MV Asterix shined during RIMPAC 2024, leading a record number of Replenishments at Sea (US Department of Defense photo)
By David Pugliese
Rim of the Pacific 2024 has now wrapped up with the Canadian Forces declaring a success and pointing out how the exercise is an example of the country’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.
Rim of the Pacific is the largest international maritime exercise in the world and is held bi-annually. RIMPAC 2024 this year consisted of 29 participating nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, over 150 aircraft and more than 25,000 personnel. Exercises were conducted in and around the Hawaiian islands throughout the month of July.
HMCS Vancouver was accompanied by HMCS Max Bernays, Motor Vessel Asterix and a shore-based contingent of close to 300 Canadian Armed Forces members for RIMPAC 2024, according to the Department of National Defence.
After its successful participation in RIMPAC 2024, HMCS Vancouver continued on to its various other duties. In August it began its mission for Operation Horizon; on August 8, the Canadian frigate joined New Zealand’s HMNZS Aotearoa and later Singapore’s RSS Stalwart.
On Operation Horizon, Canada’s forward-presence mission in the Indo-Pacific region, HMCS Vancouver will join HMCS Montréal. In addition to its participation on Operation Horizon, HMCS Vancouver will contribute to Operation Neon, which serves to monitor the implementation of United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea in collaboration with allies and partners, National Defence spokesman Kened Sadiku told Esprit de Corps.
HMCS Vancouver will continue its deployment through December of this year, he added.
MV Asterix also had a highly successful RIMPAC 2024. Singapore, Germany and Italy). The 26,000-tonne Asterix, a commercial vessel converted for naval resupply purposes by Davie Shipbuilding in Quebec and leased to the Canadian government by the firm’s affiliate Federal Fleet Services, has become critical for the Royal Canadian Navy’s fleet. Just months after being delivered in early 2018 to the military it was at sea supporting RCN and allied operations. The RCN has come to rely so much on Asterix – now its only supply vessel – that the service increased the days the ship was required almost immediately. The lease for the Asterix has also been extended until 2025.
During RIMPAC 2024, MV Asterix conducted 34 Replenishments at Sea (RAS), which was recorded as the highest compared to other partner nations, Sadiku pointed out. Those replenishments were with 16 different vessels from nine nations (Canada, US, Australia, Japan, Republic of Korea).
The ship completed many firsts such as: First RAS between Asterix and South Korea; First RAS between Asterix and Italy; First RAS between Asterix and a San Antonio-class landing platform, dock (LPD) vessel; First RAS between Asterix and another auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) vessel (HMNZS Aotearoa heavy jackstay crew certification); Largest ever ammo transfer conducted by Asterix (operational stock to HMCS Vancouver); and seven RAS in 48 hours (28-29 July), highest RAS operational tempo for Asterix to date.
U.S. Navy SEALS and Republic of Korea special forces also conducted drills on Asterix.
Following its deployment on Exercise RIMPAC, MV Asterix departed Hawaii on August 4. The ship will transit the Panama Canal and conduct a brief stop in Norfolk, VA and is expected to arrive back in Halifax on September 3.
HMCS Max Bernays, one of the new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships, had a less than successful RIMPAC 2024 and certainly not one the RCN wanted to publicize.
The AOPS had to return to Pearl Harbor on July 12 due to mechanical issues and seawater flooding into one of the areas of the vessel. It took the crew about 30 minutes to stop the flooding, but before that could happen around 20,000 litres of seawater entered the ship. Technicians discovered that there were problems with a pumping and cooling system so they recommended HMCS Max Bernays return to Pearl Harbor.
Sailors tipped off the Ottawa Citizen newspaper about the problems as they continue to challenge the RCN’s leadership claims that ongoing problems with the AOPS are simply part of teething problems on a new fleet.
The incident is the latest of a number of issues plaguing the new ships, which are costing almost $5 billion.
In March, there were reports of other flooding problems. In addition, there have been mechanical failures involving anchors, a refuelling system that’s too heavy to use, as well as structural issues hindering the operation of Cyclone helicopters from the vessels.
The Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships also can’t perform emergency towing, as was required in the original contract, and some cranes on the vessels are inoperable, National Defence officials confirmed. Other problems, such as contaminated fuel and issues with systems to launch lifeboats, are also being examined or fixed.
In addition, media outlets reported in 2022 that the first AOPS, HMCS Harry DeWolf, had been taken out of service for several months because of ongoing mechanical problems, including issues with diesel generators. Concerns have also been raised about the safety of drinking water on the vessels.
In addition, HMCS Max Bernays was accepted from Irving even though a system that allows the vessel to manoeuvre wasn’t functioning properly. There were also problems with the fire suppression system on HMCS Harry DeWolf.
The ships only have a one-year warranty, Canadian military personnel have also pointed out, which means the taxpayer is footing the bill for most of the repairs.
HMCS Max Bernays was delivered in 2022 to the navy by Irving Shipbuilding.
National Defence spokesman Sadiku stated that following the initial issue with the ship’s water-cooling system and subsequent repairs, HMCS Max Bernays rejoined Exercise RIMPAC on July 25. It returned to Pearl Harbor on July 31 for a change of command, and then departed Pearl Harbor again on August 4.
The ship is currently transiting to its home port in Esquimalt, while conducting training at sea with United States Navy partners, he added. As of press time it was expected to arrive in Esquimalt on August 23 after which the ship will conduct local patrols, to assure Canadian sovereignty, while training and generating sailors.
“Overall, HMCS Max Bernays achieved various objectives during the exercise, including participation in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercise activities, embarking a foreign helicopter and conducting certifications, and integrating into the Combined Maritime Force as part of Canada’s contribution to RIMPAC,” according to Sadiku.
Are the issues with HMCS Max Bernays now dealt with?
“The original cause of the issue in the water-cooling system was found to be a broken gauge line, and defective valves. Initial repairs to the system involved installing a cofferdam (an isolating space) to keep the water from coming in, while troubleshooting was conducted,” Sadiku explained. “The gauge line and four valves were replaced, followed by removal of the cofferdam, and testing the system. The complete water-cooling system has been inspected and, while other valves will require replacement, there is sufficient redundancy in the system. We are confident that it will hold until its full repair in Esquimalt this fall and that the system is operational, and the ship is safe to sail.”
