Royal Canadian Navy to retire some Kingston-class vessels

This fall the Royal Canadian Navy will begin paying off the Kingston-class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels.

The term “paying off” refers to the British practice of paying a crew their wages once a ship has completed its voyage. There will be a formal ceremony where the naval jack, ensign, and commissioning pennant are hauled down, the crew departs a ship for the last time, and the ship is then no longer referred to as His Majesty’s Canadian Ship.

Eight of the twelve Kingston-class ships will be paid off during formal naval ceremonies to recognize and celebrate their service. These ceremonies will take place in Halifax for HMC Ships Shawinigan, Summerside, Goose Bay, Glace Bay and Kingston. Ceremonies in Esquimalt, B.C. will be held for HMC Ships Saskatoon, Whitehorse and Brandon.

The RCN’s four remaining operational Kingston-class vessels will consolidate under Canadian Fleet Atlantic in Halifax, N.S. As such, HMCS Moncton will remain based in Halifax, HMC Ships Yellowknife and Edmonton recently transferred to the east coast, and HMCS Nanaimo will transit to Halifax later this year.