The Royal Canadian Navy has so far taken most of its Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs) out of service. When I was at CFB Esquimalt in early July for the announcement of Canada’s purchase of new submarines, I could see from the jetty a number of MCDVs over at the Seaspan facility where they are to be prepared for disposal.

One of the potential uses for this ships is as targets in a live-fire military training event (the U.S. refers to that as a SINKEX or Sinking Exercise). Or they be dismantled for scrap metal. Or maybe a combination of both.

On July 7, 2026, the Canadian Press reported that two MCDVs left Halifax on a NATO mission to detect and neutralize sea mines in European waters.

The mission is part of Operation Reassurance. The Royal Canadian Navy says the two ships – HMCS Moncton and HMCS Edmonton – each carry about 45 sailors and will be hunting for mines from July to October.

According to the Canadian government, HMCS Edmonton is slated to be paid off in 2027 and HMC Ships Moncton and Nanaimo in 2028.

Over the decades I have written about the MCDVs … most of the articles have disappeared or can only be found using the Wayback Machine … but here are a few still on line:

Royal Canadian Navy to examine crew mix for Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (Sept. 28, 2016)

Royal Canadian Navy ships to conduct operations in Canada’s northern waters (Aug. 15, 2017)

And below is a more recent article about the new ships that will eventually replace the Kingston-class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels which are in the process of being retired from service.

Canadian military to launch initial steps in new warship project (Apr. 23, 2026)