Irving
Shipbuilding welcomed the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public
Works and Government Services Canada, and the Honourable Peter MacKay,
Minister of National Defence to Halifax Shipyard today to mark the start
of the Definition (Design) phase of work for the first set of new naval
combat vessels for Canada, the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS).
Under the Definition Contract Irving Shipbuilding will refine and complete
the AOPS vessel design to the high degree of detail for Canada and for
those who will cut steel, assemble, complete and test the ships, as
well as complete various phases of design review, analysis and testing,
plan how to integrate all of the complex systems and equipment on the
ship, and do detailed cost estimates for the build phase of the project;
all tasks required in order to be ready to start the build of the AOPS
vessels in 2015 and to meet Canada’s specifications. |
“Our
focus over the next 30 months is on producing a detailed ship design
that delivers best value to Canada, while ensuring we meet the government’s
2015 deadline to cut steel for the first ship – this is vital
to our customer, our current workforce and their families,” said
Ross Langley, Vice Chairman of Irving Shipbuilding.
The Definition Contract will be managed by a team of highly-skilled,
well paid professional positions located in Halifax, developing combat
shipbuilding design and planning capacity and experience in Nova Scotia.
This team will manage the many specialist subcontractors and material
suppliers, as well as the integration of the various complex systems
that make up each ship. Recruitment for this team of engineers, supply
chain leaders, program managers and technical specialists has been underway
for some time now. It is anticipated this team will reach a peak of
90 professionals in the Spring of 2014.
Completion of a test production module to verify design, engineering
and systems integration plans will allow for more efficient production
of the ships and employ an estimated 110 additional workers, bringing
the Irving Shipbuilding AOPS team to 200. Eighty percent of the high-value
jobs associated with the AOPS design contract will be in Canada (including
Tier 1 suppliers). |
As Canada’s
Prime Contractor for the AOPS project, Irving Shipbuilding has selected
a team of exceptional, experienced subcontractors to fulfill the mandate
of the design phase including Lockheed Martin Canada as Command and
Surveillance Systems Integrator, GE Canada as Integrated Propulsion
System Integrator, Lloyd’s Register Group as Classification Society,
Odense Maritime Technology (OMT) as Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture
Provider, and Fleetway Inc. as Integrated Logistics Support Provider.
Together these companies employ almost 8,000 people across Canada, and
an estimated 75 professionals from these suppliers will be dedicated
to the AOPS project.
The signing of the AOPS Definition Contract allows contracts to be finalized
with these individual organizations and work to begin on the competition
and selection of the subsequent subcontractors and businesses required
to fulfill the mandate of the AOPS design phase.
“Together with our experienced partners, we are committed to maximizing
opportunities and benefits for Canadians and Nova Scotians through additional
subcontracting, employment and the generation of investment and benefits
within the broader marine industry,” said Langley. “We will
be looking for qualified Canadian suppliers of goods and services that
deliver best value to Canada while meeting the schedule established
by the customer. Every dollar we must spend outside of our country will
be offset, dollar for dollar, with equal value inside Canadian borders.”
Canada’s Industrial and Regional Benefit (IRB) Policy ensures
that Irving Shipbuilding will deliver business activities in Canada
at 100% of the value of the contract. IRB’s can occur inside and
outside the shipbuilding sector, benefitting innovation, research and
business development here in Nova Scotia and across Canada.
Long term yard infrastructure investments - estimated to be about $300
million - are already underway and are designed to ensure Halifax Shipyard
is ready to undertake production when cut steel is scheduled for the
AOPS vessels in 2015, as well as the larger combatant ship contract
currently scheduled to begin production in 2020. The build phase for
each of these projects is where the bulk of the direct employment generation
is anticipated. Infrastructure plans to efficiently meet the needs of
the national shipbuilding program have been reviewed by 3rd party international
experts First Marine International (FMI).
“We expect to be contracting key elements of the site upgrade
within the next 3-6 weeks,” said Langley. “This is a project
that will result in significant work for local contractors.”
“Our proven history of successfully building Canada’s frigates,
Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels, and Mid-Shore Patrol Vessels on time
and within budget, combined with the combatant vessel projects in the
shipyard today and now AOPS, have and continue to demonstrate our capability
as the most qualified Prime Contractor of the larger CSC ships. We recognize
our responsibility along this 30-year program to generate opportunities
for shipbuilding trades, suppliers, marine professionals and knowledge
building partners in Nova Scotia and across Canada,” concluded
Langley. “We are determined to deliver on that commitment.” |
