Vancouver Shipyards Completes Overhaul

Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards has completed its two-year, CAD 170 million Shipyard Modernization Project ahead of schedule and under-budget, the company said in a release.

Funded entirely by Seaspan, this project will allow Vancouver Shipyards the delivery of Non-Combat vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy.

The completion of Seaspan’s Shipyard Modernization Project coincides with the commencement of construction on two initial blocks for the first NSPS ship, the Canadian Coast Guard’s Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel (OFSV), slated for completion by the summer of 2016.

“Today’s ceremony exemplifies Seaspan’s commitment to prepare its shipyard and its people to build ships for the Government of Canada,” said Brian Carter – President, Seaspan Shipyards.

“With our new facilities now complete and operational, including Canada’s largest permanent gantry crane, four new fabrication buildings and a new load-out pier, we have begun our work for the Canadian Coast Guard on the initial blocks of the first Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel (OFSV). We estimate the new vessel construction work we will do for the Canadian Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy will result in the creation of 5,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs over the next 20 years, produce almost CAD 500 million per year in gross domestic product for B.C.’s economy, and mean thousands of people will get the opportunity for an exciting career in shipbuilding.”

During the Shipyard Modernization Project, 25% of the construction work in the shipyard was performed by First Nations Joint Venture Companies.

In addition, Seaspan has invested an additional CAD 15 million to upgrade facilities at Victoria Shipyards, including a new operational centre, to support testing, trials and commissioning of the new federal vessels, work that will be complete by the end of December, 2014.

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Press Release; Image: Seaspan