Build Your Own Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship - A Classroom Activity for Future Shipbuilders

Oct 28, 2026

Upload by asda1da

Build Your Own Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship is a classroom activity for future shipbuilders that introduces Canada’s shipbuilding momentum under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. It explains Irving Shipbuilding’s Halifax Shipyard build approach for Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) and Canadian Surface Combatants (CSC), highlighting STEM careers and collaborative teamwork. Students engage in technical document reading, follow exact directions, and simulate manufacturing by cutting, shaping, gluing, and assembling mega-blocks into a hull while tracking progress, quality, and material use.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages32

Reading Time1 h 21 min

AccessFree to download

Shipbuilding Careers

Career paths list

Canada’s Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships

Progressive build approach

Overview

Team effort and roles

Rationale

Workshop goals and activities

Problem Scenario

Building Canada’s next fleet

Tracking progress and materials

BUILD YOUR OWN ARCTIC AND OFFSHORE PATROL SHIP A classroom activity for future shipbuilders Irving Shipbuilding It’s an exciting time to be a shipbuilder in Canada. Major shipbuilding programs are underway as part of the Government of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy to replace the current fleets of ships for the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard. This work is revitalizing Canada’s shipbuilding industry and creating jobs and business opportunities across the country. As part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, Irving Shipbuilding’s Halifax Shipyard is constructing 21 modern combat vessels for the Royal Canadian Navy, six Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) and 15 Canadian Surface Combatants (CSC). The first AOPS, the largest navy ship built in Canada in 50 years, was launched in 2018. Construction of the first CSC, the future backbone of the Royal Canadian Navy, will start in the mid-2020s with additional ships being built for decades to come. Shipbuilding provides exciting, hands-on, and technology driven careers. Are you part of the next generation of Canadian shipbuilders? Build Your Own AOPS 2 Shipbuilding Careers • Ironworker/Metal Fabricator • Welder • Pipefitter • Electrician • Painter • Boilermaker • Naval Architect • Mechanical Engineer • Industrial Engineer • Supply Chain Manager • Quality Control Inspector • Project Manager • Health and Safety Officer • Process Manager • Manufacturing Engineer • Combat Systems Engineer • Materials Manager • And many more! Thanks to the Irving Shipbuilding team, Cortney Banks, Kayla Jackman, James Brunelle, Adele Scott, and Joe McCarthy for their expertise and imagination developing this activity. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: shipsforcanada.ca[otcns.ca/careers](otcns.ca/careers)[ ](otcns.ca/careers)[techsploration.ca/videos](techsploration.ca/videos) Build Your Own AOPS 3 Canada’s Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships Irving Shipbuilding uses a progressive build approach to construct Canada’s Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships – the most efficient process for building modern ships. Over the course of time, 63 smaller units become 21 larger blocks, which become three mega-blocks (the bow, centre and stern). This same progressive build approach will be used for the Canadian Surface Combatants. Overview Shipbuilding is a team effort at Irving Shipbuilding’s Halifax Shipyard. It requires focus, precision, communication and cooperation from shipbuilders in many different roles working together to build the Royal Canadian Navy’s future fleet. Using some of the latest technology combined with traditional manufacturing, the Halifax Shipyard team of welders, pipe-fitters, electricians, designers, engineers, quality inspectors, accountants, supply chain managers, and many more are working together everyday to maintain and repair Halifax-class frigates, and build new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships, and Canadian Surface Combatants. Now your class can build the STEM-class of ships. Members of the Irving Shipbuilding team have worked hard to develop this activity to mimic the process of shipbuilding on a small scale and inspire future shipbuilders. We encourage you to visit shipsforcanada.ca to watch updated videos ofthe latest progress at Halifax Shipyard. This activity was developed in partnership with the Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE) [coveocean.com](coveocean.com. Irving Shipbuilding is proud)[. Irving Shipbuilding is proud](coveocean.com. Irving Shipbuilding is proud)[ ](coveocean.com. Irving Shipbuilding is proud)[to support COVE with over $6 million in National](to support COVE with over $6 million in National)[ ](to support COVE with over $6 million in National)Shipbuilding Strategy Value Proposition investments for workforce related research, programs, and activities, as well as operational and program support to benefit small businesses in the ocean sector in Canada. Build

FAQs

What is the main goal of the activity for students?

To simulate advanced manufacturing and materials management by interpreting and following exact technical directions, producing the intended ship end product through a collaborative process.

How does the activity mimic real shipbuilding?

It uses scaled steps such as reading authentic technical drawings, cutting and shaping materials, gluing to mimic welding, and assembling mega-blocks into a ship’s hull.

What career areas does the activity connect to?

It highlights multiple shipbuilding career paths, including skilled trades (welding, piping, metal fabrication) and engineering and management roles such as naval architect, mechanical engineer, industrial engineer, and project manager.

Oct 28, 2026

Upload by asda1da