His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) William Hall departed its home port of Halifax, Nova Scotia, to begin a two-month deployment on Operation NANOOK in the Arctic region.

The ship will be joined by Allied nations including Denmark, France, and Germany, as well as other Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) elements and Government of Canada partner agencies to conduct operations that develop military interoperability and strengthen Allied relationships, as well as partnerships with Indigenous peoples in the North and in Inuit Nunangat.

HMCS William Hall will be sailing through the Northwest Passage as part of Operation NANOOK, reinforcing Canada’s presence in the Arctic and supporting the CAF’s commitment to northern security and awareness in this important waterway. During the deployment, HMCS William Hall will also be visiting Rankin Inlet to foster active, positive working relationships with Inuit partners in the Kivalliq region

Inuit, First Nations and Métis communities in the North have historically contributed to Canadian Arctic security and sovereignty and continue to be trusted partners in ensuring our collective safety and security.

HMCS William Hall is an Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV) that has proudly served with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) since its commissioning on May 16, 2024. Designed to operate in Canada’s challenging northern and coastal regions, the Harry DeWolf-class vessel is an innovative and versatile platform equipped with advanced navigation, surveillance, and communication systems, enabling it to contribute to maritime security, conduct sovereignty patrols, and support search and rescue missions.

Beyond its operational role on Operation NANOOK, HMCS William Hall also serves as a symbol of Canadian maritime presence and commitment by contributing to humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and international engagement efforts.

“His Majesty’s Canadian Ship William Hall deploying on Operation NANOOK underscores the Royal Canadian Navy’s enduring commitment to safeguarding Canada’s interests in the Arctic. As a modern Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel, William Hall will enhance our presence in the North, strengthen interoperability with our allies, and foster meaningful engagement with northern Indigenous communities. This mission reflects our responsibility to uphold sovereignty, security, and collaboration in one of the most strategically important regions of our nation.”

Rear-Admiral Josée Kurtz, Commander of Maritime Forces Atlantic and Joint Task Force Atlantic

“As His Majesty’s Canadian Ship William Hall sails on its first Arctic operation, our crew is proud to contribute to Operation NANOOK and Canada’s enduring presence in the North. This mission is about building trust with northern Indigenous partners, strengthening interoperability with our allies, and ensuring we are ready to respond when called upon. We’re especially honoured to visit Rankin Inlet and continue developing our relationship with Inuit in the Kivalliq region of Inuit Nunangat, which we are privileged to be affiliated with.”

Commander Scott Kelemen, Commanding Officer, HMCS William Hall

ADDITIONAL INFO

• Operation NANOOK is the CAF’s signature operation across the Arctic and North, focused on exercising the defence of Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic and securing  the region and the people who call it home. It is an annual Arctic operation that enhances the CAF’s ability to operate in the North and in Inuit Nunangat and collaborate with Indigenous, territorial, and international partners and allies on Arctic defence.

• Operation NANOOK has been divided into several distinct series focusing on a distinct aspect of maintaining Arctic sovereignty and domain awareness. The two series that HMCS William Hall will take part in are NANOOK-TUUGAALIK and NANOOK-NUNAKPUT. These series are focused on Arctic surveillance, maintaining presence in the Arctic, and conducting joint exercises with international allies and in collaboration with Northern Indigenous communities.

• HMCS William Hall is the fourth AOPV in the Harry DeWolf class, designed for operations in Canadian Arctic and coastal regions. AOPVs can break through new and first-year ice and have anti-icing features to protect equipment in the Arctic, providing the capacity needed to maintain presence and surveillance in Canada’s northern maritime approaches and allowing the RCN to access areas of the Arctic that were previously inaccessible.
• The RCN is affiliating each one of its AOPVs with the six Inuit regions of the Inuit Nunangat. On March 24th, 2024, HMCS William Hall was affiliated with the Kivalliq region during a ceremony held in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut.

• HMCS William Hall took part in Operation CARIBBE from 14 May to 3 July 2025, contributing to US-led enhanced counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean.
  
  
• Operation NANOOK takes place each year across Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Labrador, featuring deployments from the RCN, the Royal Canadian Air Force, and the Canadian Army.