The Coast Guard’s third new large fisheries science ship will soon arrive in its home port of St. John’s.

The John Cabot, named for the famed Italian explorer, was officially completed and launched at Seaspan Shipyards in Vancouver on July 3. It’s scheduled to begin its science missions in April of next year.

The John Cabot, along with sister ships Capt. Jacques Cartier and Sir John Franklin, were built as part of the federal government’s National Shipbuilding Strategy.

The Cabot will carry out fishing and acoustic surveys, collect information on the amount and location of various species, and compile data on marine ecosystems and the impact of human activity on fish and habitats.