New Search and Rescue Lifeboats On the Way
News Release
August 30, 2016
Wheatley, Ontario - Construction has begun on six new Search and Rescue (SAR) lifeboats at Hike Metal Products in Wheatley, Ontario, creating more than 20 high-paying jobs during the course of the contract. The new lifeboats will be stationed across Canada providing key SAR services for Canadian families and business including searches on the water, marine distress response calls as well as assistance to disabled vessels.
The announcement was made by the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.
Hike Metal Products won a $43.4 million contract in July 2015 to build six vessels. Delivery of the first vessel is scheduled for summer 2017.
Quotes
“Renewing the Coast Guard fleet is one of my top priorities. These lifeboats will ensure the continued protection and services to all Canadians and mariners making a living on Canada’s oceans and waterways from coast to coast to coast.”
The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
“Our Government is committed to providing the Canadian Coast Guard with the equipment required to do their important work. The new vessels will be used by the Coast Guard to provide crucial search and rescue services from coast to coast to coast. We are creating jobs and economic growth across Canada through our National Shipbuilding Strategy, and building needed vessels while also revitalizing our shipbuilding industry.”
The Honourable Judy Foote, Minister of Public Services and Procurement
Quick Facts
- This contract will create 25 new jobs for workers at Hike Metal Products in Wheatley, Ontario, as well as sustaining some 20 other jobs at the yard.
- These new shore-stationed self-righting lifeboats will operate up to 100 nautical miles from shore, and will replace the Coast Guard’s existing vessels, which have an average age of 18 years and are approaching the end of their operational lifecycle.
- In the past five years, the Coast Guard has begun the renewal of its fleet, including nine Hero-class mid-shore patrol vessels; two hovercraft; five Search and Rescue lifeboats; three specialty vessels; three near-shore fishery research vessels; thirty environmental barges, and sixty small boats.
- Under the National Shipbuilding Strategy small vessels program, the competitive opportunity to build the Search and Rescue lifeboats was open to all Canadian shipyards, with the exception of the two selected to build the large vessels (Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards and Irving Shipbuilding).
- The SAR lifeboats are the first small vessels to be built under the National Shipbuilding Strategy.
Associated Link
Photo Legend: Lifeboat construction begins at Hike Metal Products.
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For more information:
Media Relations
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-990-7537
Media.xncr@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Patricia Bell
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-992-3474
patricia.bell@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
NR-HQ-16-33E
Internet: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
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For more information about the Canadian Coast Guard, visit www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca.
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