The following is the text of a news release from Chantier Davie Canada:
(LEVIS, Quebec) — On Thursday, Canada's largest and most experienced shipbuilder unveiled Asterix, the first large naval ship to be built in Canada in over 20 years. Davie's 1,369 staff together with over 900 Canadian suppliers spent just under two years delivering the Resolve-class naval support ship which will enter into service with the Royal Canadian Navy by the end of this year as initially planned.
The Resolve-class naval support ship will be the largest naval platform in service with the Royal Canadian Navy for the foreseeable future and will provide a wide range of functions from at-sea replenishment of fuels and cargo to aviation support, fleet medical support and humanitarian and disaster relief.
This program involves three levels of innovation for Canada allowing the delivery of a most needed ship in a timely manner and with the best value for Canadian taxpayers. Firstly, instead of building a ship from new, a modern containership has been converted into a state-of-the-art naval support ship. Secondly, the ship has been privately financed by Davie and will be leased to Canada — that means a fixed, transparent cost to the Canadian taxpayer. Thirdly, Federal Fleet Services, Davie sister company, will operate the ship with a mixed crew of merchant seafarers and Royal Canadian Navy personnel.
The unveiling of the ship — which also underlines Canada's 150th anniversary — included an employee appreciation for the Chantier Davie Canada team as well as a family day, a blessing for the ship by the Huron-Wendat Nation and VIP tours onboard.
The traditional breaking of the sacrificial champagne bottle on the bow by the sponsor of the ship in order to bless the ship and her crew was performed by Pauline Theberge, spouse of J. Michel Doyon, the lieutenant governor of Quebec.
Asterix in numbers:
599 feet long, i.e. two football fields
83 feet wide
Speed: 20 to 25 knots
Up to 7,000 tonnes of fuel and producing 450 tonnes of drinkable water per day
Two cranes allowing the loading and unloading of containers which are accessible at sea
A gymnasium, the first on board a Canadian vessel
A helicopter deck
Two hangars for helicopters
Garages to park vehicles
A hospital able to accommodate 60 patients
Kitchens able to feed 1,000 people
