CCGS Alfred Needler

CCGS "Alfred Needler" is an Offshore Fishery Science Vessel operated by the Canadian Coast Guard.ref|Ccg

CCGS "Alfred Needler" was constructed in 1982 at Ferguson Industries Ltd., Pictou and commissioned into the Department of Fisheries and Oceans as MV "Alfred Needler". She was named after eminent Canadian fisheries scientist Dr. Alfred Needler who developed a method of accurate fish counts from small surveys.ref|Bio1

She was transferred into the Canadian Coast Guard in 1995 after CCG was merged into DFO and took over the department's fleet of research vessels and renamed CCGS "Alfred Needler". The vessel is primarily used as a research platform by the Science Sector of DFO, as well as other departments and agencies in the Government of Canada.

The "Alfred Needler" is used by Canada and the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) to conduct fisheries surveys; as such, she retains the configuration of a commercial trawler, although her fish holds are converted to laboratory space. The samples collected are used to study the population and health of various species of ocean life.ref|Bio1

CCGS "Alfred Needler" is part of CCG Maritime Region and is homeported at CCG Base Dartmouth, although she is often alongside at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography. She is one of several fishery research vessels operated by the Government of Canada to monitor migratory fish stocks in the North Atlantic.ref|Bio2

CCGS "Alfred Needler" experienced an engine room fire on 30 August 2003. There were no casualties although the ship sustained $1.3 million in damage. The cause of the fire was an oil leak in an incorrectly repaired turbocharger.ref|Fire

References

# [http://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/fleet/more_e.asp?name=ALFRED+NEEDLER CCGS "Alfred Needler" - official CCG webpage] , Canadian Coast Guard
# [http://www.bio.gc.ca/SHIPS/needler-e.html Bedford Institute of Oceanography - CCGS "Alfred Needler"] , Department of Fisheries and Oceans
# [http://www.mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/review/e/html/2001/BIO-English.html Bedford Institute of Oceanography: 2001 in Review] , Department of Fisheries and Oceans
# [http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/domino/reports.nsf/html/20070204se01.html Case Study: Maintenance failures and the need for current manuals] , Auditor General of Canada