Image Credits: Wikipedia Canada has officially started construction of its first River-class destroyer at Irving Shipbuilding’s Halifax yard. The keel-laying ceremony for the future HMCS Fraser was held on Friday and brought together thousands of shipyard workers and officials. The event marked the formal start of physical construction and also included a traditional ritual where a commemorative coin was welded into the ship’s hull for good luck. The River-class destroyers are part of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, launched in 2011, and will eventually replace the country’s retired Iroquois-class destroyers and ageing Halifax-class frigates. The navy said these older ships were designed for around 30 years of service but have now been operating beyond that period. The program includes 15 destroyers in total and is described as Canada’s largest and most complex shipbuilding project. The total cost is estimated at C$56 billion to C$60 billion, although earlier estimates from the Parliamentary Budget Officer suggested it could reach C$80 billion. The first three ships have been contracted to Irving Shipbuilding, which has about 3,000 employees and 500 contractors working on the project. The federal government has signed an agreement worth about C$8 billion for the first six years of construction, which covers part of the early build phase. The first three ships alone are expected to cost about C$22.2 billion. Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, said the new destroyers will significantly upgrade Canada’s naval capability. He said they will feature advanced radar systems, missile systems capable of reaching near-space, and strong anti-submarine warfare capability. Topshee also said they will support integrated air and missile defence, counter-piracy, and counter-terrorism operations. The navy has already retired four destroyers that the new ships are meant to replace. The existing Halifax-class frigates are still in service but are