The following is text of a news release from Irving Shipbuilding:
(HALIFAX, Nova Scotia) — The Royal Canadian Navy’s second Arctic and offshore patrol ship (AOPS), the future HMCS Margaret Brooke, was launched Sunday at Halifax Shipyard.
The launch of the second of six AOPS for the Royal Canadian Navy marks a significant milestone for Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) and the revitalization of the Royal Canadian Navy’s combatant fleet.
The 338-foot future HMCS Margaret Brooke transitioned from Halifax Shipyard’s land level facility to a submersible barge on Nov. 8 and launched in the Bedford Basin on Sunday.
The ship is now pierside at Halifax Shipyard where work continues to prepare the ship for sea trials and handover to the Royal Canadian Navy late next year.
The future HMCS Margaret Brooke joins Canada’s lead AOPS, the future HMCS Harry DeWolf, pierside at Halifax Shipyard. The future HMCS Harry DeWolf is in the final stages of construction and is preparing for initial builder sea trials at the end of November.
Inside Halifax Shipyard’s facilities, the Royal Canadian Navy’s third and fourth AOPS, the future HMCS Max Bernay and the future HMCS William Hall, are under construction. The first two major sections of the future HMCS Max Bernay are scheduled to be moved outside in spring 2020.
Canada’s NSS was created to replace the current surface fleets of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard. Over the next few decades, Halifax Shipyard will build six AOPS for the Royal Canadian Navy, two AOPS for the Canadian Coast Guard, and 15 Canadian surface combatants for the Royal Canadian Navy.
“Congratulations to our more than 2,000 shipbuilders on today’s successful launch of the future HMCS Margaret Brooke," said Kevin McCoy, president, Irving Shipbuilding. "It is exciting to have two Arctic and offshore patrol ships in the water and closer to being in use by the Royal Canadian Navy’s sailors.”
