ex-CCGS Cape Hurd berthed in Toronto
History
Canada
Name	Cape Hurd William Thornton
Operator	Canadian Coast Guard Toronto Fire Services (City of Toronto government)
Builder	Breton Industries Limited, Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia
Yard number	800748
Launched	1982
Christened	1982
Completed	1982
Acquired	1982
Commissioned	1982
Recommissioned	2015 with Toronto Fire Services
Decommissioned	2015 from CGS
In service	1982–present
Stricken	2015
Homeport	CCG Base Sarnia, Ontario 1982–2015 Toronto Fire Services Station 334: 2015–present
Identification	MMSI number: 316007022 Callsign: CG2821
Fate	Transferred as reserve ship for the Toronto Fire Services
Status	Retired from CCG in 2015 and active service with TFS since 2015
General characteristics
Type	Inland waters patrol boat / utility fireboat
Tonnage	55 gross tons
Length	21.4 m (70 ft 3 in)
Beam	5.5 m (18 ft 1 in)
Draft	1.3 m (4 ft 3 in)
Propulsion	2 MTU 8V396 Diesel engines
Speed	18 knots (33 km/h)
Range	1,400 nautical miles (2,600 km)
Endurance	2 days
Complement	4

CCGS Cape Hurd is a 21.4-metre (70 ft) mid-shore patrol vessel formerly serving with the Canadian Coast Guard and last stationed in Sarnia, Ontario.^[1] The vessel is classed for inland waters (Great Lakes) with no ice-class. It now serves as a fireboat in Toronto.

Cape Hurd was built by the now defunct Breton Industries Limited in Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia and delivered to the CCG in 1982. The ship was decommissioned by the Coast Guard and acquired by the Toronto Fire Services The ship entered service as William Thornton, named for William Thornton, the first Toronto fire fighter to die on duty. The ship replaced Sora, another ex-Coast Guard vessel. William Thornton is berthed at Station 334 along Queens Quay.^[2]

The vessel offers more capability than Sora as backup to the main fireboat William Lyon Mackenzie,^[2] but it does not have ice-breaking capabilities and removed from the waters during the winter. The vessel is equipped with a small crane and can launch a RHIB from the rear of the vessel. Upgrades were performed before it entered service with the TFS.

Other utility ships in CCG:

• CCGS Isle Rouge - sister ship to Cape Hurd built in 1980 by same builder and sold by CCG
• CCGS Louisbourg - a large mid shore vessel built at same shipbuilder as Cape Hurd in 1977

• Canadian Coast Guard ship adopted by Toronto Fire Service