Canada awards contract to Seaspan Vancouver to build two joint support ships.

On June 15, 2020, the Department of National Defence of Canada has released a statement to announce, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Public , Services and Procurement, and the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, announced that Canada has taken an important step toward delivering the RCN’s future fleet, by awarding a performance-based contract to Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards for the full construction of two Joint Support Ships (JSS). Valued at $2.4 billion (including taxes), this contract will allow the transition to full-rate construction of the first ship, the construction of early blocks for which began in June 2018, and then the second ship.
Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

Artist rendering of the future Protecteur-class ship for Joint Support Ships of Canadian Navy. (Picture source Canadian MoD)

Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS), the Government of Canada is equipping members of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) with modern, built-in-Canada ships and equipment needed to carry out their important work now and into the future, while supporting and creating jobs right across the country. The NSS contributes over a billion dollars to Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP) every year, while creating and maintaining more than 15,000 jobs annually in our shipbuilding industry and with Canadian suppliers of the marine sector.

The JSS (Joint Support Ships) will deliver fuel and other vital supplies to vessels at sea, offer medical and dental services, and provide facilities for helicopter maintenance repair. The presence of replenishment ships increases the range and endurance of operations at sea, allowing Canadian combat ships to remain at sea for significant periods of time without going to shore for resupply.

The Joint Support Ship (JSS) project will deliver two new ships of Protecteur-Class, as outlined in Strong, Secured, Engaged, Canada’s defence policy. These Joint Support Ships are being built for the RCN under the National Shipbuilding Strategy and will replace the auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) vessels that reached the end of their operational lives.

The Protecteur class (formerly known as the Queenston class) of naval auxiliaries for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) began as the Joint Support Ship Project, a Government of Canada procurement project for the RCN that is part of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy. It will see the RCN acquire two multi-role vessels to replace the earlier Protecteur-class auxiliary oiler replenishment vessels that were operated by the RCN.

The construction of the future Protecteur-class ships, began in June 2018, with delivery of the first vessel, the future HMCS Protecteur, in 2022/23. Following delivery by Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd, the RCN will conduct a series of trials to ensure the ship meets operational requirements. The second ship, the future HMCS Preserver, is expected to be delivered sometime in 2023/24.