Statement from National Research Vessel Task Team’s co-chairs on the CCGS Hudson’s retirement and the state of research vessel access for Canadian ocean researchers

The retirement of the CCGS Hudson, Canada’s main offshore research vessel on the Atlantic coast, is an exceptional opportunity to both commemorate the illustrious vessel’s work for Canada and ocean science and for Canada’s research community to come together and chart a course for the future.

The Hudson, which was put in service in 1962, has served three generations of Canadian ocean scientists and helped to put Canadian ocean science on the map. The vessel was everywhere: circumnavigating the Americas, passing through the Northwest Passage, sailing to the equator, northern Norway, and Spain; supporting numerous ground-breaking scientific discoveries of global importance; and performing other major services for Canada, including search-and-rescue. This included recovery of victims of the Ocean Ranger disaster on the Grand Banks in 1982. Its long career has earned it many thanks from Canadian researchers upon the news of its retirement.

An opportunity now presents itself for a national discussion about the future. The National Research Vessel Task Team (NRVTT) was formed because access to vessels for research is critical for the ability of Canadian scientists, across all disciplines and from all institutions, to explore and monitor, observe and understand our country’s marine environment and vast ocean spaces.

The work of Canadian ocean researchers is crucial for understanding the role of the oceans in climate and biodiversity change, as well as for exploring and protecting Canada’s enormous offshore spaces. This work has never been more important.

Limited access to research vessel time is a major obstacle for Canadian ocean research, from coast to coast to coast, for government and University-based researchers and others. The research community must now come together, across disciplines and sectors, to face this crisis, exemplified by the Hudson’s retirement, and create solutions for secure access to shiptime for critical research.

Signed,

Co-chairs of the National Research Vessel Task Team,