Nsps News

This week, on December 4, 2018, President Trump signed into law the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA): Title IX of the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2018.VIDA establishes a new framework for the regulation of vessel incidental discharges, adding a new Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 312(p): Uniform National Standards for Discharges Incidental to Normal Operation of Vessels. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) are…

The University of British Columbia announced it will receive a $2 million investment from Seaspan Shipyards (Seaspan) over the next seven years to support innovative teaching and research in the naval architecture and marine engineering programs at the UBC faculty of applied science. As a result, two new UBC chair positions will be created, one in naval architecture and one in marine systems engineering, both of which are expected to be recruited this summer. “UBC is western North America’s only academic institution offering graduate programs in naval architecture and marine engineering,” said UBC Interim President Martha Piper. This multi-million dollar investment is a result of Seaspan’s Value Proposition obligations under the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS).

Kongsberg Maritime has announced that it has been selected by L-3 MAPPS to provide the CCTV system for the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) new class of Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS). L-3 MAPPS is one of the Tier 1 suppliers to Irving Shipbuilding, Prime Contractor delivering the AOPS vessels as a part of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS). Kongsberg Maritime has over 70 employees in Dartmouth, Vancouver and St. Johns, 190 employees in the U.K. and approximately 4,600 total across the world.

Seaspan hosted a groundbreaking ceremony today to announce it has officially started construction on a new head office in North Vancouver. The 7,800 square metre (84,000 square foot) corporate headquarters, scheduled for completion in late 2017, will be constructed at the foot of Pemberton Avenue on the south western spit of the property. Once complete, the building will be four storeys high and include state-of-the-art office space, meeting rooms, expanded bike storage, electric vehicle charging stations, a full-service cafeteria, as well as panoramic views of the Vancouver Harbor front. It will house 350 Seaspan staff (up from the current 130) from across its various companies.

Seaspan, an association of Canadian companies primarily involved in coastal and deepsea transportation, bunkering, ship repair and shipbuilding services, named three senior leaders to its corporate executive team, the company announced today. The appointments include Paul Thomas as Vice President, Engineering – Vancouver Shipyards; Matt Boydston as Vice President, Finance – Seaspan Shipyards; and Billy Garton as General Counsel for Seaspan ULC. As Vice President, Engineering, Thomas is primarily responsible for engineering and design on new ship construction…

Canadian shipbuilder Davie informs it has been awarded a $16 million contract to refit and upgrade the CCGS Henry Larsen, a CCG T1200-Class Icebreaker based in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Medium icebreaker CCGS Henry Larsen is capable of sustained icebreaking and escort operations in the Arctic and Atlantic Region for the winter and summer seasons. The vessel joined the CCG fleet in 1988 and is named after the commander of the first vessel to cross the Northwest Passage in a single season.

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, joined by Andrew Saxton, Member of Parliament for North Vancouver and John Weston, Member of Parliament for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country, announced that Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards (VSY) has started construction on the first National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS) ship, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG)’s Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel (OFSV). It was also announced that the first ship will be named CCGS Sir John Franklin in honour of a British Royal Navy officer and explorer of the Arctic. Found in September 2014, Franklin’s ships are an important part of Canadian history given that his expeditions…

OSI Maritime Systems Ltd. (OSI) has signed a contract with Lockheed Martin Canada to build, deliver and support the installation of the Integrated Navigation and Bridge Systems (INBS) for the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) new class of Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) to be built at the Halifax Shipyard. This implementation phase contract is being awarded subsequent to the successful conclusion of a 21-month design phase contract completed in early 2015. Lockheed Martin Canada…

The Government of Canada joined Irving Shipbuilding and its employees today marked the signing of the $2.3 billion Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) build contract at Halifax Shipyard. The Honorable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada and the Honorable Peter MacKay, Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Canada and Minister Responsible for Nova Scotia participated with Irving Shipbuilding as well as provincial, municipal and community leaders…

Today, Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards officially celebrated the completion of its two-year, $170M Shipyard Modernization Project ahead of schedule and under-budget. Funded entirely by Seaspan, this project has transformed Vancouver Shipyards into the most modern facility in North America that will establish a shipbuilding and ship repair centre of excellence on the West Coast, and allow for the effective and efficient delivery of Non-Combat vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy. “Today is a celebration for Seaspan, and words cannot express how proud I am of the incredible transformation of Vancouver Shipyards,” said Jonathan Whitworth – CEO, Seaspan.

Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards has started construction on two initial blocks for the first National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS) ship, the Canadian Coast Guard’s Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel (OFSV), the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, announced. “We are thrilled to begin initial block construction on the OFSV and are grateful that Minister Finley is here to celebrate this milestone moment with us," said Brian Carter, President – Seaspan Shipyards.

Admiral Mark Norman, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), informed a recent news conference that the RCN begins its transition to the future fleet. The four ships to be taken out of service are Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Protecteur and Preserver, two auxiliary oil replenishment ships; and HMC Ships Iroquois and Algonquin, two Iroquois-class guided missile destroyers. The retirement of these vessels has been anticipated for some time and is a step towards the introduction of new ships and capabilities set to be delivered through the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS), as well as recognition of the RCN’s commitment to the responsible use of public funds while maintaining Canada’s naval readiness.

The Government of Canada and Irving Shipbuilding today marked the installation of the final piece of steel frame for the Assembly and Ultra Hall Production facility that will produce the Navy’s newest combat fleet starting in September 2015. The Honorable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada and the Honorable Peter MacKay, Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Canada and Minister Responsible for Nova Scotia joined Irving Shipbuilding’s executive…

Hawboldt Industries Ltd. announce that it has been chosen by Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards to supply the deck machinery for the new offshore fisheries and science vessels (OFSV) as part of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS) for noncombat vessels. The contract is for the first of three planned vessels in the OFSV program now underway in North Vancouver, British Columbia. The OFSV are the first vessels to be built under the $8 billion NSPS program for noncombat vessels, awarded to Seaspan in 2011. The OFSV will replace aging vessels operated by the Canadian Coast Guard in the Pacific, Maritime and Newfoundland and Labrador Regions of Canada. These vessels are used for fisheries assessments and scientific ocean research.

After several months of anticipation and preparation, and the careful consideration of hundreds of student submissions, Seaspan officially revealed the name of its newly assembled, 300-tonne gantry crane at a boisterous unveiling ceremony at Vancouver Shipyards (VSY) today. Announcing the crane’s new name - Hiyí Skwáyel, the Squamish language translation of “Big Blue” (pronounced hee-yay sk-why-el) – was the final step in an extensive evaluation process that began with a two-week long “Crane Naming Contest” with North Vancouver School District students, from March 3 – 14.

Caterpillar Oil & Gas will unveil the new Cat CG137-8 natural gas generator set  at the Bismarck Civic Center in Bismarck, North Dakota during the 2014 Williston Basin Petroleum Conference  now in progress from May 20 – 22nd. The new Cat CG137-8 generator set provides 282 ekW (352 kVA), 60 Hz @ 1800 rpm of rated power, offering customers an additional power node to complement existing Cat power solutions in land production applications. The CG137-8 generator set will now be available to order from the global Cat dealer network. “The CG137-8 generator  set power node is a great addition to the proven Cat G3306B (135 ekW) and CG137-12 (400 ekW) oilfield generator sets, Russ Goss, Caterpillar Oil & Gas  new product introduction project manager said.

Burnaby, BC - based OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) says it has been selected by Lockheed Martin Canada to support the design activity of the bridge and navigation capabilities for the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) new class of Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS). Lockheed Martin Canada is one of AOPS Prime Contractor Irving Shipbuilding’s Tier 1 suppliers for the AOPS project under the Canadian government’s National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS). Under an initial contract, OSI will design the Integrated Bridge and Navigation System for the new vessels.

OSI Maritime Systems Ltd. (OSI) announced today that it has been selected by Lockheed Martin Canada to support the design activity of the bridge and navigation capabilities for the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) new class of Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS). Lockheed Martin Canada is one of AOPS Prime Contractor Irving Shipbuilding’s Tier 1 suppliers for the AOPS project under the Canadian government’s National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS). Under an initial contract, OSI will design the Integrated Bridge and Navigation System for the new vessels. “We are very pleased to have been selected for this very important Royal Canadian Navy project,” said Ken Kirkpatrick, President and Chief Executive Officer OSI Maritime Systems Ltd.

The Government ministers concerned have announced that the Government of Canada has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to seek industry feedback on the next generation of Coast Guard lifeboats, due to be built as part of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy’s (NSPS) small vessels program. The intent of this RFI is to engage directly with Canadian shipyards who are potential suppliers of these new vessels. This first step in the procurement process will provide the Government with valuable information before drafting the Request for Proposal.

The Canadian Government has released funds with a potential value of $53.5 million to Irving Shipbuilding to pay for tasks connected with the construction of the Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS). •             The definition contract is a task-based contract divided into seven work packages (or tasks) that will enable Irving Shipbuilding Inc. to have full designs and requirements established for the Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ships before building. Plans remain on track to cut steel and begin construction in 2015.

Irving Shipbuilding announced $28.2 million in additional contract awards to Canadian-based suppliers as part of the Halifax Shipyard Modernization Program, a two-year engineering and construction investment to prepare the company’s facilities to build Canada's future combatant ships. “To date a total value of $175 million in contracts have been awarded as part of our overall investment of approximately $300 million in the Halifax Shipyard Modernization Program” said Kevin McCoy, President, Irving Shipbuilding.

“We are pleased to receive, and support the findings of the Auditor General, in particular, the assessment that the selection of shipyards was efficient and successful and will help sustain shipbuilding capability for future generations,” said Brian Carter, President, Seaspan Shipyards. “Seaspan has been engaged in the NSPS process since 2009 when the Government of Canada decided to consult industry on the best way forward for the renewal of the Federal fleets. Vancouver Shipyards is investing up to $200 million in infrastructure upgrades at no cost to Canada, to allow Seaspan Shipyards to build Canada’s vessels effectively and efficiently, bringing best value to Canadians.

Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, joined by James Moore, Minister of Industry and Regional Minister for British Columbia, announced that Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards will build an additional 10 Noncombat vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard. The new ships, confirmed during Minister Finley’s visit to the Shipyards, increase Seaspan’s noncombat build package to 17 ships from the seven originally announced on October 19, 2011. These additional ships include five medium endurance multitasked vessels (MEMTVs) and five offshore patrol vessels (OPVs).