Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs)

[Underway]

From Canada, only certified in USD.

Or in equivalent value of potash or barrels of oil.

 

[Czech_pivo]

Or in equivalent value of potash or barrels of oil.

I've got concerns about the EV plants in Windsor/London with Musk looking to play a potentially large role in the Trump administration. Windsor's facility has already been built and is ramping up to production. London's facility is still a work in progress. Both of these are potential rivals to Telsa, with both being owned/run by non-American firms. I see a potentially rocky road ahead for both of them.

 

[OldSolduer]

I've got concerns about the EV plants in Windsor/London with Musk looking to play a potentially large role in the Trump administration. Windsor's facility has already been built and is ramping up to production. London's facility is still a work in progress. Both of these are potential rivals to Telsa, with both being owned/run by non-American firms. I see a potentially rocky road ahead for both of them.

Not to mention the some what tepid acceptance of EVs as a method of transportation.

 

[Czech_pivo]

Not to mention the some what tepid acceptance of EVs as a method of transportation.

Yes, some of that is 'sticker shock' at the price points of these vehicles, some is legitimate questions around 'driving range' and some is just fear of the unknown of what owning a new one with this new tech is all about. Needless to say, EV's are here to stay, and are the future but having the Fed's on both sides of the border picking a date only 10ish years in the future that all new cars will be EV is ridiculous given the above points.

 

[Underway]

I've got concerns about the EV plants in Windsor/London with Musk looking to play a potentially large role in the Trump administration. Windsor's facility has already been built and is ramping up to production. London's facility is still a work in progress. Both of these are potential rivals to Telsa, with both being owned/run by non-American firms. I see a potentially rocky road ahead for both of them.

This is not the thread. This is about MCDV's, your a long way from economics.

 

[Rainbow1910]

Whatever happens to the MCDV's themselves, I hope that the RCN retains an in-house mine warfare ability. It might seem all too tempting to go with an "all teeth and no tail" corvette while doing something like say, pushing mine warfare duties off onto rented civilian vessels to save on money. Modern minesweeping techniques allow for some very different methods of dealing with mines however, I hope we won't be stuck holding the bag when we need the capability because somebody decided to shuffle it off to a dusty broom closet.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Whatever happens to the MCDV's themselves, I hope that the RCN retains an in-house mine warfare ability. It might seem all too tempting to go with an "all teeth and no tail" corvette while doing something like say, pushing mine warfare duties off onto rented civilian vessels to save on money. Modern minesweeping techniques allow for some very different methods of dealing with mines however, I hope we won't be stuck holding the bag when we need the capability because somebody decided to shuffle it off to a dusty broom closet.

They would never do that, would they.........(Well there might be room in the closet as we drag out AD artillery.)

Perhaps take the Kingston in the best shape, cut down the stern superstructure and use her as a MCM test bed to try out different MCM methods and equipment. You can convert some of the accommodations to workshops as they would stay near the home port.

Since we might need to beef up our spending to the magic 2%, mid-life refits for the Kingston's and preserving them would add to that amount. Slapping .50cals and some optics onto CCG vessels means you include them into you accounting.

 

[Maxman1]

Whatever happens to the MCDV's themselves, I hope that the RCN retains an in-house mine warfare ability. It might seem all too tempting to go with an "all teeth and no tail" corvette while doing something like say, pushing mine warfare duties off onto rented civilian vessels to save on money. Modern minesweeping techniques allow for some very different methods of dealing with mines however, I hope we won't be stuck holding the bag when we need the capability because somebody decided to shuffle it off to a dusty broom closet.

How about three or four of these and port them all in Halifax.

City-class mine countermeasures vessel - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Pelorus]

Perhaps take the Kingston in the best shape, cut down the stern superstructure and use her as a MCM test bed to try out different MCM methods and equipment. You can convert some of the accommodations to workshops as they would stay near the home port.

Would be significantly more cost effective to buy or lease a civilian OSV with a proper deck crane and dynamic positioning for a task like this.

The MCDVs aren't in bad shape in some ways, but are certainly showing their age.

 

[Czech_pivo]

This is not the thread. This is about MCDV's, your a long way from economics.

100% true, but it started with the statement around writing a cheque, then morphed into us sending the US potash and oil and then to EV's and now here we are. Agree that we should be talking about the MCDV's.

 

[Rainbow1910]

Would be significantly more cost effective to buy or lease a civilian OSV with a proper deck crane and dynamic positioning for a task like this.

The MCDVs aren't in bad shape in some ways, but are certainly showing their age.

I'd agree but I am skeptical of how that could turn out. I definitely do not want another Davie and Federal Fleet Services situation where we get absolutely sponged for converted ships/leasing agreements but I also see it as an avenue to cheap out on if the RCN doesn't physically own the vessels themselves. Far easier for that capability to be considered excess and dumped to the wayside where it can't be reasonably retrieved during a crisis compared to having something around and waiting to be used.

 

[quadrapiper]

I'd agree but I am skeptical of how that could turn out. I definitely do not want another Davie and Federal Fleet Services situation where we get absolutely sponged for converted ships/leasing agreements but I also see it as an avenue to cheap out on if the RCN doesn't physically own the vessels themselves. Far easier for that capability to be considered excess and dumped to the wayside where it can't be reasonably retrieved during a crisis compared to having something around and waiting to be used.

I'm surprised the CFAV option isn't (not necessarily for MCM, specifically, but in general) considered for more uses: FFS seems a waste of money to do what could be done with "CFAV Asterix." Still hiring from the same pool of mariners, and still avoiding placing additional strain on RCN pers to crew that nature of vessel.

 

[Kirkhill]

From Canada, only certified in USD.

A couple of train loads of oil and a bit of natural gas should square us. How about a side of softwood lumber? Graphite? Lithium?

Edit - posted before seeing @Underway 's response.

 

[Kirkhill]

I'm surprised the CFAV option isn't (not necessarily for MCM, specifically, but in general) considered for more uses: FFS seems a waste of money to do what could be done with "CFAV Asterix." Still hiring from the same pool of mariners, and still avoiding placing additional strain on RCN pers to crew that nature of vessel.

Don't we need to create a bigger pool of mariners? More polytechnics please.

 

[SeaKingTacco]

Well, the USN is building LCS and putting them straight into mothballs.

Just saying….

 

[dapaterson]

Well, the USN is building LCS and putting them straight into mothballs.

Just saying….

We can call them the Upholder class!

 

[SeaKingTacco]

Freedom fry class?

 

[dapaterson]

Freedom fry class?

Alongside and waiting parts class?

 

[SeaKingTacco]

Alongside and waiting parts class?

Parts, the USN has…

Patience with the class? Not so much…

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

I wouldn't want a Freedom LCS if my life depended on it: The engineering side for propulsion is a nightmare, and a good part of the reason the USN itself doesn't want them anymore. If the USN is not capable of maintaining and operating that power plant with its resources, what does it tell you about our capability to do so?

P.S. Just a little tidbit here, and a question that goes with it: Someone mentioned CFAV vs FFS operation of Asterix (which could easily be done if we bought her straight up as permissible under the contract), but I note that she seems to be flying the Canadian Blue Ensign of the CFAV already. Anybody knows why?