In a significant moment for Canada’s Royal Canadian Navy, the future HMCS Frédérick Rolette, the fifth Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) crafted at Halifax Shipyard, has officially been delivered.
The occasion was marked by a ceremonial event at Halifax Shipyard, where key figures such as Dirk Lesko, President of Irving Shipbuilding, Rear Admiral Josée Kurtz, Commander of Maritime Forces Atlantic and Joint Task Force Atlantic, and Commander Jolene Lisi, the Commanding Officer of HMCS Frédérick Rolette, came together to sign the ship’s official documents. The ceremony also included the unveiling of the ship’s badge, which proudly features a heraldic sea-lion gripping a sabre, symbolizing the legacy of Frédérick Rolette.
“The delivery of the future HMCS Frédérick Rolette today, four months ahead of schedule, and more than a year faster than the prior ship is something we can all be proud of. Every member of the Irving Shipbuilding team is committed to delivering a quality product for the Royal Canadian Navy. This ship will serve Canada well for many years to come,” expressed Dirk Lesko, President, Irving Shipbuilding.
After the ceremony, the ship made its departure from Irving Shipbuilding’s pier, heading towards HMC Dockyard.
“Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, our government is committed to providing members of the Royal Canadian Navy with the equipment they need to accomplish the difficult tasks we ask of them every day, while creating skilled jobs in our shipbuilding and marine industries across the country. Today’s delivery of the future HMCS Frédérick Rolette, the fifth Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship, is an important step toward ensuring the Royal Canadian Navy’s future operational readiness,” explained the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement.
The six Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships are named in tribute to distinguished Canadian naval figures who have served the nation with exceptional honor.
Lieutenant Frédérick Rolette, for whom this latest ship is named, was a Canadian-born officer in the Provincial Marine of Upper Canada, celebrated for his valor during the War of 1812. Upon the war’s conclusion, Rolette was welcomed back to Québec City as a hero and awarded a fifty-guinea sword of honor for his service. The historical Canton of Rolette in Québec, established in 1868, bears his name as a lasting tribute.
“The delivery of our fifth Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel, the future HMCS Frédérick Rolette, brings the Royal Canadian Navy one step closer to completing Canada’s AOPV fleet. These ships bring an incredible capability to the RCN, allowing us to patrol and protect Canada’s North. I would like to recognize the important work of our shipbuilders at Irving Shipbuilding, and all Canadian Shipyards who continue to build and deliver modern and capable ships to our sailors,” said Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy.
Halifax Shipyard has committed to delivering one AOPS each year to the Royal Canadian Navy, with the final ship expected to be completed in 2025. Additionally, two AOPS variants are currently under construction for the Canadian Coast Guard. In a forward-looking move, Irving Shipbuilding commenced work on the Production Test Module for the future River-class destroyers in July. These 15 destroyer ships, to be built in Halifax, Nova Scotia, are scheduled to enter full-rate production in 2025, further strengthening Canada’s naval capabilities.
