The year ahead: Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy—2019 annual report

Navigation for Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy: 2019 annual report

Looking forward to 2020, several key milestones are projected for the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS).

For example, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) expects to take delivery of its third and final offshore fisheries science vessel in summer 2020. The construction of the offshore oceanographic science vessel is expected to start at the end of 2020.

The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) expects to take delivery of the first Arctic and offshore patrol ship in 2020, while construction continues on the second, third and fourth ships. To ensure that we are able to berth these new ships, jetty infrastructure is being upgraded on the east and west coasts, as well as in the Arctic. Construction of the new B jetty at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt is expected to be completed in the late 2020s. Additionally, work to establish a docking, replenishing and refuelling facility in Nanisivik, Nunavut, is underway, and is expected to be operational in 2020.

For the Canadian surface combatant, design work will progress with Irving Shipbuilding Inc. (ISI) and its subcontractor, Lockheed Martin Canada.

To support the RCN’s and the CCG’s operational requirements, Canadian shipyards other than ISI and Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards (VSY) will continue to undertake the construction and delivery of vessels under 1,000 tonnes, including the delivery of the next set of search and rescue lifeboats.

The process to select a third shipyard under the NSS will continue, with the request for proposal and evaluation stage. This will include a third-party assessment of Chantier Davie’s infrastructure, submission of a formal proposal, and a due diligence process to ensure the shipyard is financially capable of performing the work and making any necessary upgrades to its infrastructure. This assessment is similar to the process previously undertaken to select ISI and VSY as strategic partners under the NSS in 2011.

Given the importance of icebreaking capacity, the government is also exploring options to ensure the polar icebreaker is built in the most efficient manner, but no decisions have been taken yet.

Through the NSS, the Government of Canada will continue to work with shipyards across the country to support shipbuilding requirements, including the recapitalization of the ageing CCG fleet and the construction of ferries for Transport Canada, announced in budget 2019.

Finally, the world-wide COVID-19 crisis will have an effect on some NSS-related projects. The Government of Canada will work with the shipyards to evaluate and mitigate budgetary and schedule impacts of the pandemic so that important work to renew the fleets of the RCN and the CCG is completed as quickly as possible.

More information

If you would like more information about the NSS, please consult the following links:

Navigation for Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy: 2019 annual report

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