Canadian Navy enriches fleet with new naval large tug

March 10, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

The Canadian Department of National Defence has accepted a third naval large tug, Canadian Forces Auxiliary Vessel (CFAV) Canso, after it successfully sailed from the shipyard at Ocean Industries.

Naval large tugs provide essential harbour and coastal support to the RCN, including harbour-berthing, coastal towing, and harbour firefighting. The new tug sailed to Halifax, Nova Scotia, a journey of more than 1,000 nautical miles, in January 2026. Ownership of CFAV Canso will transfer to the Royal Canadian Navy once the crew has completed training, anticipated for March 2026.

The RCN is receiving six tugs to replace the capabilities of the five Glen-class tugs and two Fire-class fireboats that are reaching the end of their service life. Each unit is 24 meters long and 11 meters wide and can accommodate a crew of six members.

CFAV Canso is the first naval large tug to be delivered to the East Coast, with a second vessel, Stella Maris, scheduled to arrive in November 2026.

In August 2024, CFAVs Haro and Barkerville were delivered to the RCN in Esquimalt, British Columbia, on the West Coast.

In preparation for the RCN’s growing operational requirements, the Government of Canada amended the contract with Oceans Industries, increasing the value by $81 million for a total contract value of $213.45 million, to deliver two additional large tugs.

“The strength of our naval fleet is not defined by its largest warships alone. The security of our oceans depends on the steadfast contribution of every vessel that keeps our fleet moving and our sailors safe. Our Naval Large Tugs are fundamental to that mission—guiding ships through narrow waterways, ensuring safe passage home, and supporting our sailors as they head out on deployment,” David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, said.

“The arrival of Canadian Forces Auxiliary Vessel (CFAV) Canso strengthens Maritime Forces Atlantic’s ability to safely support naval operations on the East Coast. Naval Large Tugs are essential to fleet readiness, enabling warships to manoeuvre safely in harbour and operate effectively. As the Royal Canadian Navy modernizes its fleet, reliable harbour and towing support becomes increasingly critical. Though operating behind the scenes, CFAV Canso will play a vital role in sustaining operations and supporting the RCN’s long-term mission in the Atlantic,” Rear-Admiral Josée Kurtz, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic and Commander Joint Task Force Atlantic, commented.

The naval large tugs are named after straits that are significant in Canadian maritime history as well as notable tugs that perished in service. The next two vessels will be named CFAV Sansum and CFAV Belle.