COMING SOON TO THE FLIGHT DECK OF THE HMCS ANNAPOLIS!
RIGHT Concept drawing of the full scale replica airframe of the Sea King helicopter. The fuselage measures 48 ft by 9 ft, and the entire structure from tail probe rotor to main rotor tip is 69 ft. Created by Apex Structural Design, of Red Deer, Alberta.
BACKGROUND Since the April 2015 sinking of the former HMCS Annapolis, the ship has performed admirably by providing complex habitat to support species abundance and diversity in an area damaged by decades of log booming. Video footage by volunteer divers has contributed significantly to ARSBC’s five-year citizen science monitoring program, known as Project ABIS (Annapolis Biodiversity Index Study).
The study demonstrates the efficacy of carefully planned long term artificial reef development. A summary report of the ABIS findings can be found on the ARSBC website Projects page; additional details can be found on the OceanWise Research Institute website in their 2020 review of the marine ecological health of Howe Sound. The Ocean Wise report contains the abridged data collected by the ABIS project between 2015 and 2020, which has been verified in cooperation with the Vancouver Aquarium marine taxonomy specialist.
AIRFRAME CONCEPT The airframe of the Sea King replica will afford a pinnacle adaptation rising from the flat surface of the flight deck. It will be constructed to full scale in a skeletal design using benign steel bars, allowing current to flow freely and thus create additional habitat opportunities. Divers will be able to swim through the 50-foot fuselage from the port side crew door to the starboard side rescue door, and take advantage of cockpit photo opportunities.
PARTNERS The ARSBC is working in partnership with the Provincial Ministry Of Environment - Parks , building on the data collected through the ABIS Project, with new studies being planned by Artificial Reef Society managers.
Installing a full-size replica heli-copter – 16 feet high, 69 feet long, with five rotor blades – on the flight deck where the aircraft originally operated, is a symbolic tribute to all who served in the Royal Canadian Airforce aboard the former HMCS Annapolis. This innovation represents our tenth Society project, which will complement an already-existing reef site.
TIMELINE The project is subject to final government approvals and remains a work in process.
PROJECT SUPPORTERS
George Third & Son, Surrey BC
Reliable Tube, Langley BC
Apex Structural Design Ltd, Red Deer AB
Blue Water Systems, Delta BC
International Machine Transport Inc,
Canpac Marine Services, Vancouver
Rotomaxx, Parksville BC
Sea to Sky Transfer - Langley BC
Lightstone Video Services, Surrey BC
SPECIAL APPRECIATION TO
Provincial Ministry Of Environment - Parks
Squamish Nation
Tsleil-Waututh Nation
ASSOCIATES
New World Diving
Sea Dragon Charters
RIGHT Concept drawing of the full scale replica airframe of the Sea King helicopter. The fuselage measures 48 ft by 9 ft, and the entire structure from tail probe rotor to main rotor tip is 69 ft. Created by Apex Structural Design, of Red Deer, Alberta.
BACKGROUND Since the April 2015 sinking of the former HMCS Annapolis, the ship has performed admirably by providing complex habitat to support species abundance and diversity in an area damaged by decades of log booming. Video footage by volunteer divers has contributed significantly to ARSBC’s five-year citizen science monitoring program, known as Project ABIS (Annapolis Biodiversity Index Study).
The study demonstrates the efficacy of carefully planned long term artificial reef development. A summary report of the ABIS findings can be found on the ARSBC website Projects page; additional details can be found on the OceanWise Research Institute website in their 2020 review of the marine ecological health of Howe Sound. The Ocean Wise report contains the abridged data collected by the ABIS project between 2015 and 2020, which has been verified in cooperation with the Vancouver Aquarium marine taxonomy specialist.
AIRFRAME CONCEPT The airframe of the Sea King replica will afford a pinnacle adaptation rising from the flat surface of the flight deck. It will be constructed to full scale in a skeletal design using benign steel bars, allowing current to flow freely and thus create additional habitat opportunities. Divers will be able to swim through the 50-foot fuselage from the port side crew door to the starboard side rescue door, and take advantage of cockpit photo opportunities.
PARTNERS The ARSBC is working in partnership with the Provincial Ministry Of Environment - Parks , building on the data collected through the ABIS Project, with new studies being planned by Artificial Reef Society managers.
Installing a full-size replica heli-copter – 16 feet high, 69 feet long, with five rotor blades – on the flight deck where the aircraft originally operated, is a symbolic tribute to all who served in the Royal Canadian Airforce aboard the former HMCS Annapolis. This innovation represents our tenth Society project, which will complement an already-existing reef site.
TIMELINE The project is subject to final government approvals and remains a work in process.
PROJECT SUPPORTERS
George Third & Son, Surrey BC
Reliable Tube, Langley BC
Apex Structural Design Ltd, Red Deer AB
Blue Water Systems, Delta BC
International Machine Transport Inc,
Canpac Marine Services, Vancouver
Rotomaxx, Parksville BC
Sea to Sky Transfer - Langley BC
Lightstone Video Services, Surrey BC
SPECIAL APPRECIATION TO
Provincial Ministry Of Environment - Parks
Squamish Nation
Tsleil-Waututh Nation
ASSOCIATES
New World Diving
Sea Dragon Charters
A Sea King helicopter in operation
Artist's rendition of Sea King on the Athabaskan's flight deck
Artist's rendition of the Athabaskan
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Finished Model of the Sea King
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