Preliminary surveys of one of Canada’s frigates indicate that steel sections of the ship will have to be replaced because of corrosion but the level of damage is less than initially thought, according to the Department of National Defence. Read MoreDamage not as bad as first feared.
Damage not as bad as first feared.
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Preliminary surveys of one of Canada’s frigates indicate that steel sections of the ship will have to be replaced because of corrosion but the level of damage is less than initially thought, according to the Department of National Defence.
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There were concerns that the level of corrosion on HMCS Fredericton was so bad that engine mountings would have to be replaced as well as other elements of the warship’s propulsion system.
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But DND spokesperson Alex Tétreault said that although the full scope of repairs for the Halifax-class frigate are still under review, such a significant repair isn’t expected.
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Tétreault, however, noted that sections of the hull will have to be cut out and welds replaced because of corrosion. That will happen during the ship’s docking work period.
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“There will be replacement of some hull frames and shell plating,” he added. “The removed sections will be replaced with prefabricated pieces that are an exact match.”
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Tétreault noted the amount of corrosion in HMCS Fredericton “is commensurate with the age of the ship and its operational tempo over the last 5 years.”
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The ship was commissioned in 1994.
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DND acknowledged that the Halifax-class frigate fleet has faced increasing issues with corrosion, which had resulted in the amount of time the vessels have to spend in what is known as a docking work period.
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HMCS Fredericton is currently in what’s called Extended Work Period Phase 1 — a preparatory maintenance phase ahead of the Docking Work Period. During the extended work period, surveys are conducted on the state of the ship, equipment is stripped out, and other maintenance and logistical activities are carried out to prepare the ship for docking.
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“Surveys are ongoing to determine the extent of work required, including steel renewal due to corrosion,” Tétreault said. “The vessel is scheduled to commence its planned docking work period toward the end of 2026.”
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In July 2019, the federal government announced it was investing more than $7.5 billion in the Royal Canadian Navy’s 12 Halifax-class frigates to provide necessary ongoing maintenance until they were retired in the early 2040s.
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In August 2023, the Ottawa Citizen reported that propeller damage as well as structural cracks and corrosion had limited operations on another Halifax-class frigate, HMCS Winnipeg. DND noted that those issues were also related to the age of the ship.