The Halifax Shipyard eyes $3.1b navy deal
The Halifax Shipyard appears headed for several years of sustained work as part of the $3.1-billion mid-life refit and modernization of the navy’s Halifax class frigates.
The shipyard, owned by Irving Shipbuilding Inc., is the only one on the East Coast that has pre-qualified to do the work.
But Irving spokeswoman Mary Keith said Friday the company is not taking anything for granted or assuming it will get the contract.
"There is a process to be followed," she said. "We respect that process and will be following that process. We believe, given the fact we built nine (frigates in Saint John), that we have the expertise, the capability to do a quality job for the navy. But there is still a process to be followed and we are respectful of that."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in Halifax on Thursday the refit and modernization will begin in 2010 and be completed in 2017. He said Nova Scotia and B.C. would be in line for a substantial portion of the work.
In addition to the maintenance and physical upgrades to the vessels, there will be a technical and tactical component, with contracts awarded through a separate process.
Ms. Keith said obtaining the long-term work "would help us keep folks at home here in Nova Scotia and maintain the trades people that we so desperately need, and it will be a great complement to what we are doing on the cruise ships side."
The Halifax yard is constructing a small cruise ship for Pearl Seas Cruises, an American company based in Guildford, Conn. An announcement is expected soon on whether the Halifax yard will build a second cruise vessel for Pearl Seas.
Karl Risser, the president of Marine Workers Local 1, Canadian Auto Workers, called Mr. Harper’s announcement old news but said it was still "good news to have him confirm it."
"It means probably 200 jobs over a long period of time and that is good. That is a sustainable base."
The Halifax local has been part of a broad effort to have the federal government develop a national shipbuilding policy that would allow scheduling of government procurement work and provide financial incentives to make the Canadian industry competitive and attractive to ship owners in Canada and internationally.
Mr. Risser said the sustainable base is what "we talk about when we talk about a shipbuilding policy."
"That’s the procurement base, but we need Mr. Harper to invest in a shipbuilding policy — that is the big one, and the big one is how do we, as shipbuilders, take the base of procurement from the military and move that into working on ferries, the laker fleets and some of the private sector work," he said. "That is the issue we have to get into in order to be healthy."
Mr. Risser referred to other shipbuilding possibilities such as new vessels for a short-sea service between Halifax and Central Canada. A service to the Great Lakes has been discussed at length and the representatives from the Port of Hamilton were recently in Nova Scotia discussing the issue. The union spokesman said services such as that would need new vessels.
"Those types of ships are different than anything Canada has now," he said. "So it is important to look at ways Canadian shipyards can build those vessels; that is the big question and that is where we need government to come on board."
The shipyard, owned by Irving Shipbuilding Inc., is the only one on the East Coast that has pre-qualified to do the work.
But Irving spokeswoman Mary Keith said Friday the company is not taking anything for granted or assuming it will get the contract.
"There is a process to be followed," she said. "We respect that process and will be following that process. We believe, given the fact we built nine (frigates in Saint John), that we have the expertise, the capability to do a quality job for the navy. But there is still a process to be followed and we are respectful of that."
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in Halifax on Thursday the refit and modernization will begin in 2010 and be completed in 2017. He said Nova Scotia and B.C. would be in line for a substantial portion of the work.
In addition to the maintenance and physical upgrades to the vessels, there will be a technical and tactical component, with contracts awarded through a separate process.
Ms. Keith said obtaining the long-term work "would help us keep folks at home here in Nova Scotia and maintain the trades people that we so desperately need, and it will be a great complement to what we are doing on the cruise ships side."
The Halifax yard is constructing a small cruise ship for Pearl Seas Cruises, an American company based in Guildford, Conn. An announcement is expected soon on whether the Halifax yard will build a second cruise vessel for Pearl Seas.
Karl Risser, the president of Marine Workers Local 1, Canadian Auto Workers, called Mr. Harper’s announcement old news but said it was still "good news to have him confirm it."
"It means probably 200 jobs over a long period of time and that is good. That is a sustainable base."
The Halifax local has been part of a broad effort to have the federal government develop a national shipbuilding policy that would allow scheduling of government procurement work and provide financial incentives to make the Canadian industry competitive and attractive to ship owners in Canada and internationally.
Mr. Risser said the sustainable base is what "we talk about when we talk about a shipbuilding policy."
"That’s the procurement base, but we need Mr. Harper to invest in a shipbuilding policy — that is the big one, and the big one is how do we, as shipbuilders, take the base of procurement from the military and move that into working on ferries, the laker fleets and some of the private sector work," he said. "That is the issue we have to get into in order to be healthy."
Mr. Risser referred to other shipbuilding possibilities such as new vessels for a short-sea service between Halifax and Central Canada. A service to the Great Lakes has been discussed at length and the representatives from the Port of Hamilton were recently in Nova Scotia discussing the issue. The union spokesman said services such as that would need new vessels.
"Those types of ships are different than anything Canada has now," he said. "So it is important to look at ways Canadian shipyards can build those vessels; that is the big question and that is where we need government to come on board."