Nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars have been spent on the repair and modernization of a Canadian submarine. The vessel, which was damaged in an accident in British Columbia in 2011, has now returned to operational service after extensive work.
On Wednesday, the Royal Canadian Navy described HMCS Corner Brook as the most advanced submarine in the Canadian fleet in a post on social media. They also stated that it will play a vital role in supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
The submarine returned to coastal waters near Victoria this past February for sea trials, nearly 14 years after it became stranded in Nootka Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The collision caused a hole in the hull and rendered its systems inoperable. This led to the need for repairs and a refit, delaying its return to service.
Immediately after the accident, $20 million was spent on damage control. An additional $695 million was spent on more extensive repairs and modernization, according to a spokesperson from the Department of National Defence.
HMCS Corner Brook is one of four older hunter-killer submarines that Canada purchased from Britain in 1998. The original price tag of $750 million is only a fraction of the billions of dollars the federal government has since poured into their maintenance.
To replace outdated systems, 56 engineering upgrades have been made to the submarine. Its operational capabilities have also been enhanced. As part of the improvements, a new mast has been installed — a feature planned for all four of Canada’s submarines.
To replace the current fleet, the federal government announced a plan last September to acquire 12 new submarines. The existing fleet is expected to be retired by the mid-2030s.
