Canada’s new Arctic ship HMCS Frédérick Rolette arrives in Florida for first foreign visit since commissioning.

On July 14, 2025, HMCS Frédérick Rolette, the fifth Harry DeWolf-class Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV) of the Royal Canadian Navy, arrived at Naval Station Mayport in Florida for its first international port visit since commissioning. The ship was officially commissioned on June 13, 2025, during a ceremony held at Wharf 22 of the Port of Québec. This scheduled port call followed earlier domestic and ceremonial transits, including stops in Saguenay and New York City, and provided an operational opportunity for joint engagement between Royal Canadian Navy and United States Navy personnel. During the visit, the vessel entered the basin under favorable navigational and environmental conditions, facilitating planned bilateral activities focused on interoperability, procedural exchanges, and demonstrations of maritime surveillance, search and rescue capabilities, and maritime security operations.
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The HMCS Frédérick Rolette will conduct maritime patrol, surveillance, sovereignty enforcement, and support operations primarily in the Arctic, but also in offshore waters and during international deployments such as those in the Caribbean. (Picture source: US DoD)

Naval Station Mayport is located at the mouth of the St. Johns River near Jacksonville, Florida, and was established in December 1942 to support the U.S. Navy’s operations during the Second World War. Since then, it has expanded into the third-largest naval surface fleet concentration in the continental United States. Covering approximately 3,400 acres, or 1,375 hectares, the base includes a protected harbor with berthing capacity for up to 34 surface vessels, which can include guided-missile cruisers, Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, littoral combat ships, and amphibious platforms. It is also equipped with an 8,000-foot (2,440-meter) runway capable of supporting both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft operations. Mayport hosts more than 14,000 active-duty personnel and over 80 tenant commands, including helicopter maritime strike squadrons and ships under the command of Naval Surface Group Southeast, formerly known as Destroyer Squadron 14. The station serves as the headquarters of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and the U.S. Fourth Fleet, which are responsible for naval operations and security cooperation across the Caribbean, Central and South America, and the surrounding Atlantic waters. Although conventionally powered aircraft carriers ceased operating from Mayport in 2007, infrastructure modifications implemented in the late 2010s have been designed to support the future basing of nuclear-powered carriers.

HMCS Frédérick Rolette, designated AOPV 434, was built by Irving Shipbuilding at Halifax Shipyard using a modular block construction approach. Construction began with the first steel cutting in May 2021, followed by keel laying on June 29, 2022. The ship was launched on December 9, 2023, and delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy on August 29, 2024. Its commissioning was carried out on June 13, 2025, during a formal naval ceremony, which included the symbolic transfer of the commissioning pennant to Commanding Officer Commander Jolene Lisi. It also made a public appearance in New York City during the 37th Fleet Week in May 2025 and docked in Saguenay, Québec, in June 2025 as part of a domestic outreach initiative. This vessel is affiliated with the Nunavik Inuit region and is one of six ships ordered for the Royal Canadian Navy under the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship project, itself a component of Canada’s 2010 National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy. A further two modified variants for the Canadian Coast Guard, named Donjek Glacier and Sermilik Glacier, are under construction and are scheduled for delivery in 2026 and 2027 respectively. The vessel’s class, derived from the Svalbard-class patrol ship designed in Norway, was adapted for Canadian requirements, including Arctic patrol, maritime surveillance, and constabulary duties.

The Harry DeWolf-class vessels measure 103.6 meters in length and 19 meters in beam, with a draught of 5.7 meters and a full load displacement of 6,660 tonnes. HMCS Frédérick Rolette is powered by a diesel-electric propulsion system composed of four MAN 6L32/44CR generators, each rated at 3.6 megawatts, and two propulsion motors delivering 4.5 megawatts each. The ship uses twin shaft lines and bolted propellers, includes a bow thruster for maneuvering during berthing, and retractable stabilizers for roll reduction in open water, which can be withdrawn when operating in ice. The vessel is rated for Polar Class 5 operations, with bow strengthening to Polar Class 4 standards, and is capable of unescorted navigation through first-year ice up to 120 centimeters thick at speeds of 3 knots. Its maximum speed in open water is 17 knots, with a range of 6,800 nautical miles at 14 knots, and it can remain at sea for up to 120 days with logistical resupply.

The ship includes mission capabilities to support both Arctic operations and international deployments. It is equipped with two 8.5-meter multi-role rescue boats capable of speeds exceeding 35 knots, one 12-meter landing craft, and cranes with capacities of 20 tonnes and 3 tonnes. A large rear working deck accommodates ISO shipping containers, underwater survey equipment, and land vehicles, including pickup trucks, all-terrain vehicles, and snowmobiles. Aviation facilities include a hangar and flight deck capable of supporting CH-148 Cyclone helicopters and the CU-176 Gargoyle unmanned aerial vehicle. The ship’s weapons suite consists of one BAE Systems Mk 38 Mod 3A 25mm cannon and two M2 Browning machine guns, all adapted for operations in Arctic conditions. The bridge and ship control are managed by an Integrated Bridge Navigation System supplied by OSI Maritime Systems, which includes control of navigation, damage control, and propulsion. Sensors on board include the SAGEM BlueNaute inertial navigation system, Terma SCANTER 6002 surface search radar, Kelvin Hughes SharpEye X- and S-band navigation radars, and Thales IFF systems.

The class accommodates a standard crew of 65 with additional space for 22 mission-specific personnel, bringing total accommodations to up to 87 individuals. Internal facilities include medical stations, a gymnasium, and crew welfare amenities such as internet connectivity. Each of the six navy ships is affiliated with one of the Inuit regions in Canada: Qikiqtaaluk, Kitikmeot, Kivalliq, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut, and Inuvialuit. The Industrial and Regional Benefits policy tied to the construction of the AOPS fleet resulted in $3.1 billion in contractual obligations, of which $2.6 billion had been fulfilled by 2020. Irving Shipbuilding has completed $14.1 million in value proposition commitments across human resources, technology transfer, and industrial development. Construction of associated infrastructure was carried out in Halifax, Esquimalt, and Nanisivik. The total acquisition cost of the six navy vessels reached $4.98 billion, excluding taxes, and a separate 35-year in-service support contract worth $5.2 billion was awarded to Thales. The projected cost of the two Coast Guard variants increased to $2.1 billion by early 2024, up from initial estimates of $1.5 billion.

The program has faced some criticism, particularly over the $288 million cost of the class design despite the purchase of the Norwegian Svalbard-class design for $5 million. Additional concerns included the ships’ limited speed and relatively light armament compared to foreign equivalents, such as the Russian Project 23550 equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles. However, the AOPS class was developed for sovereignty patrol, constabulary duties, and logistical support rather than direct naval combat. In December 2022, lead contamination was discovered in the potable water systems of early units in the class, prompting a fleet-wide inspection. Operational tempo increased by 2024, with ships simultaneously deployed in regions including the Panama Canal and the Caribbean. Participation in Operation Nanook and multinational exercises continued, contributing to operational testing and coordination with international partners. Initial crew shortages in 2023, especially of marine technicians, limited simultaneous deployments, but were resolved by 2024, allowing full crewing of more than one vessel at a time.

Lieutenant Frédérick Rolette, after whom the ship is named, was born in Québec City in 1785 and served in the Provincial Marine of Upper Canada during the War of 1812. On July 3, 1812, immediately after learning of the war’s outbreak, he captured the American brig Cuyahoga, which was carrying General William Hull’s dispatches, providing British forces with early intelligence. He was also involved in the capture of Detroit and other engagements, including the Battle of Frenchtown and the Battle of Lake Erie, where he assumed command of Lady Prevost after the captain was mortally wounded. Rolette was severely injured in combat and never fully recovered, dying in 1831 at age 46. At the time, medals were not routinely awarded, but he was recognized in dispatches and presented a ceremonial sword. The badge of HMCS Frédérick Rolette features a heraldic sea-lion holding a sabre, and the ship’s motto is Leonis Fortitudine. During the ship’s domestic port visits, including Saguenay and Québec, Canadian public engagement efforts were conducted, with crew-led public tours and career information kiosks established on site. These activities were coordinated with the Navy’s strategic recruiting initiatives and were publicly supported by figures such as Jeanne Lessard, Director General of Naval Strategic Readiness. The ship is expected to continue similar outreach and operational deployments as it prepares for its first Arctic patrol.