Helicopters Magazine

News Military
Irving delivers Canada’s first next-generation Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel

August 6, 2020  By Helicopters Staff


HMCS Harry DeWolf, Canada's first-in-class Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel departing Halifax Shipyard on July 31 for CFB Halifax Dockyard to become the newest member of the Royal Canadian Navy’s fleet. (Photo: Irving Shipbuilding)

Irving Shipbuilding Inc. at the CFB Halifax Dockyard on July 31 officially delivered the HCMS Harry DeWolf, Hull Number 430 and the lead vessel in Canada’s new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel class, to Canada and the Royal Canadian Navy. The new vessel holds the ability to operate and hangar a CH-148 Cyclone or small utility helicopter.

Irving Shipbuilding explains HMCS Harry DeWolf was built by Canadian shipbuilders in what it describes as the most modern and largest indoor shipbuilding facility in North America.

“This is a historic day for our 2,000 shipbuilders and Halifax Shipyard, as we successfully delivered the first-in-class HMCS Harry DeWolf, the lead vessel in Canada’s next-generation fleet,” said Kevin McCoy, president, Irving Shipbuilding. “This brand-new class of Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels is the most modern in Canadian history and will provide decades of outstanding service for the men and women of the Royal Canadian Navy.”

The vessel was moved on the morning of July 31 from Halifax Shipyard to the CFB Halifax Dockyard, where it will be based. An official Acceptance Ceremony was held on the Dockyard NJ Jetty, where ownership of the vessel was signed over to Canada and the Royal Canadian Navy. Irving explains on the instruction of Vice Admiral Art MacDonald, who signed the acceptance on behalf of Canada, the ship’s company then marched on board to assume command of the vessel. The formal Commissioning Ceremony for HMCS Harry DeWolf is scheduled to take place in 2021.

Advertisement

The HMCS Harry DeWolf is the first of six Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Royal Canadian Navy, with the next three already under construction: the future HMCS Margaret Brooke was launched in November 2019 and continues construction in the water at Halifax Shipyard; the future HMCS Max Bernays is in the Assembly Hall at Halifax Shipyard preparing for a move to land later this year, and the future HMCS William Hall entered the Assembly Hall last November and will soon have the keel laying. First steel on the fifth Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel will be cut in the coming months.

HMCS Harry DeWolf was launched on September 8, 2018, completed successful Builder’s Trials at sea in November 2019, and then completed a series of Sea Trials (also known as Acceptance Trials) earlier in July, followed by crew training for the members of the Royal Canadian Navy.

The 6,615 tonne HMCS Harry DeWolf is comprised of 440,000 parts and is described by Irving as the most modern and the largest vessel ever built in Canada in a combat package. It is also the largest Navy vessel built in Canada in more than 50 years.

“Congratulations to the world-class shipbuilders at Halifax Shipyard on delivering HMCS Harry DeWolf to the Royal Canadian Navy,” said Stephen MacNeil, Premier of Nova Scotia. “This milestone adds to the long, proud history of shipbuilding in Nova Scotia. The industry is an important part of our provincial economy, and I look forward to more success in the future.”

Details of HCMS Harry DeWolf
• Length: 103.6 metres
• Beam: 19.0 metres
• Speed (open water): 17 knots
• Complement: 65 crew + 20 embarked forces
• Endurance: 120 days
• Range: 6,800 nautical miles at 14 knots
• Integrated diesel-electric power and propulsion
• Bow thruster for manoeuvering and berthing without tug assistance
• Enclosed Fo’c’sle/Cable deck to protect foredeck machinery and personnel from harsh Artic environment
• Retractable active fin stabilizers for roll reduction

Irving facts about constructing an Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel
• 440,000 parts (and the engine is only one part)
• 300,000 metres of cable
• 37,500 metres of pipe
• 2,800 tonnes of structural steel
• 9,400 gallons of paint
• 5,500 items for Tests and Trials
• 3,155 lights
• First Steel cut: September 1, 2015
• Keel laid: June 9, 2016
• Launched: September 8, 2018
• Delivered: July 31, 2020

Advertisement

Stories continue below

Print this page

Related

Tags