Princess Anne will participate in the ceremony of the new ship of the Pacific Fleet

The first Arctic and offshore patrol vessel for Canada’s Pacific fleet will be officially commissioned on Friday at a ceremony in North Vancouver featuring Princess Anne.

King Charles’ sister will attend the event in her capacity as Commodore-in-Chief of the Canadian Pacific Fleet.

The Department of National Defense says the HMCS Max Bernays arrived at its new homeport in Esquimalt, British Columbia, last month, calling it a “critical milestone” in fleet expansion.

He says the introduction of the ship, named after a Canadian naval hero during the Battle of the Atlantic in World War II, will enable the navy to better meet future defense challenges in the North.

HMCS Max Bernays was built by Irving Shipbuilding Inc. and launched into Atlantic waters on October 23, 2021.

It is the first Harry DeWolf-class ship to join the Pacific Fleet, while HMCS Robert Hampton Gray is expected to become the second ship of its type to make the inter-coast transfer, the defense department said in a statement. issued last month.

“These multi-role ships will be at the center of an enhanced presence in the Arctic and will strategically complement the capabilities of our current and future warships through surveillance operations,” the statement said.

Ana’s itinerary

The lieutenant governor’s office said last week that the princess and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, would attend a series of events during a three-day trip to British Columbia, beginning with the ship’s commissioning ceremony in the north from Vancouver. .

He said this will be followed by an overnight sail to Esquimalt on Vancouver Island.

The princess’s itinerary includes a visit to the archives and collections of the British Columbia Maritime Museum in Victoria, which was founded with an initial donation from Anne’s late father, Prince Philip.

He plans to attend a Battle of the Atlantic memorial service at the British Columbia Legislature and lay a wreath, as well as visit the Military Family Resource Centre.

Anne is also scheduled to meet with Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, and several community leaders in the province.