Protecteur-class (JSS)

The Protecteur-class auxiliary vessels for the Royal Canadian Navy originated under the Joint Support Ship Project, established in 2004 as part of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy. Designed to replace the retired Protecteur-class replenishment oilers, the project experienced several planning delays. In 2013, the Canadian government selected a modified variant of the German Navy's Berlin-class replenishment ship, designed by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, to be built by Seaspan Marine Corporation in North Vancouver, British Columbia. Initially named the Queenston class, the vessels were renamed in 2017 to Protecteur and Preserver. Budget constraints led to the cancellation of a proposed third vessel. Steel cutting began in 2018, and a formal construction contract for two ships was signed in June 2020. Protecteur was laid down in January 2020 and launched in December 2024, with delivery scheduled for 2027. Preserver began construction in 2022, with its keel laid in October 2023 and delivery projected for 2027 or 2028.

The double-hulled vessels are configured for underway replenishment, strategic sealift, and airlift operations. They are designed to transport marine fuel, aviation fuel, ammunition, water, food, and dry stores, utilizing integrated replenishment-at-sea systems and onboard cranes. The ships feature a multi-purpose covered deck, container space to carry shipping containers for mobile hospitals and communication centers, and an onboard hospital with surgical and dental facilities. For aviation support, the vessels possess a flight deck and an enclosed hangar with maintenance facilities. Command and control facilities support integrated naval, land, and air communications for joint task groups. Survivability features include active and passive self-defence systems, two-compartment damaged stability, degaussing, torpedo decoys, and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear protection.

The Protecteur class has not yet entered active operational service. To maintain resupply capabilities during the project's development and construction, the Royal Canadian Navy utilized temporary alternative arrangements. These included the conversion and lease of the civilian container ship MV Asterix under Project Resolve starting in 2015, the rental of the Chilean supply vessel Almirante Montt between 2015 and 2017, and the temporary deployment of the Spanish Navy vessels Patiño and Cantabria on the Atlantic coast in 2016.