Steel Cut for Canada's First Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship
A crowd gathered in the new Assembly Hall at Canada’s Halifax Shipyard on September 3 to celebrate the start of production of the nation’s first Arctic Offshore Patrol ship (AOPS).
Delivery of the first of six HMCS Harry DeWolf-class ship is expected in 2018.
The ship is the first of up to 21 vessels that will renew Canada’s combatant fleet over the next 30 years under the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy.
The $3.5 billion budget for the AOPS includes acquisition costs (for vessel design and build), project office operations, a provision for infrastructure costs (e.g. for jetties), as well as initial spares and support. The build contract, awarded to Irving Shipbuilding, is valued at $2.3 billion.
The new DeWolf-class AOPS will be equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and will also be able to operate and support the new Cyclone naval helicopters. Operating in conjunction with other capabilities of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Coast Guard, the DeWolf-class ships will play a critical role in protecting Canada’s offshore sovereignty in the Atlantic, in the Pacific as well as in the Arctic.
The AOPS capabilities will include:
• the ability to operate in first-year ice up to one metre in thickness;
• the ability to sustain operations for up to four months;
• command, control and communication capability to exchange real-time information with the Canadian Armed Forces Maritime Security Operations Centres;
• modern surface search radars; and
• a gun armament.
The vessels will provide armed sea-borne surveillance of Canada's waters, including the Arctic, providing government situational awareness of activities and events in these regions. They will be capable of cooperating with other partners in the Canadian Armed Forces and other government departments to assert and enforce Canadian sovereignty, when and where necessary.
The announced names of the Harry DeWolf-class ships to date are:
HMCS Harry DeWolf
HMCS Margaret Brooke
HMCS Max Bernays
HMCS William Hall
HMCS Frédérick Rolette
Specifications
Length: 103 meters
Beam: 19 meters
Complement: 65
Features
Integrated Bridge Navigation System: A modern integrated bridge, from which control of navigation, machinery, and damage control systems can be performed.
Multi-Purpose Operational Space: where operational planning and mission execution will be coordinated.
BAE Mk 38 Gun: A remote controlled 25mm gun to support domestic constabulary role.
Enclosed Focsle/Cable Deck: protects foredeck machinery and workspace from harsh Arctic environment.
Helicopter Capability: depending on the mission, the embarked helicopter could range from a small utility aircraft right up to the new CH-148 maritime helicopter.
Cargo/Payloads: multiple payload options such as shipping containers, underwater survey equipment, or a landing craft. The ship has a 20-tonne crane to self-load/unload.
Vehicle Bay: for rapid mobility over land or ice, the ship can carry vehicles such as pickup trucks, ATVs, and snowmobiles.
Diesel/Electric Propulsion: two 4.5 megawatt main propulsion engines, four 3.6 megawatt generators.
Retractable Active Fin Stabilizers: deployed to reduce ship roll for open ocean operations, retracted for operations in ice.
Multi-Role Rescue Boats: top speed of 35+ knots, 8.5 meters long, will support rescues, personnel transfers, or boarding operations.
Bow Thrusters: to enable maneuvering or berthing without tug assistance.
Irving Business
Irving Shipbuilding has built more than 80 percent of Canada’s current combatant ships.
Over the next two years, the company’s workforce is expected to rise to 1,600 direct employees with over 1000 directly employed on AOPS production. In addition, total employment at Irving Shipbuilding (all operations) is forecasted to rise to over 2,500 direct employees at peak production of the larger Canadian Surface Combatant vessels that will replace Canada’s current fleet of Halifax Class frigates.
“Today is a milestone we have all been anticipating. It is a great day to be a shipbuilder in Nova Scotia as we mark the beginning of this generational opportunity,” said Kevin McCoy, President of Irving Shipbuilding. “We’re doing this with the best team and the largest and most modern shipbuilding facility in North America. Our focus is on delivering the best value to Canada with a growing supply chain from coast to coast to coast.”