Bow for AOPS 4

The megablock bow section for the fourth Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship has now been rolled out of the Assembly Hall at Halifax Shipyards and wheeled into position.

The fourth ship in the series is to be named HMCS William Hall AOPV 433 once it is commissioned into the RCN.

With the bow now aligned with the rest of the ship, the "attachement" process of welding the sections together will not take long, so there may be a launch later this year.

 The third Arctic Offshore Patrol ship, AOPS 3 the future HMCS Max Bernays AOPV 432 has already had its first sea trials, and is alongside the shipyard completing fit out. HMCS Margaret Brooke AOPV 431 is in "post-acceptance trials" and is expected to commission this fall and HMCS Harry DeWolf AOPV 430 is fully commissioned. 

The latter two were due to participate in the annual Operation Nanook exercises in northern waters this summer. However HMCS Harry DeWolf remains in port due to deficiencies in its fire suppression system. The RCN says its participation is "delayed". The other participants in the exercise sailed from Halifax on August 2.

Construction started on AOPS 5 in June. AOPS 6 and the two ships for the Canadian Coast Guard are still in the planning stages.

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