Retour aux nouvelles

22 mai 2019 | Local, Naval

Federal government to buy two more Arctic ships from Irving to prevent layoffs

By

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce Wednesday that the federal government is buying two more Arctic patrol ships on the top of the six it has already ordered from Halifax-based Irving Shipbuilding.

However, unlike the first six ships, which are being built for the navy at a total cost of $3.5 billion, a government source said the seventh and eighth will be built for the Canadian Coast Guard.

The source, who was not authorized to comment publicly, said the move is intended to address the Canadian Coast Guard's desperate need for new ships.

Documents obtained by The Canadian Press earlier this year warned that more than a third of the coast guard's 26 large vessels have exceeded their expected lifespans — and many won't survive until replacements arrive.

And that advanced age is already affecting the coast guard's ability to do its job, including reduced search-and-rescue coverage, ferry-service disruptions and cancelled resupply runs to Arctic and coastal communities.

The second problem is the threat of layoffs, which Irving has long warned will happen unless the government fills a gap between when the last Arctic patrol ship is finished and construction on the navy's new $60-billion warship fleet, the source said.

The government sought to address that gap in November when it ordered the sixth Arctic patrol vessel for the navy from Irving and agreed to pay the shipyard to slow production for a total cost of $800 million.

Government officials at the time defended the high cost of that move, saying a third-party assessment commissioned by the government, which has never been made public, indicated it would cost even more to allow a gap to persist.

"Ultimately what happens is the workforce gets laid off, you rehire people, it's not the same people so you're retraining, and then you have this learning curve," Patrick Finn, the Defence Department's head of procurement, said in January.

"From some of the data we've run, doing what we've done, if we don't do it, we're probably going to pay that much money anyways in inefficiencies and get nothing for it. So the analysis shows that this is really a prudent way forward."

Even then, federal bureaucrats and Irving both warned more would need to be done as even with those measures, there was still the threat of an 18- to 24-month gap between construction of the two fleets.

Lee Berthiaume, The Canadian Press

https://www.nationalnewswatch.com/2019/05/21/federal-government-to-buy-two-more-arctic-ships-from-irving-to-prevent-layoffs-2/#.XOVcKshKiUm

Sur le même sujet

  • L3Harris Technologies awarded contract for 3 Canadian special mission aircraft

    3 novembre 2020 | Local, Aérospatial

    L3Harris Technologies awarded contract for 3 Canadian special mission aircraft

    Posted on November 3, 2020; L3Harris Technologies Press Release L3Harris Technologies has been awarded a firm-fixed price contract to missionize three new King Air 350ER aircraft for the Canadian manned airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (CMAISR) project. The aircraft will be delivered to the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) as a Foreign Military sale managed by the U.S. Army, Program Executive Office (PEO) Aviation, Fixed-Wing Project Office. The CMAISR project will provide the DND with a rapidly deployable, airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability for its deployed operations, ensuring an innovative, flexible and interoperable force. The aircraft will feature a suite of L3Harris systems, including full-motion video sensors, a mission management system and communication datalinks. The capability upgrades offer increased threat indications and warning, as well as high-accuracy target detection and location. “Our L3Harris team is ready to combine our ISR, missionization and modification solutions to deliver a system that will enhance the capabilities and security of Canada and its allies,” said Sean Stackley, president, integrated mission systems, L3Harris. “L3Harris has the distinction of successfully delivering more certified, special mission King Airs on-time and on-budget than any other contractor in the world, and we look forward to maintaining that tradition.” Modification will include sensors integration, secure communications and navigation systems, as well as pilot, operator and maintenance training. L3Harris will complete the modifications at its facility in Greenville, Tx., supported by the company's facility in Mirabel, Que., Canada. The contract was awarded via the Other Transaction Authority competitive procurement process https://www.skiesmag.com/press-releases/l3harris-technologies-awarded-contract-for-3-canadian-special-mission-aircraft

  • State Dept. Approves Possible SM-2 Block IIC Missile Sale to Canada

    12 novembre 2020 | Local, Naval

    State Dept. Approves Possible SM-2 Block IIC Missile Sale to Canada

    Posted on November 10, 2020 by Seapower Staff WASHINGTON — The State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Canada of Standard Missile 2 (SM-2) Block IIIC missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $500 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a release. The Government of Canada has requested to buy 100 Standard Missile 2 (SM-2) Block IIIC missiles and 100 Mk13 Vertical Launch System canisters modified to employ the SM-2 Block IIIC missile. The proposed also would include “obsolescence engineering; integration and test activity associated with production of subject missiles; canister handling and loading/unloading equipment and associated spares; training and training equipment/aids; technical publications and data; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support; and other related elements of logistical and program support, the release said. This proposed sale will provide Canada with SM-2 Block IIIC missiles for installation on its planned 15 Canadian Surface Combatant ships, ensuring its ability to operate alongside U.S. and Allied naval forces against the full spectrum of naval threats. The principal U.S. contractor will be Raytheon Missiles and Defense, Tucson, Arizona. https://seapowermagazine.org/state-dept-approves-possible-sm-2-block-iic-missile-sale-to-canada/

  • Anand says government pausing Chinook fleet after helicopter crash near Ottawa

    22 juin 2023 | Local, Aérospatial

    Anand says government pausing Chinook fleet after helicopter crash near Ottawa

    Defence Minister Anita Anand said while there would be a pause “out of respect for this tragic incident,” the government would not be formally grounding the Chinook fleet. 

Toutes les nouvelles