Royal Canadian Navy to retire Kingston-class vessels

The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) will begin “paying off” the Kingston-class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs) in the fall of 2025 when eight of the 12 vessels will be recognized and celebrated for their long and distinguished service.

“Paying off” is a British term referring to paying a crew their wages once a ship has completed its voyage. The RCN will hold a formal ceremony where the naval jack, ensign and commissioning pennant are taken down, the crew leaves the ship for the last time and the ship is no longer referred to as His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS).

The Kingston-class warships were built and launched in the 1990s and are now at the end of their service life. The retirement of these vessels allows for the modernization of Canada’s naval capabilities, as resources and personnel shift to address evolving maritime threats.

The formal naval ceremonies will take place for the HMC Ships Shawinigan, Summerside, Goose Bay, Glace Bay, Kingston, Saskatoon, Whitehorse and Brandon.

“Kingston-class vessels have provided the Royal Canadian Navy with a significant, impactful, and flexible capability throughout their many years of service,” Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander Royal Canadian Navy stated in a press release. “They have provided a training ground for many of our sailors, where key skills and roles have been learned. These ships have contributed important mine countermeasure roles on international operations and have regularly participated in exercises with partner navies abroad, and with the Royal Canadian Navy fleet along our Canadian coastlines. As we move towards the future of the Royal Canadian Navy, I want to recognize the service of these ships and extend my tremendous gratitude to all who have sailed within them.”

The Royal Canadian Navy’s four remaining Kingston-class vessels are being consolidated under Canadian Fleet Atlantic in Halifax, Nova Scotia. HMCS Moncton will continue to operate from Halifax, while HMCS Yellowknife and HMCS Edmonton have recently transitioned to the east coast. HMCS Nanaimo is scheduled to relocate later this year. This move enables streamlined maintenance, optimized crew deployment, and supports ongoing operational commitments for both the Kingston-class ships and the broader RCN fleet.

As the RCN prepares for the arrival of modern warships, it has established a strong transition plan that maintains excellence in training and mission readiness. The divestment of the Kingston-class does not reduce naval capability. Their roles and responsibilities will be reallocated across existing vessels, and taken on by new ships, technologies, and operational systems that are progressively being introduced into the fleet.



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