With Asterix, the Canadian Navy finally has a replenishment ship
Since July 20, the Canadian navy has increased its capabilities. L'Asterix was baptized last Thursday at the Davie shipyard in Lévis (Canada). This building is expected to enter service in the fall.
In a post on January 14, 2016 (read here), I presented the Canadian Resolve project, which consisted of the conversion of a container ship built in 2010 into a tanker tanker. The total cost was estimated at 700 million Canadian dollars (450 million), including 300 for conversion, according to the director of the Resolve Project, Spencer Fraser.
The project provided for the ship to be delivered in the summer of 2017 and then leased for 5 years (plus 5 years option) to the Royal Canadian Navy with a full Canadian merchant crew (provided by V.Ships). Annual charter cost: $ 75 million Canadian.
Spencer Fraser announced last Thursday that a second building, similar to L'Asterix, is planned. And that several navies of NATO followed this project with attention.
Some numbers:
182.5 meters long, two football pitches
Large of 25.2 meters
A crew of 150 people
Top speed at 25 knots
Carries up to 7,000 tonnes of fuel
Produces 450 tons of drinking water per day
Heliport and two helicopter hangars
A hospital with 60 seats