The HMCS Protecteur is the name of the Royal Canadian Navy’s newest Joint Support Ship built by North Vancouver, B.C.-based vessel manufacturer Seaspan Shipyards, making it the longest naval ship built in Canada at roughly 569 feet.
Seaspan announced Dec. 13 that it had designed, built and launched the vessel, one of two ships replacing the former Protecteur-class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment vessels. The Protecteur and sister Joint Support Ship HMCS Preserver were designed to be nimble to serve multiple purposes and able to integrate with any Canadian or allied naval task group, according to Seaspan.
The two warships “will significantly extend the range and endurance of these groups through the provision of fuel, ammunition, aviation support, food, spare parts, exercise and gym facilities, and medical and dental care,” according to Seaspan.
The Protecteur is being prepared for sea trials at Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards, with ship delivery anticipated in late 2025.
Seaspan is constructing more than 20 major vessels for the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Coast Guard under the country’s National Shipbuilding Strategy.
“We look forward to delivering all the vessels in this class, and providing the Canadian Armed Forces with the equipment they need to protect Canadians, at home and abroad,” Seaspan Shipyards CEO John McCarthy said.
