Royal Canadian Navy’s new Arctic and offshore patrol ships (AOPS), HMCS Margaret Brooke and HMCS Max Bernays, were officially named at Halifax Shipyard on 29 May 2022.
HMCS Margaret Brooke (431) and HMCS Max Bernays (432) are second and third of six AOPS units being delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy as part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy. Back in 2020, the navy took delivery of the first AOPS, HMCS Harry DeWolf .
The Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships are large, ice-capable ships, more than 100 metres long, and designed to conduct a variety of missions in Canada’s waters, including in the Arctic. The vessels will be capable of conducting armed sea-borne surveillance, providing government situational awareness of activities and events in these regions.
They will also be able to cooperate with partners in the Canadian Armed Forces and other government departments to assert and enforce Canadian sovereignty, when and where necessary.
“Today in Halifax we officially named two new Arctic and offshore patrol ships, HMCS Margaret Brooke and HMCS Max Bernays – honouring two Canadian naval heroes. I would like to thank Irving Shipyard for their great work on these two ships that will serve in the Canadian Armed Forces for decades to come,” Filomena Tassi , Minister of Public Services and Procurement, commented.
“As the next Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships to be added to the fleet, the official naming of HMCS Margaret Brooke and HMCS Max Bernays is an important milestone in our work to equip the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Coast Guard with the ships they need to protect Canadian interests,” Andy Fillmore , Member of Parliament for Halifax and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, said.