Major milestones achieved under the National Shipbuilding Strategy

Launch of the first Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel built by Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards

VANCOUVER, Dec. 8, 2017 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is committed to rebuilding our marine industry, supporting Canadian technological innovation, and bringing jobs, learning opportunities and prosperity to many communities across Canada through the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS).   

In 2011, the Government of Canada competitively selected Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards to be its shipbuilder for the non-combat package of the NSS. Under the Strategy, Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards will build and deliver non-combat vessels at the company's state-of-the-art facility in North Vancouver for the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) and Royal Canadian Navy.

Today, the Government of Canada and Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards launched the first large vessel designed and built under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. The Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel is a 63-metre research vessel that will be used by the CCG to gain a better understanding of the health of fish stocks and the ocean environment.

This represents a major milestone for Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards, the Government of Canada, and the NSS, which was launched in 2010 to meet Canada's requirements for much-needed ships, including the construction of both large and small ships, as well as ship repair, refit and maintenance.

In addition to today's announcement, other key milestones continue to be achieved under the NSS:

• On November 23, 2017, in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, the CCG accepted its first of 12 Search and Rescue Lifeboats manufactured by Chantier Naval Forillon and Hike Metal Products.
• Today, at Irving Shipyards Inc. in Halifax, Nova Scotia, mega-block 3 of the first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship, the future HMCS Harry DeWolf, will move outside the Ultra Hall to the land level exterior production area to be joined to the first two mega-blocks to make up the entire vessel.
• In the coming weeks, steel will be cut on the third Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship at Irving Shipyards Inc.

"I'm proud to see the first large vessel launched under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. This, and other recent milestones being achieved, are prime examples of how this initiative is enhancing the meaningful economic opportunities for the Canadian marine sector and related industries, generating increased opportunities for small and medium enterprises and for Indigenous companies, as well as training opportunities across the country."

-The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement

Quick facts

• The National Shipbuilding Strategy is offering significant opportunities to Canadians and Canadian suppliers, with contracts being issued by both the government and by shipyards to hundreds of firms across Canada, including a significant number to small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Since 2014, Seaspan has spent over $20 million with 19 First Nations businesses/joint ventures. These companies represent an important component of Seaspan's supply chain of more than 400  Canadian businesses contributing to the company's work under the National Shipbuilding Strategy.
• It is estimated that NSS contracts awarded to date will contribute roughly $7.7 billion to Canada's GDP, and roughly 7,350 jobs per year, on average, will be created or maintained between 2012 and 2022.

Related products

• Speech from the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada during launch of first OFSV event
• Seaspan news release – launch of first large non-combat vessel designed and built under Canada's National Shipbuilding Strategy
• National Shipbuilding Strategy

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SOURCE Public Services and Procurement Canada