For Immediate Release
June 24, 2015 – North Vancouver, B.C. – Public Works and Government Services Canada
Today, the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, Andrew Saxton, Member of Parliament for North Vancouver and John Weston, Member of Parliament for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country, witnessed the start of construction of the first Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel (OFSV).
The Government of Canada recently awarded a build contract for the OFSV to Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards. The yard will deliver three of these vessels to the Canadian Coast Guard under a ceiling price of $514 million. MP Saxton also announced that the first ship, to be delivered in the spring of 2017, will be named CCGS Sir John Franklin in honour of the Arctic explorer. Franklin’s ships, including HMS Erebus found in September 2014, are an important part of Canadian history given that his expeditions, which took place nearly 200 years ago, laid the foundations of Canada’s Arctic sovereignty.
Through the historic undertaking of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS), Canada will deliver the ships needed by the men and women of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard to protect the security and interests of Canadians at home and abroad. This work will also bring long-term economic benefits to the marine industry and related sectors in communities across Canada. To date, Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards has awarded $211 million in contracts to 137 suppliers across Canada, primarily as a result of their shipyard modernization, which was done at no cost to Canada.
Marcel Poulin
Office of the Honourable Diane Finley
819-997-5421
Media Relations
Public Works and Government Services Canada
819-956-2315
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