Joint Support Ship Project

The Joint Support Ship Project (abbreviated as JSS Project) is a project undertaken by the Canadian Forces to provide Canada with three multirole naval vessels.

Project overview

Purpose

The JSS Project will replace the underway replenishment capability of the Protecteur class auxiliary vessel, as well as provide basic sealift for the army, support to forces ashore, and command facilities for a Joint Force or naval task group. The project should not be confused with a proposed amphibious assault ship also under consideration by the navy; planning for this latter vessel is in a much earlier stage.

Project status

The project has recently closed the request for proposal (RFP) stage. Originally, there were four syndicates vying for the contract, which was one of the largest navy shipbuilding contracts in 20 years.Fact|date=November 2007 The consortia were led by Irving Shipbuilding, BAE Systems, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Canada, and SNC-Lavalin ProFac.

Two design finalists were selected in November 2006: ThyssenKrupp and SNC-Lavalin ProFac. Under the two remaining proposals, the ships will be built in either Newfoundland or Victoria, respectively. A contract for final design and construction is expected in 2008, with the first ship of the class entering service in 2012.

In January 2007, Canadian media reported that defence planners were considering the retirement of the existing Protecteur class ships by 2010, prior to the delivery of the first JSS in 2012. This news was met with criticism as it would leave the Canadian Navy without a resupply capability for two years. [cite web|url=http://thechronicleherald.ca/print_article.html?story=556347|title="Naval plan 'hare-brained'," The Halifax Chronicle-Herald, 2 Feb 07|accessdate=February 2|accessyear=2007]

On August 22, 2008 The Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), the Honourable Christian Paradis announced the termination of two procurement processes involving the shipbuilding industry.

Proposed ship capabilities

hip particulars

* Crew Size 30% to 50% less than current AORs
* Length/Beam/Draft (Deep) m 210 / Panamax / 9.5 (notional)
* Displacement (Deep) 28,000 tonnes (notional)
* Speed 20 knots (sustained)
* Range 10,800 @ convert|15|kn|km/h

urvivability

* Self Defence Active & Passive
* Damaged Stability Enhanced Two Compartment

Ice capability

* First Year Ice

ealift

* Deck Space (inc. Upper Deck) 1,000 - 1,500 lane meters
* Container System

Underway support

* Fuel 7,000 - 10,000 tonnes
* JP 5 650 - 1,300 tonnes
* Ammunition 1,100 tonnes

Joint headquarters support

* Naval Communications
* Shore Communications

ee also

* Future Canadian amphibious assault ship

References

External links

* [http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/newsroom/view_news_e.asp?id=1346 Project background] from the Department of National Defence.
* [http://www.forces.gc.ca/admmat/dgmepm/pmojss/index_e.asp PMO] JSS Project Management Office.
* [http://www.cdnmilitary.ca/?p=12 CdnMilitary.ca's Article on the Joint Support Ship Program] .
* [http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/LF/English/6_1_1.asp?id=1119 Article from Army News] Canadian Forces