Canadian Coast Guard to procure new vessels

The Government of Canada has provided C$488m ($465m) in funding for the acquisition of 18 to 21 new vessels, as part of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy, for the Coast Guard Fleet, National Defence minister Peter MacKay announced on behalf of Fisheries and Oceans minister Keith Ashfield.

Bids for the ships construction programme will only be accepted from Canadian shipyards, which were not selected under the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy earlier.

Ashfield said, "Renewing the fleet will enable the Coast Guard to continue serving Canadians from coast to coast to coast for future generations."

Additionally, the programme will provide jobs for small and medium enterprises and shipyards across Canada.

The Coast Guard is planning to procure search and rescue lifeboats, specialty vessels, near-shore fishery research vessels, channel survey and sounding vessels, mid-shore science vessels as well as special navaids vessels, as part of the funding.

"In doing so, we are revitalizing Canada’s shipbuilding industry and stimulating jobs and growth in communities right across our country," MacKay added.

Stationed across Canada based on operational need, the new vessels will replace existing vessels of the Coast Guard fleet and are expected to be constructed over the next seven years.

The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) fleet includes four Hero-class mid-shore patrol vessels, the hovercraft Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Mamilossa, five search and rescue lifeboats, two specialty vessels, three near-shore fishery research vessels, 30 environmental barges and 60 small craft.

The new vessels will be deployed to perform a range of missions including marine and fishery research, conservation and protection patrols, search and rescue as well as navigation aids.

Image: National Defence minister Peter MacKay during the 2013 Mari-Tech conference. Photo: Fisheries and Oceans Canada/dfo-mpo.gc.ca.