Arctic and offshore patrol ships: Royal Canadian Navy
The arctic and offshore patrol ships (AOPS) are the first class of vessels delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) under the National Shipbuilding Strategy.
The AOPS are:
- conducting armed sea-borne surveillance in Canada's waters, including in the Arctic
- enforcing Canadian sovereignty in cooperation with partners of the Canadian Armed Forces and other government departments
- enhancing our ability to assert Canadian sovereignty
The RCN have deployed the AOPS on a variety of operations abroad where they have shown many versatile capabilities. These vessels have also circumnavigated North America, were deployed to Antarctica, and have provided support to Canadians at home.
The AOPS project, which includes building 6 vessels for the RCN and 2 for the Canadian Coast Guard, is estimated to contribute $459 million annually to Canada’s gross domestic product and to create or maintain 3,425 jobs annually in the Canadian economy from 2015 to 2028.

His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Harry DeWolf
Project at a glance
- Shipyard
-
Irving Shipbuilding Inc. (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
- Number of vessels built
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6
- Project budget
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$4.98 billion
- Years that vessels were delivered
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2020 to 2025
Progress of the project
- AOPS 1, His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Harry DeWolf, the first large vessel delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy under the National Shipbuilding Strategy: Delivered on July 31, 2020
- AOPS 2, HMCS Margaret Brooke: Delivered on July 15, 2021
- AOPS 3, HMCS Max Bernays: Delivered on September 2, 2022
- AOPS 4, HMCS William Hall: Delivered on August 30, 2023
- AOPS 5, HMCS Frédérick Rolette: Delivered on August 29, 2024
- AOPS 6, HMCS Robert Hampton Gray, the final ship in the RCN AOPS class: Delivered on August 21, 2025
News
- Royal Canadian Navy accepts the sixth Arctic and offshore patrol vessel (August 21, 2025)
- His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Frédérick Rolette commissioned into service (June 13, 2025)
- Fourth Arctic and offshore patrol vessel delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy (August 31, 2023)
- Third new Arctic and offshore patrol ship delivered to Canada (September 2, 2022)
- Second new Arctic and offshore patrol ship delivered to Canada (July 15, 2021)
- Government of Canada receives first new Arctic and offshore patrol ship (July 31, 2020)
- Prime Minister announces renewal of Canadian Coast Guard fleet (May 22, 2019)
- Renewing Canadian Coast Guard fleet and supporting jobs in Atlantic Canada, Halifax, Nova Scotia (May 22, 2019)
- Renewing Canadian Coast Guard fleet and delivering important services for Canadians, Québec, Quebec (May 22, 2019)
- The Royal Canadian Navy to receive a sixth Arctic and offshore patrol ship (November 2, 2018)
- Construction launched on third Arctic and offshore patrol ship built by Irving Shipbuilding Inc. (December 19, 2017)
- Keel-laying ceremony for Her Majesty's Canadian Ship Margaret Brooke marks a shipbuilding milestone (May 29, 2017)
- Archived: Harper government awards shipbuilding contract that supports jobs across Canada (January 23, 2015)
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