Kingston-class

The Kingston class was developed under the Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel Project (MCDV) in the late 1980s. The program originated from a requirement to replace aging Mackenzie-class destroyers, Bay-class minesweepers, and Porte-class gate vessels utilized for naval reserve training. The project also aimed to establish a domestic mine warfare capability and provide vessels for inshore patrols that could not be performed by larger frigates. The initiative followed the 1987 National Defence White Paper’s "Total Force" concept, which transferred minesweeping and coastal patrol responsibilities to the Naval Reserve. A contract for 12 vessels was awarded to Halifax Shipyards in 1992, with construction taking place between 1994 and 1998.

The design utilized a combination of naval and commercial standards to reduce acquisition and operating costs. Naval standards were maintained for stability, maneuverability, and ammunition magazines, while commercial standards were applied to other areas of construction. The ships feature a steel hull, two separate square funnels, and Z-drive azimuth thrusters. To correct stability issues identified during sea trials, permanent ballast was added to the design. The vessels are crewed by a mix of Naval Reserve and Regular Force personnel, with the latter typically managing engine room and electronic systems.

Operational flexibility is provided by a modular payload system on the aft sweep deck. This area can accommodate three 6.1-metre ISO containers, allowing the ships to be configured for specific missions such as mechanical minesweeping, route survey, seabed intervention, or diving support. Onboard sensors include surface search radar and towed high-frequency sidescan sonar. The vessels are also equipped with degaussing coil arrays. For aerial surveillance, the class has operated various unmanned aerial systems, including the ScanEagle and AeroVironment Puma. Armament originally consisted of a forecastle-mounted gun and heavy machine guns, though the primary gun was removed from the fleet in 2014.

The class entered commission between 1996 and 1999, with the 12 ships divided between Canada’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Service history includes domestic coastal patrols, search and rescue, and law enforcement. Internationally, the vessels have deployed for counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean and Central America under Operation Caribbe, as well as participating in annual Arctic exercises and deployments to West Africa and the Baltic Sea. In 2023, crewing for several vessels was suspended due to personnel shortages. In July 2025, the Royal Canadian Navy announced the phased retirement of the class, which began in September 2025. Decommissioning of all units is scheduled for completion by 2028, with the Continental Defence Corvette program intended as a future replacement.