As expected today’s technical briefing brought details of 4 warship decommissionings.
HMCS Iroquois will prepare for its official paying off ceremony in January 2015 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Cracks were found in the hull earlier this year, so this news was not unexpected.
HMCS Preserver is rapidly approaching the end of its operational life, which was planned for 2016. This Was a surprise announcement.
Engineering surveys conducted in recent months identified levels of corrosion in HMCSPreserver that have degraded the structural integrity of the ship below acceptable limits, specifically in the vicinity of the port side boiler room.
As a result of its current material state, and considering the relatively short service life remaining for HMCS Preserver, the cost to reinstate this ship to full operational capability does not represent a responsible use of public funds. HMCS Preserver will therefore cease its operational life, remain alongside and prepare for pay off in the near future.
On the pacific side,
HMCS Algonquin was involved in a collision at sea with HMCSProtecteur while conducting exercise manoeuvres en route to Hawaii. There were no injuries. The ship was able to return to its home port of Esquimalt, BC, to undergo a full damage assessment.
It was assessed that HMCS Algonquin suffered extensive damage to its port side hangar and remained alongside in Esquimalt. Considering the relatively short service life remaining for HMCS Algonquin, which was scheduled to be retired in early 2019, and its current state of repair, the cost to re-instate this ship to full operational capability no longer represents a responsible use of public funds. As a result, HMCS Algonquin will begin preparations for pay off in the near future.
HMCS Protecteur will be officially retired after sustaining serious damage in a fire in February 2014. An extensive assessment of HMCS Protecteur has concluded that the ship was damaged beyond economical repair.
Considering the relatively short service life remaining for HMCS Protecteur, which was scheduled to be retired in 2017, and its current state of repair, the cost to re-instate the ship to full operational capability would not represent a responsible use of public funds. As a result, the ship will remain alongside and be prepared for disposal as early as is practically feasible.
Maersk Patras was a regular caller in Halifax on the weekly Maersk call, But had been replaced by Em Kay in 2014. On November 2, she suffered an engine room fire 90 miles ESE of Las Palmas. she lost all power, was towed to port, and offloaded. Given the ships age, She is likely bound for the scrappers given the market for small container ships and the damaged engine room.
