The Canadian Government has announced the awarding of a CA$12.6 million (US$10.0 million) contract to Marine Recycling Corporation from Port Colborne, Ontario, for the disposal of the Royal Canadian Navy's former HMCS Preserver and CFAV Quest. The dismantling of both ships is expected to be completed by summer 2019.
The contract includes towing to the contractor's facility located in Sydney, Nova Scotia, the demilitarisation of equipment, the remediation of hazardous waste and recycling of any remaining materials.
HMCS Preserver, an auxiliary oiler replenishment vessel, concluded its service to the Royal Canadian Navy in 2016, after 46 years of duty. CFAV Quest was a Royal Canadian Navy oceanographic/acoustic research ship built in Vancouver in 1969. It was decommissioned in 2016.
The retirement of these vessels has been anticipated for some time, and they will be replaced by capabilities set to be delivered through the National Shipbuilding Strategy.