HMCS Protecteur (JSS1) is the fifth ship designed, built and launched by Seaspan under the National Shipbuilding Strategy for the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN). The Protecteur is the first of two Joint Support Ships (JSS) that are being constructed by Seaspan and will replace the former Protecteur class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment vessels. Once delivered, the vessel will provide fuel, food, supplies, water, maintenance and medical facilities in support of Canada and its allies.
On December 2024, Seaspan Shipyards (Seaspan), was proud to host the naming ceremony and launch celebration for the RCN’s new JSS, the HMCS Protecteur – the longest naval vessel ever constructed in Canada.
CDR sent Senior Staff Writer, Joetey Attariwala, to North Vancouver to visit Seaspan to get an update on JSS1 HMCS Protecteur. Visit CDR’s Youtube page for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the progress being made on JSS1.
WATCH OUR JSS TOUR VIDEO: CDR Visits Seaspan to Tour the First Joint Support Ship
The future Joint Support Ship will provide:
- Underway Support to Naval Task Groups: Underway support is best described as the re-supply of fuel, food, ammunition, spare parts and other supplies between ships at sea. This includes the operation and maintenance of helicopters, as well as task group medical and dental facilities;
- Limited Sealift: JSS will be capable of transporting and delivering cargo both in support of task group operations and in support to operations ashore; and
- Limited Support to Operations Ashore: To meet a range of possibilities in an uncertain future security environment, the JSS will leverage its onboard facilities to support operations ashore, including anything from combat to humanitarian and disaster relief.
- Self-defence functions and the ability to respond to Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) threats to allow for operations in high threat environments.
READ: Seaspan Shipyards Launches RCN’S Joint Support Ship HMCS Protecteur
ADDITIONAL INFO
- With a length of 173.7 metres, HMCS Protecteur is the longest naval vessel to ever be built in Canada. It will be joined by its counterpart, HMCS Preserver, in the coming years.
- HMCS Protecteur and HMCS Preserver will replace the former Protecteur-class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment vessels. In addition to providing critical at-sea replenishment, these multi-purpose warships will also be capable of seamlessly integrating with any Canadian or allied naval task group, and 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.
- Seaspan is one of the most modern shipyards in North America, following its privately funded $200M+ shipyard modernization, development of a skilled workforce and state-of-the-art, purpose-built infrastructure to deliver large, complex vessels.
- Under the NSS, Seaspan has become a major economic and job creation engine. According to an economic analysis conducted by Deloitte, Seaspan has contributed $5.7 billion to Canada’s GDP since 2012, while also creating or sustaining more than 7,000 jobs annually.
- Seaspan has invested more than $35 million to support education, learning, research, and skills development in the marine industry, with a special focus on reducing barriers for underrepresented groups, bringing a broad range of new talent into the industry and the trades, including more women and Indigenous people, and creating opportunities for youth through internships and apprenticeships.
