HALIFAX—The ship that will become Canada’s first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel met water for the first time Saturday, the first of up to six vessels of its kind being built by Halifax’s Irving Shipbuilding. The Arctic and Offshore Patrol vessel HMCS Harry DeWolf rests on the launch deck of the Boabarge 37 in Halifax's Bedford Basin Saturday, Sept.15 as it begins the process of being floated by the submerging support vessel. Ken Hansen, a retired Navy commander and defence analyst, said the future HMCS Harry DeWolf will need to go through rigorous testing before the country can use it. Article Continued BelowThe ship, which will be named after former Vice-Admiral Harry George DeWolf, is the first of at least five Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels tasked with patrolling Canadian waters, including the Arctic. In a May 2017 report, however, the Senate’s Committee on National Security and Defence outlined concerns they had over the $3.5 billion Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships project.

Source: thestar September 16, 2018 15:22 UTC