As part of its fleet renewal plan, the Canadian Coast Guard is acquiring two Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) to replace two of the five existing Offshore Patrol Vessels. The new AOPS - named the CCGS Donjek Glacier and CCGS Sermilik Glacier - will support offshore international fisheries surveillance and Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization patrols, and offshore search and rescue on Canada's east coast and in the low Arctic.
The AOPS are versatile and modern ships that will allow greater flexibility and adaptability for the Canadian Coast Guard's operations, including icebreaking, science research, humanitarian assistance, and aids to navigation.
The AOPS are designed to be able to support icebreaking operations in the low Arctic during the summer and on the East Coast during the winter. They are also outfitted with a medical cabin and shipping container accommodation, which allow the vessels to provide humanitarian assistance and support resupply operations to communities when needed. Equipped with a robust crane and an A-frame on the stern of the ship, to lower packages from the working deck to the water, the AOPS will be capable of supporting aid to navigation operations and science research.
Project summary
In 2019, Irving Shipbuilding Inc. from Halifax, Nova Scotia, was awarded the engineering design review contract for the Canadian Coast Guard's AOPS. Construction of the CCGS Donjek Glacier officially began on August 8, 2023, with the steel cutting ceremony at Irving Shipbuilding Inc. On July 31, 2024, the CCGS Donjek Glacier had its keel laying ceremony and the CCGS Sermilik Glacier had a ceremony to signify the start of its construction at the shipyard.
The construction of the AOPS falls under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. Their construction represents an important contribution to the Government of Canada's efforts to renew the Canadian Coast Guard fleet and revitalize the Canadian shipbuilding industry, in addition to equipping Canadian Coast Guard personnel with the ships they need to carry out their essential work across the country.
The National Shipbuilding Strategy is a long-term investment that is delivering results now: ships for the Canadian Coast Guard and good jobs for Canadians working in the shipbuilding and marine sectors. To date, three large vessels and 18 small vessels have been delivered to the Canadian Coast Guard under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, and many more are under construction across Canada.
The CCGS Donjek Glacier is expected to be delivered to the Canadian Coast Guard in 2026, followed by the CCGS Sermilik Glacier in 2027.
Vessels general specifications
The AOPS are highly capable and versatile ships, able to perform as an at-sea operations centre. The AOPS can operate beyond 120 nautical miles from shore, including outside the Exclusive Economic Zone, have a top speed of 17 knots, and can stay at sea for up to 48 days.
Other main specifications of the ships include:
- 103 metres long
- 19 metres wide
- approximately 6,677 metric tonnes of displacement
- can accommodate a crew of 31 members with berths for 57 in total
- available command and control spaces
- 20-tonne crane in the back of the vessel to support aids to navigation operations
- an A-frame designed to support science missions
- shipping container capability for resupply missions
The new AOPS have a helicopter pad and hangar that will allow the ships to accommodate both light (Bell 429) and medium lift (Bell 412 EPI) Canadian Coast Guard helicopters, as well as National Defence's Cyclone helicopters.
