Canadian frigate HMCS Fredericton returns to fleet after dry-docking period

Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Fredericton is ready to return to sea after spending over a year docked at Irving Shipbuilding’s Halifax shipyard undergoing maintenance and upgrades.

The process was ceremonially completed last week as the ship’s company of HMCS Fredericton marched onto the ship to raise the Royal Canadian Navy flag.

The next in line for the upkeep is HMCS Montreal which arrived for a docking work period in August 2018.

Over 45 Nova Scotia-based suppliers worked with Halifax Shipyard on the Fredericton docking work period, including Maritime Pressure Works, MacKinnon & Olding, CMS Steel Pro, Fleetway, and Gil-Son Construction, among others.

“Halifax Shipyard and our shipbuilders have performed Halifax-class modernization and maintenance work for almost 10 years with a cost and schedule reputation to be proud of,” said Kevin McCoy, President, Irving Shipbuilding. “Congratulations to our shipbuilders on the successful docking work period for HMCS Fredericton and continuing our legacy of maintaining ships for Canada.”

In addition to undergoing regular upgrades, the Halifax-class frigates are also set to receive the Underwater Warfare Suite Upgrade (UWSU) which will modernize the underwater warfare sensor suite that is currently installed on the frigates, enhancing their anti-submarine warfare capabilities. This undertaking is expected to start next year.