Nancy Lochhead, Vice President of Production, commented, “AOPS 4, the future HMCS William Hall will have been built to completion (start to finish) a full three months faster than AOPS 3, HMCS Max Bernays. Given that production of HMCS William Hall was heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, this is truly a remarkable achievement, and one which speaks to the world class shipbuilding capability we are establishing here in Atlantic Canada.”
“We are producing shipbuilders locally through our apprenticeship program, the largest in Atlantic Canada. These people will have the opportunity to work their entire careers here at the Halifax Shipyard thanks to the NSS. The fact we have seen such growth in our efficiency, even with so many new shipbuilders, is really something to be proud of,” added Mr. Lesko.
William Hall was the first Black person, the first Nova Scotian and one of the first Canadians to receive the British Empire’s highest award for bravery, the Victoria Cross. Hall received this recognition for his service in the Royal Navy. The son of former American slaves, Hall was born in 1827 at Horton, Nova Scotia, where he also attended school. He grew up during the age of wooden ships, when many boys dreamed of travelling the world in sailing vessels. As a young man, Hall worked in shipyards at Hantsport for several years, before going to sea on merchant ships and joining the Royal Navy in 1852.