Halifax Shipyard has officially launched the first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship for the Canadian Coast Guard. This event represents an important step in Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy and the ongoing upgrade...
Halifax Shipyard has officially launched the first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship for the Canadian Coast Guard. This event represents an important step in Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy and the ongoing upgrade of the Coast Guard fleet.
The ship, named CCGS Donjek, was launched on April 28 in Bedford Basin after being moved from Halifax Shipyard’s facility onto a submersible barge two days prior. The 104.7-meter long vessel is now docked at the yard, where work will continue before it goes for sea trials and is delivered to the Canadian Coast Guard later this year.
This ship is the first of two Coast Guard AOPS variants being constructed by Irving Shipbuilding. Progress is also being made on the second vessel, the upcoming CCGS Sermilik.
The Coast Guard AOPS will support various missions, including fisheries enforcement on Canada’s East Coast, search and rescue operations, icebreaking, humanitarian aid, and summer Arctic missions. This will provide the service with improved capabilities for both northern and offshore tasks.
Kevin Brosseau, Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard, stated, “The launch of the CCGS Donjek is a significant advancement for the Canadian Coast Guard.” He emphasized that the ship’s design, which is shared with the Royal Canadian Navy, will enhance cooperation at sea and improve support for fisheries patrols, conservation, and coastal and northern communities.
These Coast Guard ships follow the delivery of six Harry DeWolf-class AOPS to the Royal Canadian Navy by Irving Shipbuilding. Halifax Shipyard is also making progress on Canada’s new River-class Destroyer program, with the keel laying for the future HMCS Fraser planned for June 2026.
Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement, highlighted, “Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, we are building more than ships — we are building industrial capacity in Canada.”
Irving Shipbuilding President Dirk Lesko referred to the launch as “another major milestone” in the company’s shipbuilding efforts for Canada.