Navy ship Harry DeWolf officially commissioned in a ceremony in Halifax on Saturday

HALIFAX – The Royal Canadian Navy welcomed its newest ship, the Harry DeWolf, at a commissioning ceremony in Halifax on Saturday.

The Harry DeWolf is the first ship to be completed under the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy and was built at the Irving Shipbuilding yard in Halifax.

“Nova Scotia has long been known for its expertise in shipbuilding, and we now have the first commissioned vessel ready for deployment,” Premier Rankin said in a press release on Saturday.

“The economic value of these vessel contracts is vital to Nova Scotia, providing millions of dollars in direct and indirect impact.”

“Over 1,100 Nova Scotians were directly employed in the construction of HMCS Harry DeWolf at the Halifax Shipyard, and the construction of the remaining ships will provide opportunities for thousands more. Since 2015, 2,100 employees have been hired in Halifax alone, with more jobs to come. , Rankin said.

Saturday’s ceremony showcased many naval traditions, including the symbolic handing over of the “keys to the ship” to Captain Corey Gleason, the raising of the ship’s flag, and the lifting of the ensign and jack.

The Harry DeWolf is specially designed to patrol Canada’s northernmost regions and offshore waters.

It is named in honor of Vice-Admiral Harry DeWolf, wartime hero of the Canadian Navy, marking the first time in 111 years of history that the Navy has named a class in honor of an important figure of the Canadian Navy.