by Janet Smellie
Northern News Services

NNSL (Apr 27/98) - Suffering a break down in two of its four engines during its first official sailings out of Esquimalt, B.C. clinched it -- HMCS Yellowknife was no ordinary ship.

Don't get us wrong. It's ready to take on its duties within the Pacific fleet, roaming the B.C. coast, conducting everything from mine-sweep surveillance to searching out bad guys, but like its namesake city, the HMCS Yellowknife is just going to do things a little differently and that's all there is to it.

Last weekend about 200 Yellowknifers, both past and present, travelled to Esquimalt, B.C. for the commissioning of this state-of- the-art defence vessel into the Canadian Navy.

The ceremony was in keeping with the shenanigans that went on during the ship's launching in Halifax last summer. There the ship refused to allow Pat McMahon to whack its bow with a champagne bottle. Instead, it launched itself free from port. Then there was the accident in the Panama Canal when it hit a break wall. By the time last weekend's commissioning rolled along, it only seemed fitting that a few more snags would be on the agenda.

Storm clouds arriving moments before the commissioning ceremony brought enough wind to knock over flags and sweep away Senator Willie Adams' speech, giving Navy officials little choice but to cut the 90-minute ceremony to 35 minutes, fearing tents were going to collapse upon well-wishers.

"The winds didn't pick up until all the politicians arrived," laughed Yellowknife Mayor Dave Lovell from on board the ship following the commissioning.

"It's definitely keeping with the tradition of Yellowknife, by being so unpredictable," noted Pat McMahon, the ship's sponsor.

Call to duty

But unpredictability and bad luck aside, this ship is also quite the operator.

The seventh of the Kingston Class of the Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels, the HMCS was designed to help fulfil the naval reserve's expanding role within DND's maritime command.

Powered by four diesel alternators, each providing 600V, 715 kW power to two electric motors, it offers great manoeuvrability at low and high speeds.

With the primary mission being coastal surveillance and patrol, this vessel is also capable of mine counter-measures, involving mine-sweeping and mine- hunting. It will do search and rescue as well as help the Coast Guard and RCMP intercept drug smugglers off the B.C. coast.

"It sure isn't your ordinary clunker. I think it's a great compliment to Yellowknife, unique behavior and all," said long-time Yellowknifer Jack Adderly.

"I was impressed with the ship and the way Yellowknife people here were proud of it. That ship can do some pretty impressive things."

Familiar faces

"It definitely seems to have a mind of its own," noted HMCS Captain Lt.-Cmdr. Douglas Bancroft during the media tour of the ship. "It does what it wants, when it wants. It's got personality."

Other familiar faces who made the journey to the commissioning included former NWT Air owner Bob Engel, and his new bride Roxanne, Don and Claire Avison, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Stapleton, Mike Moore, Jean Fowler, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Walker and Barb Bromley.

As for the HMSC's next mission? Crew members will be jumping aboard for its inaugural Pacific journey up the coast to Skagway, Alaska early next month. The week-long trip will also allow the ship's sponsor, Pat McMahon, who will be on board, to settle into her new role as "crew mom."

"It's a typical Navy tradition. I'm really excited about it. It's a little disconcerting to walk into a room and have 40 some-odd young men and women say 'Hi, mom' when you're not used to having that many say 'Hi, mom' but it's also a lot of fun. I think this is great for Yellowknife."