Joy Of Six Soon For Royal Canadian Navy

The last of the Royal Canadian Navy's six new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) has been launched from Irving Shipbuilding Inc.'s Halifax Shipyard.

The vessel, soon to be officially named the HMCS Robert Hampton Gray, is the last of the half-dozen Harry DeWolf-class AOPS being acquired by the RCN. It was launched on Monday — more than two months ahead of schedule, as per a recent Irving Shipbuilding press statement.

The 103-metre vessel had been transferred onto a submersible barge at Halifax Shipyard’s land-level facility on Friday and was launched in the Bedford Basin after the weekend.

The AOPS, constructed by over 2,400 shipbuilders, is now docked at a pier at the shipyard ahead of sea trials and the vessel's eventual handover to the RCN, currently scheduled for August 2025.

Canada's Minister of National Defence Bill Blair commented: "With the sixth Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel launched, we are increasing the Royal Canadian Navy’s presence and reach in the Arctic – asserting our sovereignty in the region. These are modern and technologically advanced ships that are enhancing our ability to conduct surveillance and deter maritime threats in the North."

And Dirk Lesko, Irving Shipbuilding Inc.'s President, added: “The launch of the future HMCS Robert Hampton Gray is another milestone achieved on our mission to deliver ships for Canada. The teamwork and dedication of our workforce continues to produce results that demonstrate the incredible progress being made here in Halifax.”

The Harry DeWolf-class vessels' names honour RCN heroes: Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray was a WW2 Canadian pilot who in August 1945 led two flights of Corsair aircraft to attack ships in Onagawa Bay, Japan. He died in the assault, but not before sinking the HIJMS Amakusa; he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

Halifax Shipyard is also currently building two AOPS variants for the Canadian Coast Guard. And in April 2025 it will begin full-rate production of River-class destroyers; 15 such vessels have been ordered by the RCN as part of Canada's National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) designed to modernise its fleet.

• You can read more details on the Irving Shipbuilding website