Docked in its namesake city for perhaps the final time, HMCS Nanaimo opened its doors to the public on Canada Day. (Kyle Ireland/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

farewell

HMCS Nanaimo makes final Harbour City stop before minesweeping mission in Baltic Sea

Jul 2, 2025 | 11:14 AM

NANAIMO — It’s being billed as a farewell tour, before redeployment into the Atlantic Ocean and parts beyond.

HMCS Nanaimo arrived in the Harbour City on Sunday, June 29, joining Nanaimo’s Canada Day festivities and offering members of the public the opportunity to tour the vessel, likely for the last time.

Lieutenant-Commander Tyson Babcock told NanaimoNewsNOW on board on Tuesday, July 1, they’re preparing for an “operational reassignment” which will see them head to Halifax later this year, before deployment further aboard.

“They’re going to head around the east coast and slated for a mission sometimes in the future. They’ll be taking a team of clearance divers with a remote operated system to find (sea) mines and then clear them in the Baltic.”

HMCS Nanaimo has served a variety of roles during its over 25-year career. (Kyle Ireland/NanaimoNewsNOW)

On the Lake

Training, fundraising take precedence in winter months for Nanaimo Rowing Club

4h ago

clean-up

Locals plan to remove shoreline hazard in Qualicum Beach

Dec 13, 2025

Wings Clipped

Seguin-Lescarbeau and Rimmer lead Clippers to Teddy Bear Toss win

Dec 13, 2025

The weaponry dates back to the Second World War.

“The primary role of the Kingston class is both counter narcotics, as well as some mine clearance operations,” Babcock added. “That’s really the bulk of what we’re doing now, primarily on the east coast, and the Baltic Sea, is working with the NATO task groups up there doing mine clearance.”

Nanaimo will join HMCS Yellowknife and HMCS Edmonton, both already docked in Halifax, on the extended mission.

Babcock said it’s “likely” the Canada Day visit will be the last for the vessel ever in Nanaimo.

“We’re slowly divesting the Kingston class…we’re focusing on new platforms coming out. An exciting platform coming to the West Coast is the Protector class, and there’s a big personnel bill that comes with that. After 27-28 years this year of sailing Kingston class, it’s time to focus on the newer classes.”

Some of those on board the current Kingston-class ship will eventually move over to the Protector class, according to Babcock.

Counter-narcotics missions mean the ship must be able to defend itself and crew during seizures of drugs and other materials at sea. (Kyle Ireland/NanaimoNewsNOW)

The current ship, registry MM 702 which was commissioned in 1997, is the second Royal Canadian Navy ship christened as ‘Nanaimo’.

A Flower-class corvette vessel served in the Second World War, launched in late 1940 and taking out of service five years later, before being scrapped in 1966.

It spent much of its time escorting convoys across the Atlantic between Canada and Iceland, but participated in other missions including rescues.

A final day of public tours aboard HMCS Nanaimo takes place on Wednesday, July 2 until 4 p.m.

On board HMCS Nanaimo. (Kyle Ireland/NanaimoNewsNOW)

— with files from Kyle Ireland

Local news. Delivered. Free. Subscribe to our daily news wrap and get our top local stories delivered to your email inbox every evening.

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

Follow us on: Twitter (X) | Bluesky | Facebook