Appendix—Status of large vessel projects—National Shipbuilding Strategy: 2017 annual report

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Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships

The Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships will conduct armed sea-borne surveillance in Canada's waters, including in the Arctic. They will enhance the government's ability to assert Canadian sovereignty and provide surveillance and support to other government departments. The project includes funding for jetty infrastructure in Halifax and Esquimalt, and a berthing and fuelling facility in Nunavut.

  • Shipyard of build: Irving Shipbuilding Inc. (ISI)
  • Client department: Department of National Defence
  • Status: Construction in progress
  • Scope: Five or six vessels
  • Project budget: $3.5 billion footnote 1

Full production of the first vessel, the future Her Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Harry DeWolf, began in September 2015 and significant progress has been made on the construction of the second vessel, the future HMCS Margaret Brooke. Steel for the third vessel, the future HMCS Max Bernays, was cut in December 2017.

The year ahead

Work continues on the construction of the first three Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships, and steel will be cut for the fourth vessel, the future HMCS William Hall, during the year. The launch of the first vessel is expected to take place in 2018, with final delivery expected in 2019. Activities related to baseline review and scope (five or six vessels) will be finalized in 2018.

Canadian Surface Combatantfootnote 2

The Canadian Surface Combatant fleet will be capable of meeting multiple threats on both the open ocean and the highly complex coastal environment. These ships will ensure that Canada can continue to monitor and defend its waters and make significant contributions to international naval operations. This fleet will replace the Royal Canadian Navy's Iroquois class destroyers and the Halifax class frigates.

  • Shipyard of build: ISI
  • Client department: Department of National Defence
  • Status: Bid evaluation phase
  • Scope: 15 vessels
  • Project budget: $56 billion to $60 billionfootnote 3

In November 2017, a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued to 12 pre-qualified companies for the design and design team for the Canadian Surface Combatant fleet closed. The RFP called for a single open and competitive process to select an existing warship design and design team to work with ISI. The winning design will be modified to the extent necessary to satisfy the requirements of the Royal Canadian Navy, and maximize the opportunity for Canadian content.

The year ahead

The bidding process for the selection of the CSC design and design team closed November 30, 2017. The RFP process has now entered the bid evaluation stage, scheduled to be completed in 2018. A period of due diligence will then occur prior to the contracts being awarded in early 2019: first, the Prime Contract by Canada to ISI and second, the subcontract by ISI to the winning bidder.

Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels

The Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels will provide an important platform from which scientific research and ecosystem-based management can be performed. These "floating laboratories" will contribute to Canada's stewardship of fishery and ocean resources and will replace Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Teleost, CCGS Alfred Needler and the decommissioned CCGS W.E. Ricker on Canada's west and east coasts.

  • Shipyard of build: Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards
  • Client department: Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard
  • Status: Construction in progress
  • Scope: Three vessels
  • Project budget: $687 millionfootnote 4

The Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels are being built by Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards. Construction on all three Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels is under way, and they will be the first large vessels delivered under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. In December 2017, a launch ceremony was held for OFSV 1, the future CCGS Sir John Franklin, following which, the ship was moved to Victoria to complete construction work and trials. The third and final Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel began construction in February 2017.

The year ahead

Construction on all three Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels is expected to continue throughout the year ahead. Delivery of OFSV-1 is expected to take place in early 2019.

Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel

The Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel will support oceanographic, fishery, geological and hydrographic survey missions, contributing directly to our understanding of the oceans and the impacts of climate change. It will be outfitted for scientific research on ocean currents and on the seabed. This ship will replace the oldest vessel in the Canadian Coast Guard's fleet, CCGS Hudson, which operates on Canada's east coast.

  • Shipyard of build: Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards
  • Client department: Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard
  • Status: Definition stage
  • Scope: One Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel
  • Project budget: $331 million (under review)

In November 2015, Canada awarded the initial construction engineering contract to Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards to commence the work required prior to the start of construction.

The year ahead

Over the coming year, the Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel project will continue with construction engineering, including the functional/production design stages. A construction contract will be negotiated once the required engineering work has been advanced.

Joint Support Ships

The Joint Support Ships (JSS) will increase the range and endurance of naval task groups, permitting them to remain at sea for significant periods of time without returning to port for replenishment. The JSS will also provide a home base for helicopter maintenance and operation, a limited sealift capability and support to operations ashore. They will replace the Royal Canadian Navy's retired Protecteur-class auxiliary oiler replenishment vessels.

  • Shipyard of build: Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards
  • Client department: Department of National Defence
  • Status: Design and production engineering phase
  • Scope: Two Support Ships
  • Project budget: $3.4 billionfootnote 5

The Joint Support Ships are being built by Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards based on the ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Canada Inc. (TKMS) Bonn/Berlin design and will include Canadian modifications. The initial design review work is now complete, and design and procurement activity has started on competitively selecting the major equipment and systems to be installed in the first ship. The design and production work will entail integration of all equipment and suppliers and regulatory approval for ship construction. At the completion of the work, a vessel design ready for full production and construction will be delivered.

The year ahead

In order to advance the Joint Support Ship (JSS) schedule, the start of the JSS block construction has been advanced to summer 2018. This is expected to advance the JSS schedule by an estimated four and eight months respectively.

Polar Icebreaker

The Polar Icebreaker will replace Canada's current largest and most capable icebreaker, CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent. It will become one of the most powerful conventional icebreakers in the world. Expected to be Canada's "flagship" in the Canadian Arctic, the Polar Icebreaker will significantly enhance on-water capability in the Arctic. It will be able to consistently operate farther north, in more difficult ice conditions, and for longer periods than is currently the case.

  • Shipyard of build: Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards
  • Client department: Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Canadian Coast Guard
  • Status: Design is complete. Project will commence following the Navy's Joint Supply Ships
  • Scope: One vessel
  • Project budget: $1.3 billion (under review)

Canada has committed to keeping CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent in service at least until the delivery of the Polar Icebreaker.

The year ahead

No activities are planned until work on other projects has advanced.

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