CITY OF KINGSTON REPORT TO COUNCIL Report No.: 13-310 TO: FROM: RESOURCE STAFF: Mayor and Members of Council Denis Leger, Commissioner, Transportation, Properties & Emergency Services Speros Kanellos, Director, Real Estate & Construction Services DATE OF MEETING: SUBJECT: Coast Guard Base Kingston CCGS Corporal Teather C.V. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: In May, the Mayor s office received a letter from the Canadian Coast Guard regarding Kingston as a permanent port for the newly built mid-shore patrol vessel, the CCGS Corporal Teather C.V., of the Marine Security Enforcement Team (MSET) and the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG). Mid-shore vessels are used to enhance national security, respond to potential threats and safeguard and address federal on-water enforcement requirements in the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway. Kingston has been chosen for its proximity to the intended service area. The letter was forwarded to staff for follow-up. Staff has since met with members of the Marine Security Enforcement Team to conduct site visits to potential temporary and permanent docking facilities which may be appropriate for the CCGS Corporal Teather C.V. ship. During a subsequent follow-up telephone discussion with the CCG Commanding Officer, staff was advised that they have chosen the reconstructed dock on the north side of the LaSalle Causeway as their preferred temporary location and the southern portion of the Confederation Basin as a preferred permanent location. RECOMMENDATION: THAT Council direct staff to explore the feasibility and suitability of the development of a permanent docking facility for the CCGS Corporal Teather C.V. ship in the southern portion of the Confederation Basin in conjunction with and paid for by the Marine Security Enforcement Team (MSET) of the Canadian Coast Guard and report back on the findings of such review. Council Meeting 19 20
- Page 2 - AUTHORIZING SIGNATURES: Denis Leger, Commissioner, Transportation, Properties & Emergency Services Gerard Hunt, Chief Administrative Officer CONSULTATION WITH THE FOLLOWING COMMISSIONERS: Cynthia Beach, Sustainability & Growth Lanie Hurdle, Community Services Jim Keech, President and CEO, Utilities Kingston N/R N/R (N/R indicates consultation not required) Council Meeting 19 21
- Page 3 - OPTIONS/DISCUSSION: In May, the Mayor received a letter from Commanding Officer Ted van Gaalen regarding interest in Kingston as a permanent port for the newly built mid-shore patrol vessel, the CCGS Corporal Teather C.V. of the Marine Security Enforcement Team (MSET) of the Canadian Coast Guard. This was referred to staff for review and follow-up with the Canadian Coast Guard. The CCGS Corporal Teather C.V. is the third ship in a class called MSPV (mid-shore patrol vessel). The Coast Guard took possession in February 2013 and are currently preparing this new ship for operations. It is of the Hero Class, named for heroes that served in the military, RCMP and Canadian Coast Guard. This ship was named after Corporal Robert Gordon Teather, a member of the RCMP Police diving team in Surrey, B.C. Corporal Teather rescued two fishermen trapped in the hull of their capsized boat in the early morning hours of September 26, 1981. Corporal Teather passed away November 14, 2004. For his actions, Corporal Teather was awarded the Cross of Valour. The Mid-Shore designation means the vessel can operate up to 120 nautical miles offshore. They also have the capability to communicate securely with other Government of Canada vessels and national classified command and control networks. The ship is 42 metres long, 7 metres wide with a draft of just less than 3 metres (Exhibit A ). The crew size is 9 Coast Guard and typically 3 police officers. Mid-shore patrol vessels are becoming the primary platform for the joint Canadian Coast Guard and the RCMP s Marine Security Enforcement Team in the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway. Their primary mission is to enhance national security, respond to potential threats and safeguard and address Federal on-water enforcement requirements. The Canadian Coast Guard officials have indicated that having Kingston as its home and the establishment of a permanent port is critical to the MSET operations which are scheduled for operation for the next 25 years. The other two docking options that were being considered, Prescott and Oshawa, present larger challenges including dock space and location relative to the intended service area. On Friday, May 31, 2013, staff met with a CCG Commanding Officer to conduct site visits at potential temporary and permanent docking facilities which may be appropriate for the CCGS Corporal Teather C.V. ship. The length and depth of the ship limit the potential docking locations. The Canadian Coast Guard wants this ship to be integrated with the public and the boating community. In addition, the ship would require a number of resources, such as water, fuel, maintenance parts, and groceries, which would have to be sourced locally. As a result of the site visits, two temporary and two permanent docking facilities were identified as being of interest. Temporary Docking Facilities: 1. The MTO dock (beside the Wolfe Island Dock) 2. The reconstructed dock on the north side of the LaSalle Causeway (PW&GSC) Council Meeting 19 22
- Page 4 - Permanent Docking Facilities: 1. South Confederation Basin 2. Richardson Wharf Staff has since had a follow-up telephone discussion on Monday, August 12, 2013 with the CCG Commanding Officer. The official has advised that the MSET has chosen the reconstructed dock on the north side of the LaSalle Causeway as their preferred temporary location and the southern portion of the Confederation Basin as their preferred permanent location (Exhibit B ). It is working directly with Public Works and Government Services Canada for the temporary use of the Causeway docking facility. The southern portion of the Confederation Basin would require a substantial investment and considerable work to bring the docking facility up to standard. A structural review would have to be undertaken and cost estimates would need to be determined to see if it is a viable location. It is staff s understanding that the MSET is in the midst of seeking an appropriation of funding to do a feasibility study and for any required capital improvements, including dredging. Subject to the feasibility review, any agreements for capital improvement and use of a City docking facility would need to be approved by Council. The City currently leases the Confederation Basin water lots from Fisheries and Oceans Canada who can provide the City with notice at any time that it wishes to take back any or all of the Basin. The City owns the seawall around Confederation Basin as well as around Battery Park. The proposed docking facility is in the southern portion of Confederation Basin and is used for transient boating dockage (boaters who dock for short periods of time, i.e. for a day or overnight). The berthing or docking requirements would likely be from the beginning of April to the end of November with the CCGS Corporal Teather C.V. not being physically in port for approximately 40% of this time. The MSET has offered to allow the City to rent out the space to transient boats during those times. The Department of Recreation and Leisure Services is currently working on a Marina Business Plan that will be completed in 2014. This plan will include current operations and possible future developments. This mooring location will not impact any future marina developments. Once the necessary approvals have been secured with the federal government, the ship will be ready for berthing in its preferred temporary location within the next 4 to 8 weeks. City staff will report further on the feasibility, suitability and any developments in any federal appropriation of funding for the MSET s preferred permanent docking facility in the southern portion of Confederation Basin. EXISTING POLICY/BY LAW: Revenue Leasing and Licensing Policy. NOTICE PROVISIONS: N/A Council Meeting 19 23
- Page 5 - ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS: This report and related information is available in alternative formats upon request. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS: There are no financial considerations at this time. CONTACTS: Speros Kanellos, Director, Real Estate & Construction Services Ext. 3133 Kathy Gray, Property Specialist, Real Estate & Construction Services Ext. 2429 Wally Ferris, Director, Recreation & Leisure Services Ext. 1302 Luke Follwell, Manager, Recreation Facilities Ext. 1815 OTHER CITY OF KINGSTON STAFF CONSULTED: N/A EXHIBITS ATTACHED: Exhibit A Picture of the CCGS Corporal Teather C.V. Exhibit B Confederation Basin Preferred Permanent Location Council Meeting 19 24
CCGS Corporal Teather C.V. Exhibit A Report No. 13-310 Council Meeting 19 25
Exhibit B Report No. 13-310 North South Confederation Basin Council Meeting 19 26