Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs)

[Stoker]

Brandon, Manitoba, Seeks to Preserve Naval Legacy with HMCS Brandon Acquisition

On August 14, 2025, Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett sent a formal inquiry to the Royal Canadian Navy, expressing the city’s interest in acquiring the vessel

readyayeready.com

 

[PrairieFella]

That would be super cool. Between the CATP museum, the RCA museum 20 mins up the road in Shilo and this, thats quite thr collection of military museums in Westman. I wonder if the Assiniboine is deep enough in downtown Brandon to float the Brandon? Pretty shallow river in the height of summer.

 

[Stoker]

That would be super cool. Between the CATP museum, the RCA museum 20 mins up the road in Shilo and this, thats quite thr collection of military museums in Westman. I wonder if the Assiniboine is deep enough in downtown Brandon to float the Brandon? Pretty shallow river in the height of summer.

To disassemble and move the ship to Brandon and reassemble something into something viable would cost as much as building a new ship. Then you would need a population base and tourist to support it, Brandon is too small.

A more practical path: retire and display select components (e.g., anchor, RHIB, a section of hull/plating, bridge console) That gives the community a tangible naval exhibit at a fraction of the cost/complexity—no hull cutting, heavy-haul convoys, or reassembly risk.

 

[Czech_pivo]

To disassemble and move the ship to Brandon and reassemble something into something voable would cost as much as building a new ship. Then you would need a population base and tourist to support it, Brandon is too small.

A more practical path: retire and display select components (e.g., anchor, RHIB, a section of hull/plating, bridge console) That gives the community a tangible naval exhibit at a fraction of the cost/complexity—no hull cutting, heavy-haul convoys, or reassembly risk.

What if you sailed the ship to Thunder Bay and shipped from there to Brandon?

 

[PrairieFella]

What if you sailed the ship to Thunder Bay and shipped from there to Brandon?

Better yet, Thunder Bay to somewhere below the dams on the Winnipeg River, float it to Lake Winnipeg and then down the Red and moor it there, either at the museum in Selkirk or in Winnipeg proper. The Assiniboine would be impassable for it to get to Brandon but it could be doable if they're satisfied by compromising and having it in MB generally. The Red used to be navigable, unsure if it still is or if it could even fit in the Lockport locks. Pipedream and impractical I know, but possible.

 

[Stoker]

What if you sailed the ship to Thunder Bay and shipped from there to Brandon?

First of all the ship can't sail so it would need to be tugged there, that's going to cost a few bucks. Again disassembly, transport and reassembly is cost prohibited. and again the population there can't support such a thing.

 

[Czech_pivo]

First of all the ship can't sail so it would need to be tugged there, that's going to cost a few bucks. Again disassembly, transport and reassembly is cost prohibited. and again the population there can't support such a thing.

Sad that it’s already in a non-sailalbe state

 

[Stoker]

Sad that it’s already in a non-sailalbe state

Once the certifications and statement of structural integrity expires then the ship needs to go into a docking.