Halifax, NS — A momentous day unfolded at Halifax Shipyard as Canada’s Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) welcomed the sixth and final Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS), the future HMCS Robert Hampton Gray. Marking the culmination of years of skilled craftsmanship and rigorous naval engineering, the delivery underscores Halifax Shipyard’s role at the heart of Canada’s naval modernization.

The delivery ceremony brought together key figures from Canada’s shipbuilding and defence community. Dirk Lesko, President of Irving Shipbuilding, joined Rear Admiral Josée Kurtz, Commander of Maritime Forces Atlantic and Joint Task Force Atlantic, and Commander Brian Henwood, the ship’s commanding officer, in signing the official documents that transferred the vessel to the RCN. Following formalities, the Robert Hampton Gray departed the shipyard pier to its new home at HMC Dockyard, ready to begin its operational journey.

Named for WWII hero Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray, the ship embodies courage and Canadian naval legacy. Image source: https://shipsforcanada.ca/our-stories/the-future-hmcs-robert-hampton-gray-canadas-sixth-arctic-and-offshore-patrol-ship-is-delivered-to-the-royal-canadian-navy
Named for WWII hero Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray, the ship embodies courage and Canadian naval legacy. Image source: https://shipsforcanada.ca/our-stories/the-future-hmcs-robert-hampton-gray-canadas-sixth-arctic-and-offshore-patrol-ship-is-delivered-to-the-royal-canadian-navy

“The future HMCS Robert Hampton Gray stands as a powerful tribute to a Canadian hero and a testament to the skill and commitment of our exceptional workforce. Irving Shipbuilding Inc. continues to demonstrate the success of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, and this vessel is a proud reflection of that progress and sovereign capability,” noted Dirk Lesko, President, Irving Shipbuilding Inc.

The vessel carries the name of Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray, a Canadian naval hero of the Second World War and the only member of the RCN to receive the Victoria Cross during that conflict. Gray, who joined the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1940, served as a pilot in the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. He earned his posthumous Victoria Cross for audacious air strikes on the Japanese destroyer HIJMS Amakusa, embodying courage and determination.

“With today’s delivery of HMCS Robert Hampton Gray, a ship proudly bearing the name of a Canadian Second World War hero, our government has successfully delivered the first class of ships built for the Royal Canadian Navy through the National Shipbuilding Strategy. I was pleased to visit Irving Shipbuilding and see HMCS Robert Hampton Gray, where I witnessed firsthand the exceptional work of our Canadian shipbuilders, skilled workers whose expertise are delivering world-class vessels for our Navy. The Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships have significantly enhanced Canada’s ability to protect our sovereignty and participate in critical operations alongside our allies, particularly in the Arctic. We will continue to invest in the infrastructure, technology, and equipment that our Navy needs, ensuring a stronger, more secure future for all Canadians,” asserted the Honourable Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement.

Since the launch of the AOPS program, Halifax Shipyard has maintained a steady rhythm, delivering one ship per year to the RCN. The HMCS Robert Hampton Gray represents the final ship in this sequence, while two additional AOPS variants are currently under construction for the Canadian Coast Guard. Looking ahead, April 2025 marked another milestone for Halifax Shipyard with the start of construction on the first River-class destroyer, the future HMCS Fraser. This ambitious program will see 15 destroyer ships built in Halifax, further solidifying Canada’s naval capabilities for decades to come.

“Delivering the sixth and final Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship to the Royal Canadian Navy marks a proud and exciting milestone under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. This achievement reflects the dedication and expertise of the skilled workers in our world-class shipbuilding industry, who have constructed a class of modern, versatile vessels that are equipping our Navy to protect our country in a wide range of operations,” stated the Honourable Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State (Defence Procurement).

The delivery of HMCS Robert Hampton Gray not only celebrates a storied legacy but also reinforces Canada’s ongoing investment in its maritime defence infrastructure, ensuring the RCN remains ready to protect Canada’s sovereignty from coast to coast to coast.