Information about the graving dock
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About the graving dock
The Esquimalt Graving Dock is a strategic infrastructure asset that serves the vital needs of the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Coast Guard fleets on the West Coast. This open-access, multi-user secure facility also supports and strengthens the West Coast industrial marine sector by providing a world-class ship repair, refit and maintenance centre of excellence.
The Esquimalt Graving Dock was built almost 100 years ago. A lot of the legacy and underground infrastructure is in need of repair or replacement.
Over the last 4 years, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has invested in the Esquimalt Graving Dock for numerous projects related to:
- health and safety
- infrastructure continuity
- site remediation
Independent studies concluded that ship repair infrastructure on Canada's West Coast is in short supply. They found that demand for the graving dock will exceed capacity by 2023.
We must also ensure that the government has the marine infrastructure it needs to support the vessels built under the National Shipbuilding Strategy in the long term.
As part of our normal management of the site, we review the rates periodically to ensure that they are fair and contribute to a financially sustainable facility.
Respecting traditional Indigenous lands
The Esquimalt Graving Dock is located in the municipality of Esquimalt, British Columbia, adjacent to the provincial capital of Victoria and within the traditional Coastal Salish territories of the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations.
Previous projects
Discover more about the projects completed over the last few years.
Soil remediation at former Canadian Forces Sailing Association uplands (completed February 2024)
- Location
- Esquimalt, British Columbia
Locate the Esquimalt Graving Dock on a map - Type of project
- Remediation
- Project description
- During this project, 3 areas with higher contamination were excavated, and the soil was transported and disposed of off site at a licensed facility. The excavated sites were then backfilled with clean material, compacted and paved.
- Construction firm
- Tender awarded to Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc. (December 5, 2023)
- Value
- Over $240,000
- Project status
- Completed on February 27, 2024
Repair and extension of graving dock’s east end (completed May 2023)
- Location
- Esquimalt, British Columbia
Locate the Esquimalt Graving Dock on a map - Type of project
- Repair and extension
- Project description
-
The eastern end of the dry dock was repaired and extended by 36 metres. It was 357 metres long, and the extension added about 20% capacity to the Esquimalt Graving Dock, allowing the graving dock to increase its capacity to lodge vessels up to 150 metres long.
This extension was a critical step in the short-term expansion of the graving dock’s capacity to reduce sustainment costs for Canada’s West Coast fleets and increase revenues for PSPC.
- Construction firm
- Tender awarded to Pomerleau Inc. (July 15, 2021)
- Value
- About $47 million
- Project status
- Completed May 2023
Remediation at former Canadian Forces Sailing Association waterlot (completed March 2023)
- Location
- Esquimalt, British Columbia
Locate the Esquimalt Graving Dock on a map - Type of project
- Remediation
- Project description
- During this project, marina structures were removed; about 17,000 cubic metres of contaminated sediments were dredged, processed, transported and disposed of; and clean sand was placed.
- Construction firm
- Tender awarded to QM Environmental & PPM Civil Constructors (QM/PPMCC), in joint venture (September 28, 2022)
- Value
- Over $13 million
- Project status
- Completed on March 15, 2023
Replacement of north landing wharf substation (completed February 2021)
- Project description
- Replacement of the obsolete electrical substation on the North Landing Wharf with new electrical distribution to dockside kiosks
- Construction firm
- Tender awarded to CYMI Canada Inc. (December 20, 2018)
- Value
- $18.74 million
- Project status
- Completed February 2021
Caisson mid-life refurbishment (completed February 2021)
- Project description
- Mid-life refurbishment of the 2 caissons, with modernized electrical, mechanical systems and new perimeter seals and protective coating
- Construction firms
-
- Tender awarded to Esquimalt Drydock Company Ltd (June 21, 2019)
- and Point Hope Maritime
- Value
- $9.65 million
- Project status
- Completed February 2021
Replacement of main (north) substation (completed 2020)
- Project description
- Replacement of the main (north) substation with a new code-compliant one and electrical safety update
- Construction firm
- Tender awarded to Scansa Construction Ltd. (December 5, 2017)
- Value
- $15.8 million
- Project status
- Completed 2020
Replacement of south jetty (completed 2020)
- Project description
-
Replacement of the aged jetty removed due to deteriorating wooden piles and the need to remediate the under-pier waterlot.
The project restored 9,600 square metres of surface and about 350 metres of wet berthage, providing full-service kiosks along the perimeter.
- Construction firms
-
- Tender awarded to Fraser River Pile & Dredge (GP) Inc. (March 29, 2018)
- and SPAL General Contractors
(joint-venture under Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business)
- Value
- $45.8 million
- Project status
- Completed 2020
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