Keel laying for future HMCS Fraser

Jim Irving speech during the keel laying ceremony.

The keel laying ceremony for the future HMCS Fraser occurred at Irving Shipbuilding on Friday, June 12th. I attended to get some photos for an upcoming issue of Warships IFR magazine. The coin was placed under a cap that was welded to a keel unit for the new ship. More photos and a short article will appear in the magazine in the coming months!

The coin cap is welded to Fraser's first keel unit.

Future HMCS Max Bernays

The future HMCS MAX BERNAYS, the RCN's next-to-launch Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV), continues to take shape at the Halifax Shipyard - with some speculation that she may be ready to launch in the near future. Personally, it looks to me that there is some final painting of the hull that should be done prior to launch, but in any case I thought it would be a good opportunity to take some photos of the ship out of the water.

The future HMCS MAX BERNAYS sitting on land at the Halifax Shipyard prior to launch.

Interestingly, the antifouling paint on the MAX BERNAYS is the traditional blue that we tend to sea on the HALIFAX-class frigates, whereas, I believe the two previous ships (HARRY DEWOLF and MARGARET BROOKE) were both launched with red antifouling. 

The red wheeled platforms in the foreground are the transporters that will lift the cradles upon which the ship is supported, and will move the ship onto the semi-submersible launching barge (Boa Barge 37) when the time comes. The barge's white superstructure can be seen in the background, behind the ship's stern.

This view shows well the icebreaking profile of the ship's bow.

Updated: According to Halifax Shipping News, MAX BERNAYS will be rolled onto Boa Barge 37 on Friday October 22 in order to be launched on Saturday, October 23, 2021.