In the fall of 2025, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) will begin paying off the Kingston-class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs), marking the end of an era for these versatile ships that have served Canada for over 25 years.
The vessels, built in the 1990s, will be formally “paid off” during ceremonies in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Esquimalt, British Columbia, signaling their retirement from active service. This move is part of the RCN’s broader modernization strategy to transition to newer, more advanced platforms to meet evolving maritime challenges.
The Kingston-class vessels, launched between 1995 and 1999, have been a cornerstone of the RCN’s coastal defense capabilities. Designed for a range of missions, these ships have excelled in coastal surveillance, patrol, search and rescue, law enforcement, resource protection, fisheries patrols, mine countermeasures, and training. Over their service life, they have supported critical operations, including Operation CARIBBE for counter-narcotics in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean, Operation PROJECTION in West Africa, and Operation REASSURANCE in European waters.
The eight ships slated for decommissioning are HMC Ships Shawinigan, Summerside, Goose Bay, Glace Bay, Kingston, Saskatoon, Whitehorse, and Brandon. The remaining four—HMC Ships Moncton, Yellowknife, Edmonton, and Nanaimo—will be consolidated under Canadian Fleet Atlantic in Halifax to continue supporting operations and maintenance until their eventual retirement.
The “paying off” process is a time-honoured naval tradition, involving a ceremonial hauling down of the naval jack, ensign, and commissioning pennant, after which the ship is no longer referred to as His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS). This marks the formal end of the vessel’s service and the departure of its crew.
Transition to a Modern Fleet
The RCN has emphasized that the decommissioning of the Kingston-class vessels will not result in a loss of capability. Their roles will be redistributed across other platforms, including the Harry DeWolf-class Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels for counter-narcotics missions and the Orca-class for training. Mine countermeasure tasks will be handled by Fleet Diving Units and emerging remote or autonomous systems. This shift aligns with the RCN’s modernization efforts under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, which includes the acquisition of River-class destroyers and new submarines to enhance Canada’s naval capabilities.
“The Kingston-class ships have served Canada exceptionally well for over two decades, contributing to our security and international partnerships,” said a spokesperson for the Department of National Defence. “As we transition to a modernized fleet, we are ensuring that our operational capabilities remain robust to address future maritime challenges.”
The decision to decommission the Kingston-class vessels has sparked some debate. Critics argue that retaining and modernizing some of these ships could help bridge capability gaps until new vessels, such as the proposed Continental Defence Corvette, are fully operational. The Kingston-class ships have been praised for their reliability, flexibility, and ability to operate in diverse environments, making them valuable assets for coastal defense and training.
However, the RCN has declared it is prioritizing investment in advanced platforms and technologies to address emerging threats in an increasingly complex maritime landscape. The transition to newer vessels is seen as a necessary step to maintain Canada’s naval readiness and global presence.