Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards has received a CAD2.4 billion (USD1.75 billion) contract from Public Services and Procurement Canada for the full construction of two new Protecteur-class Joint Support Ship (JSS) vessels for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN).
Canada’s JSS design has been adapted from Germany’s Type 702 Berlin-class replenishment ship. (Canadian Department of National Defence)
Awarded on 12 June, the performance-based contract provides for the transition to full-rate construction of the first JSS ship, for which early block construction began in June 2018, with the second ship to follow. The two ships, to be named HMCS Protecteur and HMCS Preserver , will be delivered by Vancouver Shipyards under the aegis of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS).
Planned for delivery in 2023 and 2025 respectively, the new JSS vessels are intended to provide under way support (liquids and solids) to naval task groups, limited sealift, and support to operations ashore. The ship design itself, provided by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Canada, is adapted from that of the German Navy’s Type 702 Berlin-class replenishment ship.
According to Public Services and Procurement Canada, the overall cost of the JSS acquisition rounds out at approximately CAD4.1 billion. Of this, CAD3.1 billion covers the purchase of the two ships, initial spares, all material, equipment, labour costs, and financial incentives based on achieving predetermined milestones.
The three associated contracts – acquisition of long-lead items, early block build and full-rate construction – have been awarded to Seaspan Vancouver Shipyards on an incremental basis. The design contract for the JSS project was awarded in February 2017, with early build construction commencing in June 2018 (a keel laying ceremony for Protecteur was held in January 2020).
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