Paying off ceremonies to be held for two destroyers, one replenishment ship – fourth ship to be paid off at a later date

Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy announced the retirement of four ships that had reached the end of their operational lives: Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Protecteur, Preserver, Iroquois and Algonquin.

Three of the four ships will be “paid off” in ceremonies on their respective coasts this spring and summer.

The term “paying off” refers to the British age-of-sail practice of paying a crew their wages once a ship has completed its voyage. In the RCN, the tradition continues with the term paying off referring to the formal ceremony where the naval jack, ensign and commissioning pennant are hauled down, the crew departs a ship for the last time, and the ship is then no longer referred to as HMCS.

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