Specialized Facilities

Our unique facilities support our technology innovation and can be leased for specification, design and testing. They are used by civilian and defence organizations globally. Contact our Business Development Office for information.

Business Development Officer
Defence R&D Canada - Atlantic
P.O. Box 1012
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Canada B2Y 3Z7
E-Mail:

Open for business

Quest

DRDC Atlantic's research ship, the 2200 ton CFAV Quest, was specially designed for open ocean acoustic research. Extreme measures were taken to reduce the transfer of sound from her machinery to the sea, preserving the low-noise environment essential for making sensitive acoustic measurements. Quest is designed for operation in light ice conditions and has been used for experiments in Arctic waters in the summer. Well set-up laboratories, excellent accommodation (crew of 24 plus 21 scientific personnel), good deck space, winches, cranes and other handling equipment combine to make her one of the more effective vessels for acoustic research in service today. More Information

Acoustic Calibration Barge

DRDC Atlantic operates an underwater acoustic calibration facility on a barge moored in Bedford Basin. The main work area, including the 9 m by 18 m rectangular well, is covered by a deckhouse to permit all-weather operation. Loads up to 5 tonnes can be moved anywhere within the deckhouse; transducers can by mounted and rotated at depths from 2 to 40 m. Using a variety of standard transducers, computer-controlled acoustic calibrations can be performed from 10 Hz to 200 kHz. More Information

Acoustic Calibration Tank

The Acoustic Tank Facility, located in the French Cable Building of the main DRDC Atlantic site, is primarily used for calibration of hydrophones and other underwater acoustic transducers, whose size and frequency range are comparable with the tank's dimensions. The freshwater tank is circular in cross section, 7.3 metres in diameter and 4.5 metres deep. 

High Pressure Vessel

DRDC Atlantic operates a pressure vessel which can be used to simulate ocean depths of up to 5975 meters of water, a pressure of 58,600 kPa. The tank is a single forged billet of HY80 steel, and will accept a test specimen up to 91 cm diameter by 224 cm long. There are electrical feedthroughs in both the cover and the bottom of the tank so that test specimens may be monitored or powered as required for the test and calibration purposes, while pressurized.