On Dec. 13, Seaspan’s Vancouver shipyard christened and launched the HMCS Protecteur, the first of the Royal Canadian Navy’s new Protecteur-class auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) vessels.
The 570’x79' HMCS Protecteur is the longest ship in Canada’s fleet and the fifth vessel to emerge from the joint support ship program, part of a broader initiative to modernize the Royal Canadian Navy’s surface fleet. The Protecteur-class ships will replace Canada’s aging AOR vessels. Two ships are planned as part of the program.
Seaspan claims the new AORs are capable of global deployment in both open-ocean and littoral environments. The ships are intended to carry fuel, ammunition, spare parts, and other supplies to support at-sea operations, while also providing logistical support ashore and the ability to respond to security threats.
Seaspan began construction of the Protecteur in June 2018. Originally scheduled for delivery in 2023, the vessel’s commissioning is now expected in late 2025. The second ship in the class, the HMCS Preserver, is projected for delivery in 2026.
The HMCS Protecteur has a maximum speed of 20 knots and a range of 10,000 nautical miles. The vessel displaces 21,597 tons, and can carry up to 239 personnel.
