Veteran Canadian warship decommissioned in Halifax | iNFOnews.ca
Family, veterans, and dignitaries watch as the HMCS Athabaskan makes its final sail in the Halifax Harbour during the ship's paying off ceremony in Halifax on Friday, March 10, 2017. The Athabaskan concluded 44 years of service in the Royal Canadian Navy and is the last of the four Iroquois-class Destroyers to be paid off. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

Veteran Canadian warship decommissioned in Halifax

HALIFX, N.S. – A veteran Canadian warship that served in the first Gulf War was decommissioned on Friday in Halifax.

HMCS Athabaskan sailed around Halifax harbour for the last time as part of a ceremony marking its final retirement from service.

The destroyer was the last serving member of a class of four destroyers that have served the Canadian navy since the early 1970s.

The navy's most senior officer says for more than four decades the vessel and her crews have proudly served and protected Canada.

Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd says the navy's future is partly anchored on the legacy of ships such as Athabaskan.

The destroyer brought in aid after hurricane Katrina in 2006 and Haiti's 2010 earthquake, on top of its NATO obligations and fisheries and sovereignty patrols.

Athabaskan's sister ships have already been decommissioned.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

Kim Anderson

Originally from a northern B.C. town that boasts a giant fly fishing rod and a population of 3,100, Kim moved to Kamloops in 2011 to attend Thompson Rivers University. Kim is as comfortable behind a camera as she is writing on her laptop. After graduating with a degree in journalism, Kim has been busy with an independent freelance writing project and photography work. Contact Kim at kanderson@infonews.ca with news tips or story ideas.

Kim's Stories

Related Articles