In April, the team at Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards successfully completed the installation of both Replenishment at Sea (RAS) kingposts on the second Joint Support Ship (JSS2), officially marking the complete structural consolidation of the vessel.
The HMCS Preserver is the second Joint Support Ship that Seaspan is constructing for the Royal Canadian Navy under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS).
Structural consolidation is a major milestone in the lead up to delivery, signifying the completion of structural welding, with all major components now consolidated to the hull.
Once delivered, JSS2 will fulfil a vital role for the Navy by providing underway support to naval task groups, including the re-supply of essential fuel, medical support and supplies to navy ships at sea. JSS2 will also support the operation and maintenance of helicopters and transport and deliver cargo and support a range of operations ashore including humanitarian aid.
Ahead of consolidation, additional components of the superstructure were erected, including the foundation for one of two weapon systems that will be used to defend against airborne and marine threats, and the ship’s mast.
The final major block installation for JSS2, the two kingposts, are key to the ship’s RAS capability. Weighing 30-tonnes each, the kingposts were lifted into place using Seaspan’s 300-tonne gantry crane and were carefully secured in place onto their foundations.
The kingposts provide the Royal Canadian Navy with the capacity to support more out-of-area operations, enhancing self-sufficiency and long-range deployability for the Royal Canadian Navy and NATO.
As the second joint support ship following the start of construction on the first-in-class HMCS Protecteur (JSS1), HMCS Preserver (JSS2) has benefited greatly from further design maturity as well as overall lessons learned from JSS1.
Advanced levels of outfitting at this stage in the project are the result of hard work across the skilled teams at Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards, and by prioritizing early outfitting in the manufacturing phase. This focus was maintained throughout the ship construction phase, prioritizing equipment installation and cable pull.
With the ship structurally consolidated, the team is now focused on achieving three major milestones: the activation of the switchboard , exterior shaft installation, and painting the underwater hull, all in preparation for the ship’s upcoming launch planned for the end of the year.
One of two kingposts being lifted into the air prior to installation on JSS2 by Big Blue, Seaspan’s 300-tonne gantry crane
Aerial view of the HMCS Preserver, the second joint support ship under construction at Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards