Chantier Davie Canada (Davie) has successfully completed the biennial maintenance of the combat support ship (CSS) Asterix. This was her second return to the Lévis shipyard, where she was built, since her commissioning in 2018. From October 7 to November 25, the CSS Asterix underwent essential dry-dock maintenance, including hull cleaning, painting, valve inspections and maintenance of key systems, such as anodic protection and anchor chains. This work ensures the continued safety, reliability and operational availability of the vessel.
Since its commissioning in 2018, NSC Asterix has established itself as a critical asset to Canada’s naval support operations, delivering exceptional performance on missions around the world. In August 2024, the Canadian government awarded a three-year service extension to Davie’s sister company, Federal Fleet Services, to manage NSC Asterix.
Missions in service to Canada and its allies As part of the Canadian fleet, NSC Asterix has participated in numerous international missions, supporting NATO operations and providing humanitarian assistance in crisis zones. In particular, she played a key role in major exercises such as the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. To date, the ship has travelled more than 250,000 nautical miles and delivered nearly 100,000 m³ of fuel. She has conducted 480 replenishment-at-sea (RAM) operations with ships from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Japan, Spain, Denmark, Chile, Peru, Germany, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Singapore, Norway, India and South Korea, and has visited 19 countries.
During the most recent RIMPAC in 2024, NSC Asterix achieved remarkable results by conducting a total of 31 RAMs, transferring 8,677.8 m³ of marine fuel and 134.3 m³ of aviation fuel. The ship traveled 4,641.4 nautical miles and completed 12 back-and-forth transfers, which involve moving personnel or equipment between two ships using a cable. NSC Asterix also participated in major exercises such as a boarding operation with Navy SEALs and a Carrier Strike Group protection exercise. The ship also reached a milestone by completing its 100th replenishment with a different ship, solidifying its reputation as the logistics pillar of the fleet.
NSC Asterix has once again demonstrated its ability to adapt to modern naval requirements, recently integrating anti-drone systems (NiDAR) and an onboard agricultural system, allowing the crew to grow fresh vegetables during long deployments at sea. An innovative project and a rapid build The story of NSC Asterix began in 2015, when Davie took on the challenge of converting a modern German container ship into a support vessel for the Royal Canadian Navy. This project, carried out as part of Project Resolve, was intended to fill the void left by the retirement of the replenishment ships HMCS Protecteur and HMCS Preserver. This ambitious project was completed in record time—less than two years—delivering a fully modernized ship on time and on budget. NSC Asterix was delivered in 2017 and entered service in January 2018. Over the past seven years, the Federal Fleet Services team has maintained an impeccable track record in delivering combat support services, playing a vital role in the success of the Royal Canadian Navy’s critical missions around the world.