HMCS PRESERVER 510

Auxiliary Oil Replenishment Ship

Built at Saint John, NB, she was commissioned there on 07 Aug 1970. She was selected to carry Governor General Roland Michener on a visit to the Netherlands and Belgium in 1971. On this trip she twice hosted royalty, on 16 Apr 1971, Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, and the 22nd, King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of Belgium.

In Jun 1971 she carried out the first-ever replenishment of a hydrofoil at sea, the recipient being HMCS BRAS D'OR. In 1974-75 PRESERVER served as supply ships for Canadian troops stations in Cyprus as part of a UN peacekeeping force. Throughout the Cold War, she and PROTECTEUR engaged in all major NATO exercises, and have remained indispensable.

Collision with PRESERVER - From 31 Jan to 01 Feb 1976 PROTECTOR (PT) was at anchor off Peter Island, British Virgin Islands for Operation Awkward (simulated attack from divers). It was on completion of the this overnight exercise that PT weighed anchor to rendezvous with HMCS PRESERVER (PS)  in the morning of 2 Feb 1976. A Consolidation RAS was scheduled as PS had just arrived in the op area and was still full of cargo fuel while PT was well down on fuel. PS also needed to lighten to reduce her draught prior to her first port visit in Trinidad. For the RAS, PS was guide and PT the OTC. Course was due north in the Virgin Passage, not far from Sail Rock (6 nautical miles SW of St. Thomas Island). Water depth was mainly 15 fathoms (90 feet/about 30 metres). The ships' draughts were about 30-33 feet (10-11 metres). The sea was calm, winds light and good visibility. PT made the approach on PS's port side. On coming alongside PS and decreasing speed, PT was not able to make small course adjustments to maintain replenishment distance and was inexorably drawn towards PS. Yokohama fenders were out and PT made light glancing contact with PS. There appeared to be no damage other than scuffed paint. The OTC decided to start again with a second approach and reduced speed to return to waiting station. PS then opened distance fine on PT's starboard bow. The suddenly, and inexplicably, PS made a hard turn to port, directly into the path of PT. PT ordered full speed astern both engines to make an emergency stop, but it was already too close to attempt to alter course. PT's bow made contact with PS just aft of midships at an almost 90-degree angle but pulled away almost immediately as PT was now making sternway. The RAS was cancelled and both ships returned to Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico for damage assessment. The damage did not affect seaworthiness and both ships continued their Maple Spring deployment - PT with a bent bow.

In the opinion of the navigator, the cause of both contacts was shallow water effect (also called squat, the effect of restricted water flow, based on Bernoulli's Principle). This can theoretically start to occur with a draught to depth ratio of 1:4, but this possibility was not foreseen on the basis of a ratio of 1:3 and was therefore not allowed for. SWE may also have been exacerbated during this evolution with two deep-draught ships manoeuvring in close proximity at speed. What is known is that both ships experienced at least partial loss of control of their steering while manoeuvring at speed. (Submitted by Heinz Gohlish, Lt, RCN / C.A.F.) 

On 07 Apr 1993, she returned to Halifax from duty off Somalia. Between 18 Oct and 23 Nov 1993 she served in Operation Forward Action (UN sanctions against Haiti). On 27 Jan 1994 PRESERVER departed Halifax for Operation Sharp Guard, Yugolslavia; arriving in the theatre of operations on 10 Feb 1994. She returned to Halifax on 14 Jun 1994. On of Jul 1995, she departed Halifax for another tour as part of Operation Sharp Guard. She was one of the fleet units that assisted in the Swiss Air disaster off Nova Scotia in Sep 1998.

She departed Halifax on 17 Oct 2001, with Charlottetown and Iroquois, to support Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S.-led response to the terrorist destruction of the Twin Trade Towers, New York City, on 11 Sep 2001.  She returned to Halifax on 27 Apr 2002. 

Over the next decade PRESERVER continued to serve as the east coast tanker, but with increasing challenges to ensure the mechanical availability of the ship for operations.  She participated in TGEX 6/07 in Nov 2007, the largest fleet activity in recent years, and was the coordinating unit for a major multinational sail-past of the Quebec Citadel on 01 Jun 2008 marking the 400th anniversary of the founding of the city.

Following a major refit in 2010-11, her return to operational status was delayed by a jetty collision in Halifax on 04 Nov 2011.

PRESERVER represented Canada at the War of 1812 Bicentennial celebration in Boston in Jul 2012 before a deployment to the Caribbean 14 Aug - 03 Oct 2012 to participate in Operations Caribbe and UNITAS 53-12.  The year 2013 continued a successful operational cycle, with major deployments including the USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group work-ups off the Virginia Capes, Exercise Joint Warrior 13-1 in the North Sea, and another commitment to Ops Caribbe and UNITAS, for a total of 123 days at sea.

HMCS PRESERVER was paid off at Halifax, NS on 21 Oct 2016. On 02 Aug 2017, she departed Halifax for the final time, under tow of the tug Lois M., bound for the breaker's yard in Sydney, NS.

Photos and Documents          Ship's company photos          The Ship's Bell          Commissioning book          Paying off book

Old memories stir for petty officer - Navy News (AU)

RCN Memories:     Heart of the Fleet     Stranded!!

Commanding Officers

Photos and Documents

(FC09-FC12) The Commissioning of HMCS PRESERVER, 01 Aug 1970, at Saint John, New Brunswick

From the collection of MS BN Floyd Coughlin, RCN / C.A.F. (Navy)

Courtesy of Nancy Coughlin