Feds pick off-the-shelf design for long-awaited resupply ships

OTTAWA – The federal government has picked an existing design for its long-awaited Navy supply ships, rather than going with a new model that’s created from scratch.

The Royal Canadian Navy says it selected the proposal from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Canada, which has built similar ships for the German navy.

Canada’s supply ships are nearly 45 years old, and urgently need to be replaced.

The vessels are used to supply warships with supplies to allow them to remain at sea longer and they have a limited ability to carry helicopters.

Originally, the ships were supposed to act as a floating supply base for both the navy and the army, acting as an offshore command post and hospital for humanitarian missions.

But the project got whittled down over time because of budgetary considerations.

The parliamentary budget officer warned earlier this year that the $2.6 billion set aside for two or three supply ships was too little, and the budget for the project should be $4.13 billion.