Harjit S. Sajjan, Canada’s Minister of National Defence, took part in a ceremony at Irving Shipbuilding for the start of construction for the fourth Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS), the future HMCS William Hall. This is the fourth of six such ships to be built for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN).
This new class of vessel was designed to patrol Canada’s waters and northernmost regions. It will be able to navigate abroad and contribute to international operations, while it will also improve CAF’s capabilities and presence in the Arctic.
The AOPS project is part of Canada’s renewed focus on surveillance of Canadian territory, particularly its Arctic regions. As the security dynamics in the Arctic evolve due to such factors as climate change, Canada wants to secure its northern air and maritime approaches.
Since the start of construction for the first AOPS in 2015, the project has progressed well, and the first ship is expected to join the RCN’s fleet this summer.
Commenting on the occasion, Harjit S. Sajjan mentioned that the country is making significant progress on the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships.
These vessels will be critical assets to the RCN, enhancing our Arctic capability and greatly contributing to the future success of our operations in the most isolated regions of Canada. As outlined in Strong, Secure, Engaged, our government is delivering modern and versatile equipment to our women and men in uniform so they can successfully accomplish the work we ask of them.