Canadian Coast Guard’s first AOPS nears launching

Irving Shipbuilding has marked a milestone in Canada’s Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) program as preparations intensified for the launch of the future CCGS Donjek, the first vessel being constructed for the Canadian Coast Guard.

According to a statement shared on a social media post, the shipyard confirmed that the vessel has now been rotated at land level. The ship will next be rolled onto the BOA barge, after which it will be positioned for transfer operations.

Once secured on the barge, the vessel, also referred to as AOPS 7 in the construction program, will be towed into Bedford Basin. There, it will enter the float-off phase, where the hull is carefully transferred into the water for the first time, marking a significant transition from land-based assembly to sea trials and outfitting.

While Irving Shipbuilding did not provide an exact timeline for the float-off, the progression signals that the vessel is approaching the final stages of this construction phase.

The CCGS Donjek is part of Canada’s broader effort to modernize its Coast Guard fleet. Under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS), Irving Shipbuilding is constructing six AOPS vessels for the Royal Canadian Navy, two AOPS for the Canadian Coast Guard, and 15 River-class destroyers for the Royal Canadian Navy.

The Canadian Coast Guard’s AOPS variants will be tasked with a wide range of missions. Both ships will operate as the Canadian Coast Guard’s primary platform with increased capabilities to support fisheries enforcement on Canada’s east coast, support search and rescue and icebreaking operations, while strengthening Canada’s presence in the Arctic.

To remind, the steel for the first vessel was cut in August 2023, while the keel-laying ceremony was held in July 2024.