First AOPS delivered by ISI

First Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) delivered

RCN Media Release, 31 July 2020.

The ultimate milestone in shipbuilding procurement is finally here, a first for the Royal Canadian Navy under the National Shipbuilding Strategy! The first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship, the HMCS Harry DeWolf was formally accepted and delivered to Canada on 31 July 2020.

The crew of HMCS Harry DeWolf has assumed custody of the ship and cold moved (moved by tugboats) to the DND Halifax Dockyard newly constructed NJ Jetty. While alongside, the ship and its crew will continue preparations for the first time it goes to sea under RCN command. This includes RCN sea trials to allow verification of major ship systems and overall ship performance. Also, operational readiness activities and collective training will commence, leading up to its first deployment this fall in preparation for an Arctic deployment in 2021.

The delivery of this new class of ship represents a historic milestone for the RCN. Designated the Harry DeWolf-class in honour of Vice-Admiral Harry DeWolf, a Canadian wartime naval hero, the AOPS were designed with a thick and robust hull that will allow them to operate in up to 120 cm of first-year sea ice. A new capability for the RCN, these ships will be at the core of an enhanced Arctic presence that will effectively and strategically complement the capabilities of our current and future warships through critical reconnaissance and surveillance operations. These ships are modern, multifunctional and are built with gender equality and diversity inclusion.

This milestone also marks the transition of in-service-support for the first-of-class to the Director Maritime Equipment Program Management (Non Combatants) (DMEPM (NC)). Over the last few years, knowledge transfer activities between PMO AOPS and DMEPM (NC) were conducted to facilitate the delivery of the first ship. A long term In-Service Support contract for the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships and the Joint Support Ships (AJISS) was awarded to Thales in 2017.

In the past year, an extensive amount of work was completed to ensure a successful acceptance and delivery of the first AOPS. A rigorous inspection, tests and trials program was performed to ensure the ship meets the technical design requirements in time for this delivery.

Tune in to Maritime Forces Atlantic's Facebook page on Friday, July 31 at 12 pm EDT, at https://www.facebook.com/MaritimeForcesAtlantic/ for the live streaming of the delivery of the 1st Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel, HMCS Harry DeWolf, from @IrvingShipBuild to #HMCDockyard Halifax.

Congratulations and Bravo Zulu to all those who helped make this delivery a huge success.

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