Northern Transportation awarded Canadian Coast Guard ships repair contract

Northern Transportation has been awarded two contracts, totalling $1.1m, from the Canadian Government to provide vessel life extension refit work to Canadian Coast Guard ships CCGS Dumit and CCGS Eckaloo.

Based in Hay River, CCGS Dumit and CCGS Eckaloo vessels provide aid to navigation services on the Mackenzie River.

Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency minister and Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq said the Harper Government supports the Canadian Coast Guard, shipbuilding industry and maritime safety in the North.

"Our Government will revitalize Canada’s Coast Guard fleet so it can continue to keep our waterways safe and accessible while creating jobs and economic growth across the country," Aglukkaq added.

Condition surveys for the vessel are being conducted in advance of the vessel life extension work, which is scheduled to be performed in multiple phases starting in October 2014.

The survey work involves docking the vessels, water blasting the hulls in preparation for thickness measurements, and a spring undocking while work on the CCGS Eckaloo will also include a shaft line survey.

Fisheries and Oceans minister Gail Shea said that the Government is committed to developing economic opportunities for the Canadian shipbuilding industry while ensuring the highest value for taxpayers’ money.

"This investment demonstrates that we are making progress under the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy and that work is beginning throughout the country," Shea added.

|