HMCS Halifax has been floated up and undocked at Halifax Shipyard in Nova Scotia, with Irving Shipbuilding continuing refit work on the Royal Canadian Navy frigate ahead of its planned handover in 2027.
Irving Shipbuilding confirmed the milestone in an October 14 social media post, stating that the ship had been moved from the graving dock to a pier-side berth at the shipyard, where work will continue before the vessel is returned to the navy.
Commissioned on June 29, 1992, in her namesake city, HMCS Halifax was the first Halifax-class frigate to enter service with the Canadian Navy. The class comprises 12 Canadian-built, multi-role frigates designed initially for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. The ships also conduct operations against air threats and support domestic and international missions.
According to the Royal Canadian Navy, Halifax-class frigates have a maximum displacement of 4,770 tonnes, a length of 134.1 meters and a beam of 16.4 meters. They can reach a top speed of 30 knots, have a range of 9,500 nautical miles and accommodate a maximum crew of 225.
The refit is part of Canada's long-term maintenance program for its 12 Halifax-class frigates. In August 2019, the Government of Canada announced an investment of C$7.5 billion to maintain the fleet until the ships are retired in the early 2040s, ensuring they remain operational until the Canadian Surface Combatants enter service.
As part of the program, maintenance contracts initially totaling C$1.5 billion were awarded to three shipyards: Irving Shipbuilding in Nova Scotia, Seaspan Victoria Shipyards in British Columbia, and Chantier Davie in Quebec. The initial contracts covered a minimum of three frigates per shipyard, with their value expected to increase as additional work packages were added.
The maintenance program has already reached several milestones. Chantier Davie completed work on HMCS St John's in 2022, while Seaspan Victoria Shipyards delivered HMCS Calgary in 2025.