The team at Seaspan’s Victoria Shipyards recently celebrated a significant project milestone with the successful removal of the Halifax-class frigate HMCS Winnipeg’s aft funnel. Work on the vessel continues to progress smoothly, with the vessel now alongside the south jetty.
The funnel, which was lifted off the vessel in August, will go back into place early next year after the team completes extensive steel repairs on both the funnel and gas turbine exhausts.
Just one day before completing the funnel removal, the team successfully undocked Winnipeg from the graving dock, marking the completion of the underwater scope of work. The project has now moved from hull-focused activities below the waterline to maintenance, modernization and capability upgrades on the vessel’s upper sections.
And lifting the funnel was no small feat. Removing the 35-ton (77,000-pound) funnel structure required extensive planning, technical expertise and close coordination across multiple disciplines, explained Kriss Ormiston, Senior Project Manager at Victoria Shipyards.
“Throughout the process, the steel team, crane operators, riggers, mechanics and the technical department were all working together,” Kriss said. “It’s a complex process, lifting something this heavy off a vessel. It was rewarding to watch.”
Before the lift could take place, teams conducted a detailed review of the boom angle, swing radius, lift path, crane configuration and estimated load weight. They also conducted a practice swing, verifying clearance from the vessel’s aft mast and ensuring that the lift would be completed safely.
Other recent upgrades accomplished by the team included painting the hull camouflage grey to match the HMCS Calgary which completed its Docking Work Period on May 22, 2025.
With a fresh coat of paint and the major funnel lift now complete, the team has transitioned its focus to ongoing maintenance and upgrades across the vessel. Current work includes fabricating new non-structural tanks, renewing steel on the upper decks, and replacing piping, electrical cabling, and equipment within the engine spaces as the ship’s four main engine compartments are reassembled.
Looking ahead, the team will install a new crane and multi-role boat on the starboard side of the vessel, bringing HMCS Winnipeg another step closer to returning to service. The Docking Work Period remains on track for completion in late 2027.