HMCS Max Bernays
{{Short description|Royal Canadian Navy offshore patrol vessel}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
HMCS Max Bernays (AOPV 432) is the third {{sclass|Harry DeWolf|offshore patrol vessel}} for the Royal Canadian Navy. The class was derived from the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship project as part of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy and is primarily designed for the patrol and support of Canada's Arctic regions.
Design and description
The {{sclass|Harry DeWolf|offshore patrol vessel}}s are designed for use in the Arctic regions of Canada for patrol and support within Canada's exclusive economic zone. The vessel is {{convert|103.6|m|ftin|abbr=on}} long overall with a beam of {{convert|19.0|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. The ship has a displacement of {{convert|6615|MT|LT|lk=in}}. The ship has an enclosed foredeck that protects machinery and work spaces from Arctic climates. The vessel is powered by a diesel-electric system composed of four {{convert|3.6|MW|adj=on}} MAN 6L32/44CR four-stroke medium-speed diesel generators and two electric propulsion motors rated at {{convert|4.5|MW}} driving two shafts. Max Bernays is capable of {{convert|17|kn|lk=in}} in open water and {{convert|3|kn}} in {{convert|1|m|adj=on}} first-year sea ice. The ship is also equipped with a bow thruster to aid during manoeuvres and docking procedures without requiring tugboat assistance. The ship has a range of {{convert|6800|nmi|lk=in}} and an endurance of 120 days. Max Bernays is equipped with fin stabilizers to decrease roll in open water, which can be retracted during icebreaking.{{cite web|last=Pugliese|first=David|date=16 January 2015|title=Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships to be constructed in three "mega blocks"|url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/arctic-offshore-patrol-ships-to-be-constructed-in-three-mega-blocks|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031161918/https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/arctic-offshore-patrol-ships-to-be-constructed-in-three-mega-blocks|archive-date=31 October 2018|access-date=31 October 2018|work=Ottawa Citizen}}{{cite web|date=January 2015|title=Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ships|url=http://www.navy-marine.forces.gc.ca/en/fleet-units/aops-home.page|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031161651/http://www.navy-marine.forces.gc.ca/en/fleet-units/aops-home.page|archive-date=31 October 2018|access-date=31 October 2018|publisher=Royal Canadian Navy}}{{cite web|date=January 2015|title=Harry DeWolf-class Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ship Factsheet|url=http://www.navy-marine.forces.gc.ca/assets/NAVY_Internet/docs/en/aops_factsheet_rv-e.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031161434/http://www.navy-marine.forces.gc.ca/assets/NAVY_Internet/docs/en/aops_factsheet_rv-e.pdf|archive-date=31 October 2018|access-date=31 October 2018|publisher=Department of National Defence of Canada}}
Max Bernays is able to deploy with multiple payloads, including shipping containers, underwater survey equipment or landing craft. Payload operations are aided by a {{convert|20|MT|adj=on}} crane for loading and unloading. The ship is equipped with a vehicle bay which can hold pickup trucks, all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles. The ship also has two {{convert|8.5|m|ftin|adj=on}} multi-role rescue boats capable of over {{convert|35|kn}}. The ship is armed with one BAE Mk 38 {{convert|25|mm|in|2|abbr=on}} gun and two M2 Browning machine guns. The patrol ship has an onboard hangar and flight deck for helicopters up to the size of a Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone. Max Bernays has a complement of 65 and accommodation for 85 or 87.{{cite press release|publisher=Irving Shipbuilding|title=Largest Active Combat Ship Built in Canada - HMCS Harry Dewolf- Commissioned Today|date=26 June 2021}}
Construction and career
The patrol vessel's keel was laid down on 5 December 2018 by Irving Shipbuilding at Halifax, Nova Scotia.{{Cite web|last=Defence|first=National|date=6 December 2018|title=Another important shipbuilding milestone: the third Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship receives its lucky coin|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2018/12/another-important-shipbuilding-milestone-the-third-arctic-and-offshore-patrol-ship-receives-its-lucky-coin.html|access-date=24 October 2021|website=www.canada.ca}} The ship was launched on 23 October 2021, and was delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy 2 September 2022.{{Cite web|last=Bryden-Blom|first=Skye|title=Irving Shipbuilding launches 3rd Arctic patrol ship|url=https://www.ckbw.ca/2021/10/25/irving-shipbuilding-launches-3rd-arctic-patrol-ship/|access-date=25 October 2021|website=CKBW}} The naming ceremony was conducted on 29 May 2022 in conjunction with that for sister ship {{HMCS|Margaret Brooke||2}}.{{cite press release |publisher=Irving Shipbuilding |date=29 May 2022 |title=Halifax Shipyard Marks Major Milestone with the Joint Naming Ceremony of HMCS Margaret Brooke and HMCS Max Bernays}} The ship began sea trials in July 2022.{{cite web |url=https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2022/july/11975-royal-canadian-navy-s-opv-hmcs-max-bernays-starts-sea-trials.html |title=Royal Canadian Navy's OPV HMCS Max Bernays starts sea trials |work=navyrecognition.com |date=26 July 2022 |access-date=27 July 2022}} The ship was delivered to the RCN in September 2022 for post-acceptance trials and it was indicated that she would be the first vessel of her class to be based in the Pacific region, starting in 2023.{{cite press release | url=https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2022/09/third-new-arctic-and-offshore-patrol-ship-delivered-to-canada.html | title=Third new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship delivered to Canada |publisher=Government of Canada | date=2 September 2022 |access-date=8 September 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2022/09/canadian-navy-receives-3rd-arctic-and-offshore-patrol-ship-aops/ |work=Naval News |title=Canadian Navy receives 3rd Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS)|date=6 September 2022 |access-date=8 September 2022}}
On 11 March 2024, Max Bernays left Halifax for its new homeport at Esquimalt, British Columbia, with Canadian Fleet Pacific.{{Cite web |date=18 March 2024 |title=HMCS Max Bernays heads west to join MARPAC |url=https://tridentnewspaper.com/hmcs-max-bernays-heads-west-to-join-marpac/ |access-date=20 March 2024 |work=Trident Newspaper |language=en-CA}} The vessel was commissioned on 3 May 2024 in the presence of Anne, Princess Royal.{{Cite web |last=Defence |first=National |date=3 May 2024 |title=HMCS Max Bernays Commissioned today in Vancouver, B.C. |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2024/05/hmcs-max-bernays-commissioned-today-in-vancouver-bc.html |access-date=4 May 2024 |website=www.canada.ca}} In mid 2024, Max Bernays took part in the multi-national exercise RIMPAC 2024 along with the supply ship {{MV|Asterix||2}} and the frigate {{HMCS|Vancouver|FFH 331|2}}.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/naval-deployment-pacific-1.7222234 |title=Canada sending naval ships to Pacific exercises as part of new strategic plan |work=CBC News |agency=The Canadian Press |date=2 June 2024 |access-date=23 July 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessel}}
{{Icebreakers of Canada}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Max Bernays, HMCS}}
Category:Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessels