Name Asterix Builder Nordic Yards Wismar Launched 2010 | Port of registry Liberia Yard number 147 | |
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Owner Davie Shipbuilding (as of October 2015)
Capital Ship Management (before October 2015) Operator Capital Ship Management (before October 2015) | ||
MS Asterix (formerly MS Amorito, MS Neermoor and MS Cynthia) is a commercial containership purchased by Federal Fleet Services as part of Project Resolve. that is being converted into a supply ship for the Royal Canadian Navy. It is intended to act as an interim replacement between the out of service Protecteur-class replenishment oiler and the future Queenston-class auxiliary vessel. Launched in Germany in 2010, the ship is being converted with planned delivery to the RCN around 2017 when it will be leased to the navy with a merchant navy crew. Asterix will be in Canadian service into the 2020s.
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The ship was owned by Capital Ship Management of Greece and registered in Monrovia, Liberia. The vessel was delivered at Quebec in October 2015 awaiting conversion by a pan-consortium comprising Chantier Davie Canada, Aecon Pictou Shipyard of Pictou, Nova Scotia and NavTech, the conversion designer.
Construction and career as container ship
The ship was laid down on 21 October 2008 at the Nordic Yards Wismar in Wismar, Germany with the yard number 147. The ship was launched as Cynthia on 27 January 2009 and work was completed on the vessel on 1 May 2010. The ship was renamed Amorito in 2010. That same year the ship was renamed again to Neermoor, operating under an Antigua and Barbuda flag while owned by Briese Schiffahrts GmbH & Co KG. In 2013 the ship was renamed Asterix.
Project Resolve
The ship was selected for the Royal Canadian Navy's Project Resolve, where in conjunction with Davie Yards Incorporated of Quebec, a ship would be leased by the RCN and converted for use as a naval auxiliary supply vessel. The work converting the ship would be done partially at the AECON shipyard in Pictou, Nova Scotia before being completed at Davie's yard in Quebec. However, those plans changed and instead, the ship was sent directly to Davie's yard in Quebec instead. Pending an official agreement between the shipyard and the Canadian government, the vessel should be ready by Summer 2017. The ship would be under contract with the Royal Canadian Navy until 2021 when the second of the two Queenston-class support ships would be completed. The ship was reportedly acquired for $20 million.
In September 2015, it was announced that L-3 MAPPS (a subsidiary of L-3 Communications), was selected as partner in the conversion for its Integrated Platform Management System. It is also planned to re-utilise the resupply equipment from HMCS Protecteur by installing it aboard Asterix. OSI Maritime Systems was chosen by Davie Shipyards to install their integrated navigation and tactical system aboard the converted ship.
In November 2015, the Liberal government initially delayed final approval of the $700 million seven-year deal for two months. On 30 November 2015, the Liberal government reversed that decision and gave final approval for the project, allowing Davie to go ahead with the conversion. As of October 2016, the conversion was ahead of schedule. with 60% of the conversion completed. The ship is planned to be available for sea trials in September 2017.
Conversion features
Asterix will be used for at sea fuel replenishing for both liquid and solids using NATO-standardised methods and two cranes for loading and unloading purposes. The ship will be able to deliver 400 tons of fresh water per day and carry 7,000 tons of fuel oil.
The vessel will also have a container bay for protection of the containers while in transit. The ship will have a double hull, a feature that the previous Protecteur class did not have and prevented them from operating outside of international waters.
For mission purposes the ship will have rooms for crew and medical/hospital facilities for humanitarian missions, along with humanitarian and disaster relief capabilities. There will be an area to treat and process evacuees and survivors, a large medical ward divided into two areas capable of treating up to 60. The ship will also provide room for 350 in emergency situations.
Asterix, post-conversion, will be able to operate up to 8 smaller boats with quick launch and recovery capability.
Asterix will have two aircraft hangars with two CH-148 Cyclones embarked and a landing deck capable of handling the largest helicopters, including the CH-147F Chinook.