Canada's First Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship Assembled
The Royal Canadian Navy's first Arctic and offshore patrol ship, the future HMCS Harry DeWolf, is now assembled at Irving Shipbuilding's Halifax Shipyard.
On Friday, the bow section of the vessel was transported on heavy lift transporters from inside the Halifax Shipyard’s indoor shipbuilding facility outside to land level.
With all three sections of the vessel joined, further outfitting of the ship will continue.
There are currently two vessels, the future HMCS Harry DeWolf and the future HMCS Margaret Brooke, under construction at Halifax Shipyard, with steel cutting for a third, the future HMCS Max Bernays, scheduled for later this month.
The project will deliver five ice-capable ships, with an option for a sixth, designated as the Harry DeWolf Class, after Canadian wartime naval hero Vice-Admiral Harry DeWolf.
The vessels will be capable of armed sea-borne surveillance of Canada's waters, including the Arctic, cooperating with other partners in the Canadian Armed Forces to assert 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
The future HMCS Harry DeWolf is scheduled to be launched in summer 2018.
To date, Halifax Shipyard and its major subcontractors have more than $1.9 billion in spending commitments with over 250 organizations across Canada as part of the Halifax Shipyard's facility modernization and patrol ship program. The commitments span from Newfoundland and Labrador to British Columbia, including most provinces and territories in between such as Nunavut, Ontario and Quebec. The company forecasts more than $3.17 billion of economic activity across Canada between 2013-2022.
Specifications
Length: 103 meters (338 feet)
Beam: 19 meters (62 feet)
Complement: 65
Features
• Modern integrated bridge.
• BAE Mk 38 remote controlled 25 mm gun.
• Enclosed focsle/cable deck to protect foredeck machinery and work space from harsh Arctic environment.
• Helicopter capability: depending on the mission, the embarked helicopter could range from a small utility aircraft up to the new CH-148 maritime helicopter.
• Multiple payload options such as shipping containers, underwater survey equipment or a landing craft. Ship has a 20-ton 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 will consist of two 4.5 propulsion MW (induction) motors and four 3.6 MVA generators.
• Retractable active fin stabilizers deployed to reduce ship roll for open ocean operations, retracted for operations in ice.
• Multi-role rescue boats with a top speed of 35+ knots, 8.5 meters (28 feet) long will support rescues, personnel transfers or boarding operations.
• Bow thrusters to enable maneuvering or berthing without tug assistance.