Achi news desk-
The first Arctic and coastal patrol vessel for Canada’s Pacific Fleet will be officially launched in a ceremony attended by Princess Anne, sister of King Charles.
Princess Anne will attend Friday’s event in North Vancouver in her role as commander of the Canadian Pacific Fleet.
The Department of National Defense says the patrol ship, HMCS Max Bernays, arrived at its new home port in Esquimalt last month, calling it a “major milestone” in the fleet’s expansion.
He says the introduction of the ship, named after a Canadian naval hero during the Second World War’s Battle of the Atlantic, will enable the navy to better meet future defense challenges in the North.
The HMCS Max Bernays was built by Irving Shipbuilding Inc. and was launched in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean on October 23, 2021.
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It is the first Harry de Wolfe-class ship to be attached to the Pacific Fleet, although HMCS Robert Hampton Gray is expected to become the second such vessel to make the intercoastal transfer, the Defense Department said in a statement issued last month.
“These multipurpose ships will be at the core of an enhanced Arctic presence and will strategically complement the capabilities of our current and future warships through surveillance operations,” the statement said.
The office of the BC lieutenant governor said last week that the princess and her husband, Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Lawrence, will attend a series of events during a three-day trip to BC, starting with the commissioning of the ship in North Vancouver. .
He said it was followed by a night sail to Esquimalt on Vancouver Island.
The Princess’ itinerary includes a visit to the archives and collections space of the Maritime Museum of British Columbia in Victoria, which was founded with an initial donation from the Princess’ late father, Prince Philip.
She is scheduled to attend a memorial service commemorating the Battle of the Atlantic at the British Columbia legislature and lay a wreath, as well as visit the Military Family Resource Center.
Princess Anne is also scheduled to meet with Janet Austin, BC’s lieutenant governor and various community leaders from the province.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on May 3, 2024.
Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version said the ship was Canada’s first arctic and water patrol vessel. In fact, she is the first such ship to join the Pacific Fleet.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
