For immediate release
NORTH VANCOUVER, August 18, 2005 -- A $2,225,040 competitive contract has been awarded to Allied Shipbuilders Limited, of North Vancouver, British Columbia, to refit the Canadian Coast Guard vessel CCGS Gordon Reid. Awarded on behalf of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, this contract will be completed in January 2006.
The announcement was made today by the Honourable Scott Brison, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, in the presence of Don Bell, Member of Parliament for North Vancouver.
"Congratulations to Allied Shipbuilders on winning this open, competitive federal contract to refit the Gordon Reid," said Minister Brison. "This search and rescue Coast Guard vessel assists with the critical recovery and restoration efforts in favour of the North Pacific right whale and other baleen whales off the British Columbia coast. Making sure that this and other vessels in the fleet stay in top form is an investment in our environment and ecological heritage."
"It is excellent news every time there is a project such as this for it helps create jobs and sustain the regional industry and economic development," said Mr. Bell.
The company will carry out repairs and upgrades to the ship's machinery and equipment including heating, ventilation and refrigeration systems, as well as the ship's electrical and electronic equipment. It will install new active stabilizer fins to reduce side-to-side rolling of the vessel in rough sea conditions. Allied Shipbuilders will clean and paint the vessel's hull and interior. The company will also refurbish crew accommodation areas.
The CCGS Gordon Reid was built in 1990 and operates out of its Victoria base with a crew of 14, primarily as a search and rescue response vessel. It augments these tasks with fisheries management and fisheries enforcement duties.
For information on contracting opportunities with the Government of Canada, visit www.merx.com, Canada's official, public sector electronic tendering service.
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For further information, media may contact:
Renée David
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Brison
(819) 997-5421
Mario Baril
Manager, Media Relations
Public Works and Government Services Canada
(819) 956-2315
