Second new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship delivered to Canada
News release
July 15, 2021 – Halifax, N.S. – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
Today on behalf of Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan, the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, and Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax, celebrated another milestone in the arrival of the RCN’s future fleet with the delivery of the second Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS), the future Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Margaret Brooke. In support of Canada’s defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, the Government of Canada continues to deliver the modern, functional, and effective ships the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) needs to support operations, while also rebuilding Canada’s marine industry with the creation of hundreds of new jobs under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy.
Built by Irving Shipbuilding Inc. of Halifax, Nova Scotia, this is the second of six new patrol ships being built for the RCN. Designed with a thick and robust hull, the ships will be able to operate in up to 120 cm of first-year sea ice, and will provide the Canadian Armed Forces with enhanced access and capability in the Arctic. With their considerable space to transport cargo and the capacity to embark a Cyclone helicopter, small vehicles, and deployable boats, the Harry DeWolf-class ships have the versatility to support a full range of RCN operations, while also contributing to global peace and security across the world in coordination with our allies and partners.
The future HMCS Margaret Brooke will remain docked at Jetty NJ at the CFB Halifax Dockyard while post-acceptance work and final ship preparation work are completed. A naming ceremony for the ship is expected to be held later in 2021, with a formal commissioning ceremony expected in fall 2022 as the ship officially enters into active RCN service. Construction of the following three ships in this class is ongoing, with construction of the sixth ship expected to begin in 2022.
Quotes
“Today we celebrate another important milestone for the National Shipbuilding Strategy and the Royal Canadian Navy with the arrival of its second new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship, the future HMCS Margaret Brooke. The delivery of this ship is a testament to the hard work and perseverance of Canadian shipbuilders despite the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and will help to ensure our Navy is equipped with the modern ships it needs to assert Arctic sovereignty for years to come. Bravo Zulu to everyone who has helped make this delivery a success.”
The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence
“The delivery of this second new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship represents another important step forward in Canada’s long-standing and impressive naval history, and I am proud to be part of this historic moment. These modern ships will provide our sailors with enhanced capabilities and the latest technology they need to succeed in Canadian waters and abroad, while also providing significant economic investments and the creation of thousands of jobs in Canada’s marine industry.”
The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
“Thanks to the resiliency and hard work of the shipyard workers at Irving Shipbuilding and the many regional subcontractors in Atlantic Canada throughout the pandemic, the second large combat ship delivered under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the future HMCS Margaret Brooke, now joins HMCS Harry DeWolf to serve and protect our country. The National Shipbuilding Strategy continues to create and generate economic benefits in communities and across Canada, while providing the members of the Royal Canadian Navy with the ships they need to carry out their important work for Canadians.”
The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada
“We are focused on positioning Canada for a strong economic recovery. The arrival today of the second Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship, the future HMCS Margaret Brooke, marks another important milestone in a National Shipbuilding Strategy that has strengthened Canada’s shipbuilding industry and continues to create good jobs across the country.”
The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation Science and Industry
“The Royal Canadian Navy is thrilled to see the arrival of the second Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship, the future HMCS Margaret Brooke. I know that its Captain, Commander Nicole Robichaud, and crew have been eagerly awaiting this day, and all of the milestones to come, as their ship is brought into service and readied to add to the capabilities of our fleet at home and abroad.”
Vice-Admiral Craig Baines, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy
Quick facts
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The AOPS are highly versatile vessels that can be used on a variety of missions at home and abroad, such as coastal surveillance, search and rescue, drug interdiction, support to international partners, humanitarian aid, and disaster relief.
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The AOPS are known as the Harry DeWolf-class, named in honour of Vice-Admiral Harry DeWolf, a Canadian wartime naval hero. The lead ship, HMCS Harry DeWolf, was delivered to Canada on July 30, 2020, and was officially commissioned into RCN service on June 26, 2021.
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The second AOPS, the future HMCS Margaret Brooke, will be named in honour of the Royal Canadian Navy Nursing Sister Lieutenant-Commander Margaret, Martha Brooke, who was decorated for gallantry during the Second World War. The ship’s designation is AOPV 431.
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The badge of the future HMCS Margaret Brooke features a rearing caribou symbolizing the sinking of the ferry SS Caribou, the wartime event during which Lieutenant-Commander Brooke displayed the courage for which she was decorated. Also to be noted is the shield symbolizing a career and a life in protection of others as well as the four-leaf clover, a personal symbol she carried with her all her life.
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Following delivery to the Government of Canada, the ship will undergo final preparations and outfitting, as well as additional tests and trials to confirm final elements of the design. This will occur simultaneously with operational readiness activities and training for the future crew of HMCS Margaret Brooke.
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Work is ongoing to complete the Nanisivik Naval Facility, which will support operations of the new AOPS and other government maritime vessels. This new facility is expected to be operational in summer 2022.
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The Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy, including the Value Proposition, applies to this procurement. The ITB Policy requires companies awarded defence procurement contracts to undertake business activity in Canada equal to the value of their contracts.
Associated links
Contacts
Daniel Minden
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-3100
Email: Daniel.Minden@forces.gc.ca
Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-904-3333
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca
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