The keel unit of the future HCMS Fraser has been moved to the Paint Hall at Irving Shipbuilding’s Halifax Shipyard.
The initial block of the first River-class destroyer being built for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) has been moved out of the Module Hall in Nova Scotia just days after the warship’s official keel-laying ceremony was held.
At that event Minister of Government Transformation Joël Lightbound had called the River-class programme “Canada’s most ambitious naval build in decades” and added: “It demonstrates Canada’s ability to deliver complex defence projects at home, using Canadian talent while generating long-term economic benefits for all.”
And Irving President Dirk Lesko had commented: “Today’s keel-laying for the future HMCS Fraser highlights the evolution of a sovereign capability which has been developed in Halifax to deliver the objectives of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy.
“Our 3,000 shipbuilders are proud to be building ships that will serve Canada for decades to come. We’re producing the next generation fleet for the Royal Canadian Navy, while delivering on every one of our commitments to sustain the legacy ships.”
The RCN is set to acquire up to 15 River-class warships by 2050 in a C$77 billion (£42 billion) programme; the 151-metre ships will displace about 7,800 tonnes will have a maximum range of around 7,000 nautical miles and be capable of sailing at up to 27 knots.
In 2011 Irving Shipbuilding was selected to build the new fleet of combat vessels for the RCN, which also include the six Harry DeWolf-class Arctic offshore patrol vessels AOPVs already delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy.
It is also building two AOPS variants for the Canadian Coast Guard; one is scheduled to be commissioned later this year and the other in 2027.
- You can read more details about the keel-laying on the Irving website