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HMCS PORTE ST JEAN 180
Gate Vessel
Built by George T. Davie & Sons Ltd., Lauzon, Que, Porte St. Jean was commissioned on 05 Dec 1951. Named after the gate of the French fortifications at Quebec City and Louisbourg, they were designed specifically to operate the gates in anti-submarine booms, but served primarily as training vessels in peace-time. Porte St. Jean was paid off on 31 Mar 1996.
Specifications on completion: Displacement: 420 tons full load, Length: 125 ft, Beam: 26.3 ft, Draught: 13 ft, Speed: 11 kts, Complement: 3 officers, 20 men, Armament: 1-40mm. The 40mm was later removed.
From Shipfax by Mac Mackay: PORTE ST JEAN ended up at the Derecktor Shipyard in the Fort Lauderdale FL area of Dania Beach, and may have been owned by the yard's founder, the late Robert Derecktor. After his death in 2001 work on converting the ship to a yacht was suspended. One photo has been located showing the work in progress, with the deckhouse removed and the start of a new flying bridge type wheelhouse. On April 29, 2004 the ship was taken to sea and sunk as an artificial fish reef and dive site. Tracing the ship was difficult because it had been renamed (perhaps unofficially) Miss Dania Beach. Its location is in Broward County at 26 degrees 08.605 minutes N x 80 degrees 05.502 minutes West in 71 feet of water. A plaque on shore points to the Bob Derecktor Memorial Reef.
Photos and Documents Ship's company photos The Ship's Bell
RCN Memories: Adrift on Lake Ontario
Commanding Officers
Cdr Leo Ian MacDonald - dates of command unknown
Lt Norman W. Fox-Decent, RCN(R) - 1963
Lt Norman W. Fox-Decent, RCN(R) - 1964
They shall not be forgotten
Former Crew Members Gagnon, Pierre Paul - Summer 1971 Medford, Gary - 1965
Photos and Documents
(PSJ001) HMCS PORTE ST JEAN 180 - undated // DND / RCN PHOTO (PSJ002) Pierre Paul Gagnon from HMCS DONNACONA on board HMCS PORTE ST JEAN for Summer training - 1971 // Courtesy of Pierre Gagnon (PSJ003) Article on the MV Miss Dania Beach (formerly HMCS PORTE ST JEAN) being sunk as an artificial reef off Dania Beach, Florida // Source: Facebook page for "M/V Miss Dania Beach Artificial Reef"
(KM01) Articles on the summer training cruise on the Great Lakes by HMCS PORTE ST JEAN, HMCS PORTE ST LOUIS and HMCS SCATARI // The Windsor Star, Sat., 11 Jul 1964 // Courtesy of Ken McLeod (KM02) Page 4 continuation of the above article "The Navy's In" (KM001) // The Windsor Star, Sat., 11 Jul 1964 // Courtesy of Ken McLeod (KM03) HMCS PORTE ST LOUIS and HMCS PORTE ST JEAN visit Rochester, NY, USA // The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle - Sat., 04 Sep 1965 // Courtesy of Ken McLeod
(GM16-GM17) HMCS Porte St Louis 183 ahead, HMCS PORTE ST JEAN 180 foreground // UNTD Training Cruise May 1965 (GM18) Bridge of HMCS PORTE ST JEAN 180, May 1965 (GM19) HMCS PORTE ST JEAN 180, May 1965 (GM20) HMCS PORTE ST JEAN 180 (foreground), followed by HMCS PORTE ST LOUIS 183 and HMCS SCATARI 514
(GM21) Gary Medford climbing out of the hatch on HMCS PORTE ST JEAN 180, May 1965 (GM22) Gary Medford posing in Forward Mess of HMCS PORTE ST JEAN 180. Behind the ladder is the hatch to the Main Mess where the hammocks are slung (GM23) Deck evolution, HMCS PORTE ST JEAN 180, May 1965 (GM24) HMCS PORTE ST JEAN 180, May 1965 (GM25) Main Mess, HMCS PORTE ST JEAN 180, with space for a dozen or so hammocks, one of which is still slung. Officer Cadet A. Hoole, Winnipeg closet to ladder. The Rope ladder connects with the round hatch in picture "GM26".
(GM26) UNTD Officer Cadets Pete Crocker, R. French, H. (Hubey) Hillier all from Newfoundland. The hatch in front of them leads down to the Main Mess deck. see photo "GM25" (GM27) Officer Cadets D. (Hinker) Hicks (left) and Pete Crocker both from Nfld in forward mess, HMCS PORTE ST JEAN 180, which contained a few bunks (GM28) M. Holland (front) , Victoria and D. Hicks, Nfldin forward mess (with bunks), HMCS PORTE ST JEAN 180, May 1965 (GM29) Gary Peak, Winnipeg and A. Brown, Victoria peel potatoes while cooky inspects Fort Henry, Kingston, ON. (GM30) HMCS PORTE ST JEAN 180, Kingston, ON, May 1965
(GM31) L-R: J.Hearn, Nfld; Jones, GaryMedford, Montreal; I. Keighley, BC on the quarterdeck of HMCS PORTE ST JEAN 180, Kingston, ON, May 1965 (GM32) Breakfast in the Main Mess, HMCS PORTE ST JEAN 180, May 1965 (GM33) Lunch in the Main Mess, HMCS PORTE ST JEAN 180, May 1965. Note the mik bars for slinging your hammock (mik) (GM34) FN practice on HMCS PORTE ST JEAN 180, May 1965. Target being towed by HMCS PORTE ST LOUIS 183 (GM35) Upper deck area on HMCS PORTE ST JEAN 180, May 1965. Lt Wooten facing hatch
(GM36) HMCS PORTE ST JEAN 180 alongside HMCS CATARAQUI, Kingston, ON, Jun 1965 (GM37) Cook hamming it up in the galley on HMCS PORTE ST JEAN 180, Jun 1965 (GM38) HMCS PORTE ST JEAN 180, Great Lakes, Jun 1965 (GM39) Yeoman on the quarterdeck, cook with his back to the camera, HMCS PORTE ST JEAN 180, Jun 1965 (GM40) Anchor windlass compartment on HMCS PORTE ST JEAN 180 From the collection of Gary Medford Courtesy of Gary Medford
(JL01) HMCS PORTE STE LOUIS 183 and HMCS PORTE STE JEAN 180 Gate Vessels Visit Picton The Picton Gazette, 12 Jul 1967
(JL02) Two Naval Vessels to Lake Ontario Cement Dock - Picton Gazette 07 Jul 1967 (JL03) Ships Visit Is Huge Success - The Picton Gazette, 12 Jul 1967 (JL04) HMCS PORTE ST JEAN and HMCS PORTE ST LOUIS Open to Visitors - The Picton Gazette, 14 Jul 1967 Researched by / Courtesy of John Lyons
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In memory of those who have crossed the bar 
