A sense of history and pride filled Halifax on August 9, 2025, as the Royal Canadian Navy celebrated the official Naming Ceremony of the future HMCS Robert Hampton Gray, the sixth and final Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) in its fleet. For centuries, the tradition of naming a ship has symbolized good fortune and safe voyages, a ritual that was observed with elegance and reverence at Halifax Shipyard.
The ceremony brought together an assembly of distinguished guests, including Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee of the Royal Canadian Navy, Lieutenant-General Jaime Speiser-Blanchet of the Royal Canadian Air Force, The Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, The Honourable Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement, and H.E. Kanji Yamanouchi, Japanese Ambassador to Canada. Family members of Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray, descendants of the naval hero himself, joined the ship’s company and Halifax Shipyard shipbuilders to witness this historic moment.
“The naming of our sixth and final Arctic Offshore Patrol Vessel is a proud milestone for the Royal Canadian Navy and our country. Honouring Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray—whose bravery, boldness, and resolve inspired generations of Canadians—reflects the perseverance and determination that has enabled the success of the National Shipbuilding Strategy,” stated Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy.
Central to the ceremony was Jane Underwood, a descendant of Robert Hampton Gray and the ship’s sponsor. In keeping with naval tradition, Underwood broke a bottle of L’Acadie Vineyards’ Prestige Brut sparkling wine against the bow, declaring with heartfelt solemnity:
“I name you Robert Hampton Gray. Bless this ship and all who sail in it.”
“It is an honour to participate in today’s naming ceremony for the sixth and final Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship for the Royal Canadian Navy. Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray is a Canadian naval hero whose legacy of bravery continues to be recognized both in Canada and internationally. Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, Canada’s government is investing in the infrastructure and equipment our Navy needs to protect our sovereignty and conduct operations alongside allies,” said the Honourable Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement.
The HMCS Robert Hampton Gray is the latest addition to a class of ships named in honour of distinguished Canadian naval figures, each of whom has served their country with extraordinary courage and distinction. Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray himself is remembered as a Canadian naval hero of the Second World War. Enlisting in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1940, Gray trained as a pilot with the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm, eventually embarking aboard HMS Formidable with 1841 Squadron.
In April 1945, Gray joined the Pacific theatre as part of Operation Iceberg, the Allied invasion of Okinawa, Japan. During daring air strikes on the Japanese destroyer HIJMS Amakusa, Gray displayed extraordinary bravery, ultimately sacrificing his life in the line of duty. For his courage and determination, he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, becoming the only member of the Royal Canadian Navy to receive this distinction during the Second World War.
Today, the Halifax Shipyard continues to cement Canada’s shipbuilding legacy, not only with the AOPS program but also with the construction of two AOPS variants for the Canadian Coast Guard and the first of 15 River-class destroyers for the Royal Canadian Navy. Each vessel, built with Canadian expertise and pride, reflects a commitment to honouring the past while securing Canada’s naval future.
“The future HMCS Robert Hampton Gray is a fitting tribute to a Canadian hero and reflects the hard work and dedication of our world-class workforce. The goals of the National Shipbuilding Strategy are being realized here in Halifax, and this ship is another clear example of that,” expressed Dirk Lesko, President, Irving Shipbuilding Inc.
The christening of HMCS Robert Hampton Gray stands as a tribute not only to a Canadian hero but also to the enduring spirit of the Royal Canadian Navy, its sailors, and the shipbuilders who bring these symbols of service and sacrifice to life.
