Royal Canadian Navy Unveils Interim Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment AOR Ship

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Naval Forces News - Canada
 
 
 
Royal Canadian Navy Unveils Interim Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment AOR Ship
 
The Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) unveiled its future interim Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment ship during an open house at Davie Shipbuilding’s Quebec shipyard on July 21, 2017. Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd, Commander of the RCN, was at the unveiling, along with a number of representatives from industry and the federal government. He said it was a privilege for both himself and RCN Chief Petty Officer, Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Michel Vigneault, to be some of the first people to see the converted container ship in its new, freshly painted state.
     
MV Asterix interim AOR RCN Canada 1Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd, left, and Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Michel Vigneault were on hand for the unveiling of the converted MV Asterix. RCN picture.
     
MV Asterix, as it will remain known during its service to the navy, has been dubbed the first Resolve-class naval support ship by Davie Shipbuilding. It used to serve as a commercial container vessel.
     
L-3 MAPPS announced today that Chantier Davie Canada Inc. and Project Resolve Inc. have selected its Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) for the conversion of the container vessel M.V. Asterix into an Auxiliary Oil Replenishment (AOR) ship for the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) interim supply ship capability. Civilian container vessel M.V. Asterix is being converted into an Auxiliary Oil Replenishment (AOR) ship for the Royal Canadian Navy’s interim supply ship capability. Picture: Chantier Davie
     
The ship is intended to fill the navy’s replenishment-at-sea capability gap as it awaits the construction and arrival of the Queenston-class Joint Support Ships. The federal government has agreed to lease the ship for a five-year period, with a crew of Canadian Armed Forces specialists serving alongside civilian mariners and a civilian master employed by Davie sister company Federal Fleet Services.

The ship is expected in Halifax this fall to begin trials, and is set to be in service supporting the Atlantic or Pacific fleet by early 2018.
     
L-3 MAPPS announced today that Chantier Davie Canada Inc. and Project Resolve Inc. have selected its Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) for the conversion of the container vessel M.V. Asterix into an Auxiliary Oil Replenishment (AOR) ship for the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) interim supply ship capability. Computer rendering of the vessel after conversion. Picture: Chantier Davie
     
The ship was laid down on 21 October 2008 at the Nordic Yards Wismar in Wismar, Germany. The ship was launched as Cynthia on 27 January 2009 and work was completed on the vessel on 1 May 2010.

The vessel has a full load displacement of 26,000 tonnes with a legnth of 1182.5 meters and a beam of 25.2 meters. It is fitted with a Phalanx CIWS, L3 MAPSS integrated platform management system (IPMS) and large landing deck capable of handling the largest helicopters, including the CH-147F Chinook.

Asterix will be used for at sea fuel replenishing for both liquid and solids using NATO-standardised methods and two cranes for loading and unloading purposes. The ship will be able to deliver 400 tons of fresh water per day and carry 7,000 tons of fuel oil and 980 tons of JP8 Jet fuel.

The Resolve-Class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment ship will play a key role in the Royal Canadian Navy's HADR efforts.The specific HADR capabilities include:
A humanitarian processing area for triage and care of evacuees/survivors
A large medical facility for up to 60 patients in two separate wards
Emergency accommodation for up to 350 people (in addition to the ship's current 150 persons capacity)
A ship-shore airlift capability via the two embarked Cyclone CH-148 helicopters
A significant small craft capability that includes up to 8 boats with quick launch and recovery capabilities
The ability to sustain the delivery over 400t/day of Fresh Water and up to 7000t of Fuel Oil, as well as significant power
The transportation and self-sufficient loading and unloading of light vehicles, sea containers and general cargo that are essential for HADR missions.
     
MV Asterix interim AOR RCN Canada 2First float up of MV Asterix. Chantier Davie picture.