Feature stories: Ocean Pacific Marine Store and Boatyard—Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy in 2021
At Ocean Pacific Marine Store and Boatyard, vessel life extension work on some of the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG)’s motorized lifeboats is starting. The company of about 50 employees has their own supply and stock store, as well as a boatyard. This means they often have the material required to undertake projects on hand and in stock.
We spoke with Bruce Kempling, President, and Laura Kempling, Human Resources Manager. Bruce and his wife, Linda, started the business in 1985 and, more than 3 decades later, the company has received a contract to extend the life of 13 of the 36 motorized lifeboats.
“For a small business like us to produce a bid like this one is a big deal,” Laura said, recalling long nights spent preparing the bid. “It’s a passionate thing we are putting a lot of effort into.”
To complete life extension work on the motorized boats, Ocean Pacific Marine developed specific infrastructure. They are modifying the building the vessel will go into by creating more shop and material handling space. This means that when the vessels are housed, the employees will have more efficient access to them. This modified space will also be used for other work once the motorized lifeboat life extension work is complete.
A project like this, bringing steady, year-round employment, is important to a small community like Campbell River.
The company has hired additional employees to dedicate a specific team to the project, while ensuring the rest of their business continues to operate smoothly. Specific to the lifeboat extension work, 5 employees were added. In total, 15 full-time and part-time employees will be working on the project, which is expected to take a little over 6 years to complete depending on the condition of the vessels.
The contract reaches beyond Ocean Pacific Marine as well, they will be subcontracting for specialized fabrication work, sandblasting, fire protection equipment certification, painting, and non-destructive testing. All of these subcontractors are local.
“There’s quite a big spinoff in a community this size,” said Bruce. “We appreciate the work and the business, and so does the town. For the employees, the community, and the subcontractors, this is a feeling of accomplishment.”
In early December 2021, representatives from the CCG and Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) visited the boatyard for a kickoff meeting. Ocean Pacific Marine was able to give them a tour of the facilities while introducing the project.
A contract like this one is different from others where the work is done over a period of a couple of months. Ocean Pacific Marine will be working on this for many years, with long-term, ongoing relationships. A contract of this length means steady work for a long period of time.
The first boat arrived at Ocean Pacific Marine in December 2021, and the work is underway.
“We’re working together closely as a tight-knit family to make this happen for our family business,” Laura added. “And we succeeded.”
Canadian Coast Guard Ship Cape Sutil on a lift with a group of workers standing in front
CA group of workers standing in front of the Ocean Pacific Marine Store