Officers, may gain PCT endorsement as OIC after completing the Tender OIC
course and 42 days at sea in a Tender, 14 as 2 I/C and the same PCT familiarization training, practical assessment
and board.
To be the Engineer in a PCT, Reserve Marine Engineering Systems Operators (MESO) will need their B Ticket and
must complete the PCT familiarization training package and pass an F44 (CANFLTPAC MWV Technical Staff)
Qualification Board.
The PCT Chief Boatswain Mate will need their Boatswain QL5A equivalent and must complete the PCT familiarization-
training package. To be considered PCT qualified, the candidate must pass a practical demonstration to the NTS
Chief-in-Charge or their delegated representative (normally the NTS Buffer) of their PCT specific seamanship skills
including safe operation of the hydraulic crane.
Naval Tender Section will supply a qualified engineer for all sea cadet trips. The engineer will be responsible to the
OIC for all technical matters. Sea cadet engineers will work under the supervision of the NTS engineer. NTS will also
supply a qualified Chief Boatswain Mate for all sea cadet trips. The Chief Boatswain Mate will be responsible to the
OIC for the safety of allseamanship evolutions, including operation of the crane.
It is expected that the navy’s Steady State Class Training Package for OICs, engineers and boatswains will commence
in the fall of 2007 or early in 2008. CIC Officers, Naval Reservists, and Regular Force members will be free to apply for
or be nominated for positions on the OIC, engineer, or boatswain familiarization courses, as appropriate, through their
chain of command. CFFS(E) and NOTC Venture are the responsible training establishments for the courses and will
promulgate course nomination and loading messages based on operational priorities.
The additional speed, range and on board facilities of the PCT allows for a wider area of operations than the about to
be retired YAGs. With accommodation for 20 personnel and excellent onboard facilities, the PCTs are well equipped for
their primary training role. The ships have an Integrated Control Platform System for ship control and monitoring and
a sophisticated integrated navigation and electronic chart display and information system that is consistent with the system
already in service in the Kingston and Halifax Class ships.
In the future, a hydrodynamic model of the PCT will be incorporated into the Bridge Simulator at the Naval Officer Training
Centre (NOTC). That willallow OIC candidates to practice ship handling prior to challenging the OIC practical assessment,
should they wish to do so.
Additional information is available on the MOG4 website under the heading “Orca”.
Navy Public Affairs
Last November, Orca 55, the first of eight new Patrol Craft Training (PCT) ships, was formally accepted
into the Canadian Navy’s Pacific Fleet.
PCT ships replace the YAG 300 class woodenhulled tenders that have served the Canadian Navy in a
training role for more than 50 years.
Now alongside in its temporary berth at B Jetty, Orca is generating much interest among members of the
naval community, particularly from the three primary user groups: Venture, the Naval Officers Training
Centre (NOTC); Naval Reserve Divisions (NRD); and the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets (RCSC).
Many people are curious as to how Maritime Operations Group Four (MOG4) intends to qualify personnel
to operate them, and how the ships will be employed.
Recently, Orca completed its Sea Readiness Inspection by Sea Training Pacific (Minor War Vessel). The ship
is currently conducting local area operations in order to develop standard operating procedures.
Orca will be available for training operations on April 1 and the next PCT ship Raven 56 should be available
on May 14. While all three user groups will have access to the new ships, NOTC has priority to meet its
training schedule.
Victoria Shipyards recently accelerated the production of the PCTs and the navy may have all eight ships by
the summer of 2008.
The first three ships, Orca, Raven and Caribou, come with an Initial Cadre Training (ICT) package that is taught
by the ship’s contractor. Written to Naval Qualification Standard and Plan requirements, the first ICT occurred
from Oct. 25 to Nov. 3, 2006. The training included a week of classroom and on board familiarization followed
followed by a week of day sails. The initial ICT was a “train the trainer” opportunity involving personnel from
MOG4 Naval Tender Section (NTS), NOTC, and Canadian Forces Fleet School Esquimalt (CFFSE). Representatives
from NOTC and CFFS(E) are now busy fine tuning the ICT documents and developing the material for then Steady
State Class Training Package.
The second ICT session was Feb. 5 to16 and the third will be in May. The Directorate of Maritime Training and
Education loaded the February course, and will soon solicit nominations from Naval Reserve Divisions for the May
course. Naval Reserve Headquarters will coordinate the selection for these positions based on nomination messages
from individual units.
Early experience with the new ships has determined they require a minimum crew of five qualified personnel. Three
must be PCT qualified/endorsed. The Officer-in-Charge (OIC), Engineer and Chief Boatswain’s Mate (Buffer), all
must complete PCT familiarization training (ICT or navy steady state) and be endorsed by MOG4/Canadian Fleet
Pacific Engineering Staff, as applicable. The remaining two members of the crew must be NETP/O qualified as a minimum.
To be eligible for the PCT familiarization trainings OIC, Regular and Reserve Force Maritime Surface (MARS) Officers
require their Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate. PCT qualification will be granted once the candidate passes the MOG4
practical assessment (and a formal Tender Command Board for those who have not already done so for YAGs).
As with the current tenders, a Boatswain, QL6A or equivalent, may gain PCT endorsement as OIC after completing
42 days at sea in a Tender; 14 as 2 I/C and the same familiarization training, practical assessment and board as
the MARS Officer.
Officers of the Cadet Instructor Cadre (CIC) who are Tender C o m m a n d / C h a r g e qualified are eligible for the
PCT Familiarization training as OIC. PCT qualification will be granted once the candidate passes the MOG4 practical
assessment (and a formal Tender Command Board for those who have not already done so for YAGs).
Non Tender Charge/ Command CIC Officers, may gain PCT endorsement as OIC after completing the Tender OIC
course and 42 days at sea in a Tender, 14 as 2 I/C and the same PCT familiarization training, practical assessment
and board.
To be the Engineer in a PCT, Reserve Marine Engineering Systems Operators (MESO) will need their B Ticket and
must complete the PCT familiarization training package and pass an F44 (CANFLTPAC MWV Technical Staff)
Qualification Board.
The PCT Chief Boatswain Mate will need their Boatswain QL5A equivalent and must complete the PCT familiarization-
training package. To be considered PCT qualified, the candidate must pass a practical demonstration to the NTS
Chief-in-Charge or their delegated representative (normally the NTS Buffer) of their PCT specific seamanship skills
including safe operation of the hydraulic crane.
Naval Tender Section will supply a qualified engineer for all sea cadet trips. The engineer will be responsible to the
OIC for all technical matters. Sea cadet engineers will work under the supervision of the NTS engineer. NTS will also
supply a qualified Chief Boatswain Mate for all sea cadet trips. The Chief Boatswain Mate will be responsible to the
OIC for the safety of allseamanship evolutions, including operation of the crane.
It is expected that the navy’s Steady State Class Training Package for OICs, engineers and boatswains will commence
in the fall of 2007 or early in 2008. CIC Officers, Naval Reservists, and Regular Force members will be free to apply for
or be nominated for positions on the OIC, engineer, or boatswain familiarization courses, as appropriate, through their
chain of command. CFFS(E) and NOTC Venture are the responsible training establishments for the courses and will
promulgate course nomination and loading messages based on operational priorities.
The additional speed, range and on board facilities of the PCT allows for a wider area of operations than the about to
be retired YAGs. With accommodation for 20 personnel and excellent onboard facilities, the PCTs are well equipped for
their primary training role. The ships have an Integrated Control Platform System for ship control and monitoring and
a sophisticated integrated navigation and electronic chart display and information system that is consistent with the system
already in service in the Kingston and Halifax Class ships.
In the future, a hydrodynamic model of the PCT will be incorporated into the Bridge Simulator at the Naval Officer Training
Centre (NOTC). That willallow OIC candidates to practice ship handling prior to challenging the OIC practical assessment,
should they wish to do so.
Additional information is available on the MOG4 website under the heading “Orca”.
