WATCH: Construction of longest warship ever built in Canada hits important milestone

Canadian shipbuilding company Seaspan has revealed that the Canadian Navy’s new joint support ship (JSS) project reached a construction milestone by completing the vessel’s hull.

As informed, the hull of HMCS Protecteur is now at its full length under the hard stand after a recent block move. The company emphasized that the unit, at 173.7 meters in length, is the longest naval vessel ever to be built in Canada,

HMCS Protecteur, the first of two joint support ships to be built by Seaspan as part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS), will be able to conduct a full range of military operations in high-threat environments. The naval vessel will have a cruising speed of 15 knots, a top speed of 20 knots and a range of ~10,800 nautical miles. It is scheduled for delivery in 2023.

HMCS Protecteur and HMCS Preserver will replace the former Protecteur-class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment vessels.

“As a warship, it will include sophisticated damage control and self-defence systems that will allow it to conduct a full range of military operations in high-threat environments. In addition to providing critical at-sea replenishment, these multi-purpose warships will also be capable of seamlessly integrating with any Canadian or allied naval task group, and will significantly extend the range and endurance of these groups,” according to Seaspan.

In 2019, Seaspan delivered Sir John Franklin and Capt. Jacques Cartier Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels (OFSVs) to the Canadian Coast Guard. These were the first two large vessels built and delivered under the NSS. Seaspan delicered a third OFSV to the Coast Guard – the future John Cabot – in 2020.