CCGS Siyay is a Canadian Coast Guard Type 400 BHC AP1-88/400 hovercraft based in Richmond, British Columbia. The vessel was ordered in 1996 and launched and entered service in 1998. The hovercraft is predominantly used for servicing navigational aids and search and rescue duties.

Description

Siyay is a Type 400 BHC AP1-88/400 hovercraft, the second of two vessels constructed for the Canadian Coast Guard. Siyay, which was constructed out of aluminium, has a standard displacement of 35 LT standard and 69 LT at full load and measures. The hovercraft is 28.5 m long with a beam of 12 m. The vessel has a main deck cargo capacity of 110 m2 and a well deck measuring 8.2 x, serviced by a Palfinger - PK3000M 5000 kg crane. The hovercraft is powered by four Caterpillar 3416 TTA diesel engines turning two controllable-pitch propellers creating 2818 kW. Siyay has a maximum speed of 50 kn and a cruising speed of 45 kn. The vessel has a range of 300 nmi with the endurance of one day. The vessel has a complement of 7 with two officers and a five person dive team.

Construction and career

The contract to build Siyay and sister ship CCGS Sipu Muin was awarded in May 1996 to GKN Westland. The two hovercraft were built by Hike Metals & Shipbuilding Limited at their yard in Wheatley, Ontario. Siyay was launched in 1998 and completed in December of that year. At the time of construction, Siyay and Sipu Muin were the largest diesel-powered hovercraft in the world. The name Siyay is taken from the Salish word for friend. Siyay entered service in 1998 and is based at Richmond, British Columbia. Siyay is predominantly used for servicing navigational aids and search and rescue duties. The vessel is registered in Ottawa, Ontario. In July 1999, Siyay struck a rock breakwater and the craft sustained significant damage. In September 2014, Siyay underwent unscheduled maintenance, forcing the Canadian Coast Guard to redeploy other vessels to cover for the loss. However, by the end of the month, Siyay was back in service, rescuing seven people from a sinking fishing boat off the coast of British Columbia. In 2015, Siyay was taken out of service for a refit at the Seaspan shipyard, returning to operations in May 2016.

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