Victoria Shipyards News

Seaspan’s Victoria Shipyards (VSL) celebrated the handover of Her Majesty’s New Zealand Ship (HMNZS) Te Kaha at a ceremony in Victoria, BC. The handover ceremony marks the transfer of care of HMNZS Te Kaha from the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) to Lockheed Martin Canada (NYSE:LMT) and VSL. Today’s event follows last month’s formal announcement that VSL had been awarded work on the Frigate Systems Upgrade for the RNZN’s ANZAC class frigates as a subcontractor for Lockheed Martin Canada. “Being awarded this project demonstrates Seaspan’s Victoria Shipyards’ capabilities as a leader in ship repair in North America,” said Brian Carter, President & CEO of Seaspan Shipyards.

Seaspan Shipyards demonstrates its capabilities with liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessel engine conversions in the wake of a major project milestone. Victoria Shipyards (VSL) was selected by TOTE Maritime Alaska to carry out the yard production work and docking necessary for the conversion of their two TOTE Orca class vessels to dual-fuel systems, a process which is being carried out in four phases and will enable the two ships to use LNG as fuel. The ‘North Star’, the first of the two 839-foot-long roll-on, roll-off cargo ships which carry cargo between Anchorage, Alaska, and Tacoma, Washington, arrived at VSL in December, 2017 kicking off the process of converting the diesel engines to dual-fuel systems.

Lockheed Martin Canada has signed a formal contract with the New Zealand government for ship installation and trials to complete the upgrade and modernization of the ANZAC class frigates. The first of two frigates, Her Majesty's New Zealand Ship (HMNZS) TE KAHA arrived in Victoria yesterday. Lockheed Martin Canada is responsible for designing and supplying the upgraded combat system for each ANZAC Class Frigate, including a new combat management system – based on Lockheed Martin Canada's Combat Management System 330 – along with the supply and integration of various sensors, a missile system and a Combat Systems Trainer. Lockheed Martin Canada has entered into a subcontractual agreement with Seaspan Victoria Shipyards Co.

Seaspan joined Harjit S. Sajjan, Canada’s Minister of National Defense, at an official ceremony today to celebrate the completion of the Halifax-Class Modernization/Frigate Life Extension (HCM/FELEX) Refit Program on the West Coast, and transfer of the HMCS Regina from Seaspan’s Victoria Shipyards (VSL) to the Department of National Defense (DND) Dockyard. HMCS Regina is the fifth and final frigate to undergo modernization on the West Coast for the $4.3 billion HCM/FELEX Program. VSL has served as Canada’s capability partner on the West Coast under HCM/FELEX since 2008, providing mid-life maintenance activities, machinery control and combat equipment upgrades for the HMCS Calgary, HMCS Winnipeg, HMCS Vancouver, HMCS Ottawa and HMCS Regina.

Seaspan’s vice president and general manager of Victoria Shipyards Co. Ltd., Malcolm Barker, will retire Spring 2015, following more than 21 years with the company. Barker began his shipbuilding career at the age of 16 and has been in the B.C. marine industry for nearly four decades. Formerly with Yarrows Shipyard in Esquimalt, he has spent the last 21 years with Victoria Shipyards, providing dynamic leadership and establishing an exceptional level of service for a wide range of customers and suppliers around the world.

Seaspan Shipyard’s long-standing relationship with the Canadian Coast Guard was proudly showcased in recent days, with simultaneous repair and maintenance work on Coast Guard vessels at all three of the company’s shipyards – Vancouver Drydock, Vancouver Shipyards and Victoria Shipyards. “The role we play as an essential service provider to the Canadian Coast Guard is one that we take great pride in,” said Brian Carter, President, Seaspan Shipyards. In North Vancouver, Vancouver Drydock completed regular maintenance last week on the JP Tully, a 69 metre long Ice Class Oceanographic Survey Vessel, including overhauls to the tail-shaft and thrusters, hull preparation, paint and tank blasting, and re-coating.

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.

A steel boat can continue to serve for many years if properly maintained. Seaspan Marine is the largest towing company on the British Columbia coast. Utilizing the services of their sister companies Vancouver Drydock, Vancouver Shipyard and Victoria Shipyards, they do much of their own repair and maintenance work. The upgrade and maintenance of the 25.24 by 7.56-meter (82.8 x 24.8) Seaspan Cutlass was done at Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyard, which was the yard that built the tug and her sisters, including the Seaspan Cavalier in 1975. Both tugs have received similar upgrades.

Seaspan CEO  addresses concerns raised by the Parliamentary Budget Officer about the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS). (Seaspan affiliate companies include Vancouver Drydock, Vancouver Shipyards and Victoria Shipyards). We are confident the NSPS program as described in 2010, as awarded in October 2011, and as signed in the umbrella agreement (UA) on February 14, 2012, is solidly on track. Since the signing of the UA, Seaspan has realized success in building the right management team, processes and infrastructure to set the yard up for long-term success. When Seaspan was awarded the Non-Combat program package, we hoped to have secured a design contract in about one year. We signed it last week, four months past the one-year anniversary of the contract award.

A groundbreaking ceremony today at Vancouver Shipyards, in North Vancouver marks a significant milestone in the re-development of the shipyard into a world-class facility that will build a new generation of vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy. Construction will result in the completion of four new fabrication buildings, a shipbuilding gantry crane and a load-out pier. Seaspan will invest approximately $200 million into the yard to deliver outstanding value to the Federal Government and efficiently build the new Non-Combat ships.

Brian Carter is joining Seaspan Shipyards as President, assuming this role full-time beginning January 9, 2012. In this role, Brian is responsible for delivering the long-term strategic plans of Seaspan’s three shipyard operations (Vancouver Drydock, Vancouver Shipyards and Victoria Shipyards). In addition to working with Seaspan’s senior management team at both the corporate and shipyard level, one of Brian’s key areas of focus will be aligning the shipyard group for long-term success under the new $8 billion Federal Fleet Renewal Program.

According to a report from Times Colonist, Bob Plecas, a former provincial deputy minister of economic development, said B.C. should not give Seaspan tax breaks to help its bid for federal shipbuilding work. Instead, the province could support training programs or build infrastructure, such as a road or railway spur line, which could assist other ventures as well. North Vancouver-based Seaspan, owner of Vancouver Shipyards, Vancouver Drydock, and Victoria Shipyards, is seeking tax breaks.   Source: Times Colonist

According to a May 16 report from the Vancouver Sun, the Harper government is expected to release its long-term shipbuilding strategy in the coming weeks, creating two national centers to handle billions of dollars worth of contracts. The strategy could spark a high-stakes game pitting West Coast firms against East Coast companies in a winner-take-all contest. Vancouver-based Washington Marine Group and J.D. Irving on the East Coast will be asked to submit proposals to become the “center of excellence” for building combat ships such as the Arctic patrol vessels and the fleet of vessels that will eventually replace the navy’s Halifax-class frigates. Victoria Shipyards is owned by Washington Marine Group, as are Vancouver Drydock and Vancouver Shipyards.

Washington Marine Group announced that it has acquired substantially all of the Victoria-based assets of Canadian Maritime Engineering (CME). CME has operated a ship repair business at the Esquimalt Graving dock since 2004. The CME assets include a large shop, shipyard machinery and equipment, which Victoria Shipyards (VSL) will utilize in the execution of the Frigate Life Extension program (FELEX) for the Canadian Navy. In addition to the CME assets, VSL will be purchasing a number of other mobile buildings in the coming months to provide the necessary facilities to support the FELEX team and to efficiently serve customer. (www.washingtonmarinegroup.com)

Spiro Risvas, Senior Vice President, WMG Shipyards announced the appointment of John McNeill to the position of Manager, Marketing and Sales, WMG Shipyards. McNeill’s former role of Vancouver Shipyard’s Manager, Commercial Accounts has been restructured into this new position, to allow him to identify opportunities and apply his talents across all three WMG shipyard operations. John will now provide sales and marketing expertise to all three WMG Shipyards (Vancouver Drydock, Vancouver…

Victoria Shipyards will refit five of 's 12 Halifax-class frigates as part of a $3.1b program to make the Canadian navy stronger and safer, reports said.  The refit will add 300 jobs at Victoria Shipyards for a project worth up to $500m. Victoria Shipyards and a shipyard in responded to the federal government's request for interest and qualifications but now must submit formal requests for proposals (RFPs). The five Halifax-class ships based at CFB Esquimalt are HMCS Calgary, , , and . They patrol 27,000 kilometres of Pacific coastline, monitoring other ships in Canadian waters, conducting surveillance, training and responding to national security threats.   Source:  CanWest News Service

A sea of people in hard hats flooded a tent Monday at the Halifax Shipyard for the announcement of $549m worth of work on the navy’s Halifax-class frigates. Seven of the warships will go through a modernization program at the Irving-owned shipyard. also announced a $351-million contract Monday with Victoria Shipyards on the West Coast to upgrade the other five frigates.   Source:  Chronicle Herald

The federal government awarded two contracts Monday worth a total of $900 million to shipyards in Halifax and Victoria to maintain and upgrade 's 12 frigates - considered the workhorses of the navy. The contract for the Halifax Shipyards is worth $549m, while the contract in is valued at $351m. The contracts are the first in a series that are expected to be awarded from $3.1b that is being made available for a mid-life refit of the Halifax-class frigates. The government announced last year that it would spend the $3.1b on weapons upgrades, enhanced command-and-control centres, and alterations needed to accommodate the navy's new helicopters. J.D.

First making headlines this past summer, when the Vancouver-based yard performed the emergency pod repair on Celebrity's Infinity, Victoria Shipyards has booked an additional five cruise vessels that are scheduled for routine repairs and drydockings from May 9 through the middle of October. With the departure of Cascade General's Number Four drydock last year to Grand Bahama Island, Victoria has gained a foothold in the realm of West Coast ship repair for cruise vessels that frequent the Alaska and Vancouver areas. According to Malcolm Barker, Victoria's manager of Ship Repair, the yard has scheduled five cruise vessels for the remainder of 2002, beginning with Princess Cruises' Dawn Princess, which will arrive on May 9 for 10 days.

The industry and political leaders in the area will say the community’s shipbuilding future is built on more than just the federal government’s plan to construct new Joint Supply Ships (JSS) for the Canadian Navy, according to theWesternStar.com. In the meantime, a duo of companies are in the process of putting together plans to “develop project implementation and in-service support proposals” for the JSS project. ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Canada Inc. and SNC-Lavalin ProFac Inc. won that contract following a bidding process. Peter Kiewit and Sons Ltd. in Marystown is part of a pre-qualified consortium for JSS. It is believed the worth of such a contract to the Marystown Shipyard would be in the neighborhood of $800 to $900 million.

BC Ferries’ newly acquired vessel to replace the Queen of the North on the Inside Passage between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert officially set sail for her new home in B.C. on Saturday, November 18. The MV Sonia will be re-named when she arrives in B.C. in mid December. The vessel departed from Piraeus, Greece, early Saturday morning for her four-week voyage to Victoria, B.C. Under the command of Senior BC Ferries officers and crew, the vessel will travel via the Canary Islands and the Panama Canal before sailing up the west coast of North America. The 117 metre ship is scheduled to arrive in Victoria on December 18, 2006. BC Ferries acquired the two year old vessel in October and the 9,925 tonne ship will carry up to 600 passengers, 101 vehicles and has 70 cabins.

The Times Colonist reported that repairs started at Victoria Shipyards on a platform used to propel commercial satellites into orbit. The Odyssey Launch Platform is undergoing repairs after a failed mission damaged the vessel in January after 20 consecutive successful launches. The platform, which is 436.6 ft. long or almost one and a half football fields in length, is owned by Sea Launch, an international partnership of four American, Russian, Ukrainian and Norwegian businesses, including Boeing.

Sea Launch Commander alongside the South jetty at Esquimalt Drydock. The Commander completed routine maintenance while supporting work crews at Victoria Shipyards. The Sea Launch Commander & the Odyssey arrived at Victoria Shipyards Co. Ltd. (VSL) on June 14 for a ship repair project. on the Odyssey platform were damaged and in need of repairs. staff at Victoria Shipyards were to complete the unique and challenging repair project. to the hangar and doors, and various other heavy equipment repairs to the Odyssey. Commander also underwent routine maintenance and support activities. Utilizing the TECO Coating Services ASA, a Norwegian subcontractor, scaffolding was erected sequentially on the platform’s supporting columns. towards completion. on every operation.