On May 22, 2025, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) welcomed back HMCS Calgary, a Halifax-class frigate, following a comprehensive 28-month refit at Seaspan Victoria Shipyards. This milestone marks the successful completion of the second full Docking Work Period (DWP) under Seaspan’s Halifax-Class Work Period (HCWP) contract, representing the largest overhaul ever undertaken at the Victoria-based shipyard. The refit ensures that HMCS Calgary remains operationally ready and technologically relevant as it approaches the end of its service life.
A Monumental Overhaul for Enhanced Capability
HMCS Calgary arrived at Seaspan Victoria Shipyards on January 9, 2023, after a six-month planning phase. Over the next 28 months, more than 1,000 trades personnel and office staff worked diligently to execute a wide range of engineering upgrades, equipment installations, and preventative and corrective maintenance tasks. Critical dry-docking activities, including steel repairs and hull painting, were performed at the federally owned Esquimalt Graving Dock. These efforts were designed to extend the operational life of the frigate, ensuring it can continue to protect Canada’s sovereignty in the Pacific Ocean and contribute to international missions.
“This DWP is a significant milestone for the entire Victoria Shipyards team and underscores our commitment to quality, customer service, and to the Royal Canadian Navy,” said Tony Winter, Vice President and General Manager of Seaspan Victoria Shipyards. The refit’s scale highlights Seaspan’s role as a key partner in maintaining Canada’s naval fleet, with the shipyard leveraging its expertise to deliver complex modernization projects on time and within budget.
Collaboration and Expertise
The successful completion of HMCS Calgary’s refit reflects a collaborative effort between Seaspan Victoria Shipyards, the Royal Canadian Navy, the Department of National Defence, and Public Services and Procurement Canada. The project involved intricate coordination to integrate new systems and perform extensive maintenance, ensuring the frigate meets the RCN’s operational standards. Following the refit, HMCS Calgary was transferred to the RCN’s Fleet Maintenance Facility in Victoria, British Columbia, where staff will continue reactivating the vessel’s systems in preparation for future deployments.
Building on a Legacy of Excellence
Seaspan Victoria Shipyards has a storied history of supporting the RCN, having previously completed the first full DWP under the HCWP contract for HMCS Regina in May 2023. The shipyard’s work on HMCS Calgary builds on this legacy, reinforcing its reputation as Canada’s leading West Coast ship repair and modernization facility. The HCWP contract is part of a broader effort to maintain and upgrade the RCN’s 12 Halifax-class frigates, which are expected to remain in service for another decade until replaced by the Canadian Surface Combatant program.
The next West Coast Halifax-class frigate scheduled for a DWP is HMCS Winnipeg, which arrived at Seaspan Victoria Shipyards in late 2024. As Seaspan continues to modernize Canada’s naval fleet, its work ensures that vessels like HMCS Calgary remain vital assets for maritime security and international operations.