CCGS Leonard J. Cowley

Built in 1984 in Vancouver, British Columbia, the CCGS Leonard J. Cowley is used for fisheries patrol enforcement in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

The vessel is named after Newfoundland biologist Len Cowley, who later became assistant deputy minister of Fisheries and Oceans.  Mr. Cowley was the regional director general for Newfoundland from 1974 to 1981.  Before his death in 1982, Mr. Cowley had dedicated 22 years to the department.

The Cowley monitors fishing activities to fulfill Canada's commitment to the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization.  Since this often involves law enforcement, the vessel has an armed boarding team. Though its primary task is fisheries patrol, the Cowley can also carry out search and rescue operations.

One of the special features on board is its helicopter-handling capabilities, which includes an aft helicopter deck with a retractable hangar. There is an aqua-signal helicopter strobe beacon and VHF homing transmitter for navigation.  There is a twin agent-and-foam system installed for fire fighting on the helicopter deck.

The Cowley also has an autopilot with adaptive steering gear, a shilling rudder and a bow thruster for maneuvering. The rudder is the largest of its type ever installed and the bow thruster is a 250-horsepower constant speed, variable pitch tunnel thruster. The hull and machinery are reinforced to the highest standards for operating in ice.

There are two diesel-powered fast rescue crafts (FRCs) on board, one of which is a launch and recovery davit for FRCs.

The Cowley has a computer system, which identifies the exact location of the vessel, and the exact location of fishing vessels. This is helpful for recognizing vessels fishing without permission inside Canada's 200-mile limit. It has two radars, one of which has a target feed to the electronic charting unit. The vessel has electronic chart units that are computer-based and have a Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) feed.

The Cowley is equipped with three DGPS units, two Loran-C units and two gyro compasses.  It is also equipped with a Global Marine Distress Safety System, with Imarsat B and C, and other voice and data satellite communications systems. The vessel has seven portable cellular phones, two with fax capabilities.  There are two HF radio transceivers, two VHF radios, portable VHF transceivers, and two UHF transceivers for communicating with aircraft.  The motor control room has four portable UHF transceivers and the armed boarding team has UHF portable transceivers. The Cowley also has a Navtex receiver and a weather fax to receive weather charts.

The vessel has a crew of 21. And, at all times, at least one crewmember on board is a rescue specialist.

Vessel Particulars

¹Draft: How deep the vessel sits in the water.
²Displacement: Weight of vessel.