The list of ship commissionings in 1956 includes a chronological list of all ships commissioned in 1956.
| Operator | Ship | Class and type | Pennant | Other notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 July |  United States Navy
|
Thetis Bay | Casablanca-class assault helicopter aircraft carrier | CVHA-1 | Recommissioned from reserve |
| 20 July |  Coast Ferries Ltd.
|
Mill Bay | RORO ferry | Purchased by BC Ferries in 1969 | |
| 2 October |  Royal Netherlands Navy
|
Lynx | Roofdier-class frigate | F823 | |
| 8 October | United States Navy
|
Saratoga | Forrestal-class aircraft carrier | CVA-60 | |
| 15 December |  Royal Canadian Navy
|
Assiniboine | St. Laurent-class destroyer escort | DDE 234 | Redesignated DDH 234 June 28, 1963 following helicopter modernization |
| 15 December | Royal Canadian Navy
|
Ottawa | St. Laurent-class destroyer escort | DDE 229 | Redesignated DDH 229 October 21, 1964 following helicopter modernization |
| 15 December | Royal Canadian Navy
|
Saguenay | St. Laurent-class destroyer escort | DDE 206 | Redesignated DDH 206 May 14, 1965 following helicopter modernization |