November 6, 2026 – On Friday November 6, 2026, His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Robert Hampton Gray was welcomed to its new home port of Esquimalt, British Columbia, following successful deployments and an historic coastal transfer through the waters of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, which demonstrated the capabilities of the ship and crew.
HMCS Robert Hampton Gray is the RCN’s sixth and final Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel, and is named in honour of Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray, a Canadian naval hero of the Second World War.
After departing Halifax, Nova Scotia, on August 14, 2026, HMCS Robert Hampton Gray participated in Operation NANOOK-TUUGAALIK alongside vessels from the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), the Royal Danish Navy, and the French Navy. As the Task Group command ship, HMCS Robert Hampton Gray led the multinational task group and conducted numerous operational activities contributing to interoperability with partners and allies.
HMCS Robert Hampton Gray then participated in Operation NANOOK-NUNAKPUT in Resolute, Nunavut, as part of a joint task force comprising members of the Canadian Army, including the Canadian Rangers, the Royal Canadian Air Force, and the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Henry Larsen. The ship then joined CCGS Des Groseilliers and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in conducting Arctic surveillance and presence activities through Exercise ARCTIC GHOST before concluding its deployment by participating in Operation LATITUDE, supporting Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic.
Commander Brian Henwood, Commanding Officer, HMCS Robert Hampton Gray, expressed great pride in his crew, “I am incredibly proud of the ship’s company of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Robert Hampton Gray for their work in bringing the ship into service, operationalizing its capabilities, and facing numerous challenges head-on in preparation for this deployment. This voyage has been especially significant for the commissioning crew, who have had the unique opportunity to experience this journey firsthand and share it with Canadians through social media, showcasing places that few Canadians have the chance to see.”
The ship’s voyage marked the third time in Canadian naval history that a Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) ship has made a complete transit of the Arctic through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and it is the first such voyage to relocate from the Atlantic Fleet to the Pacific Fleet.
As well, this trip marked the first time a Canadian Coast Guard helicopter has operated from and deployed with an RCN ship.
“This deployment highlights the strength of our partnership with the Canadian Coast Guard and the readiness of the Defence Team to operate effectively in Canada’s Arctic,” remarked Commodore Blair Brown, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific. “From embarked Coast Guard helicopter operations to participation in Operations NANOOK and Exercise ARCTIC GHOST, His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Robert Hampton Gray demonstrated impressive capability, resilience, and versatility, including in challenging ice conditions. We are excited to welcome the ship to the Pacific Fleet and look forward to seeing it contribute to future missions in the Arctic.”
During this sailing, the ship and crew of approximately 90 personnel, spent 83 days away from home port and 76 days at sea. They conducted visits at Nuuk, Greenland, and the Alaskan ports of Dutch Harbor, Anchorage, and Juneau. HMCS Robert Hampton Gray will be commissioned in Victoria, British Columbia, on November 16, 2026.
