GoC

The Government of Canada is committed to addressing problem vessels that impact our marine environment and communities on our coasts. Recently, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) operation to remove and safely dismantle three vessels in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, was successfully completed.

The Hannah Atlantic, Cape Rouge, and the Rupert Brand VI had been in the area for a number of years and due to the deteriorating state of the vessels, the Canadian Coast Guard determined the vessels posed a risk of pollution to the marine environment and remediation efforts were needed. RJ MacIsaac Marine Recycling and Construction from Antigonish, Nova Scotia, was awarded the contract to dismantle and remove all three vessels on January 2, 2024, for $3,769,772.

Work to remove the vessels from the marine environment began in early June 2024. The Canadian Coast Guard remained onsite throughout the operation to ensure overall command of the removals. Initially, vessel  removal and site cleanup was anticipated to take six months to complete, however, the completion time was accelerated with the use of additional hauling equipment and was completed in late July 2024, almost four months ahead of schedule. Full site remediation and cleanup is now complete. By the end of the operation, over 15,000 litres of contaminated water had been removed from the vessels and over 170,000 kg of steel was recycled.

Protection of the marine environment is a top priority for the Canadian Coast Guard and all reported problem vessels are taken seriously. Members of the public who see marine pollution or a hazard are encouraged to report it to the Canadian Coast Guard.

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Federal Fleet Services (FFS) announced today that the Government of Canada has exercised the remaining three option years under their unique Provision of Services Agreement (PSA) for Combat Support Ship (CSS) Asterix. In addition to the provision of the Asterix, FFS provides personnel to operate and maintain the vessel, while the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) assigns Mission Specialists to fulfill critical naval defense roles, with the FFS merchant and RCN military crews operating in an integrated, seamless and highly capable manner.

This cost effective contracting model has been a true Canadian success story and is currently in its seventh year and will be in effect until at least January 28^th 2028. The original contract for CSS Asterix was for an initial five-year period followed by five optional years, and an option to purchase the vessel, which remains in effect.

John Schmidt, President of Federal Fleet Services said, "Since 2018, Combat Support Ship Asterix has circumnavigated the globe several times working with NATO and other allied navies in military and humanitarian operations in the world's most hostile regions – from the Persian Gulf to East Africa, the South China Sea and the Korean Peninsula. In that time, the ship has performed flawlessly, without a single day of unplanned downtime. Asterix has truly earned her place as an essential capability for serving the needs of our military, as well as those of our allies."

Alex Vicefield, CEO of the Inocea Group added: "Combat Support Ship Asterix has become an indispensable strategic enabler for Canada's blue water naval operations. Its capabilities, experience and reliability have rightly earned the ship and its crew global acclaim. In an increasingly volatile world, we continue to make major strategic investments in Asterix to meet emerging threats and challenges. Congratulations to the Federal Fleet Services team for their flawless track-record and contribution to keeping Canadians and our allies safe and secure."

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The federal government is giving a massive financial injection to the B.C. shipbuilding industry.

The Seaspan Shipyards in North Vancouver will receive more than $490 million over two contracts for the next stages in building Multi-Purpose Vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard.

“The Multi-Purpose Vessel project will help ensure that members of the Canadian Coast Guard have versatile vessels to complete essential missions in Canada’s oceans and waterways,” Minister of Public Services and Procurement Jean-Yves Duclos said Tuesday.

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The Canadian government has announced investments to enhance marine response capabilities within Indigenous communities. This initiative, part of the Oceans Protection Plan, aims to bolster search and rescue operations in remote coastal areas, recognizing the crucial role Indigenous communities play in marine safety.

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The federal government is committed to ensuring members of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) have the equipment they need to complete their missions and assert Canada’s sovereignty.

Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Quebec Lieutenant, on behalf of the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, announced that the federal government has awarded a contract valued at up to $1.85 billion (including taxes) to Lockheed Martin Canada (LMC) for the renewal of combat system integration in-service support (CSI ISS) for the Halifax-class frigates.

The renewal of this contract will ensure continued CSI service support until the end-of-life expectancy is reached for the Halifax-class frigates, coinciding with the gradual arrival of the new fleet of River-class destroyer ships. This contract is estimated to contribute $76 million annually to Canada’s gross domestic product and to support up to 680 good-paying jobs annually across the Canadian economy.

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• The acquisition of 2 Polar Icebreakers is estimated to cost $8.5 billion. This cost includes all relevant components of the Development and Acquisition phases of the project.

• The first Polar Icebreaker is expected to be delivered in 2030-2031, and the second in 2032-2033. This represents a 1 and 2 year delay for the first and second vessels, respectively, relative to prior PBO work on this Project in 2021.

• A one-year delay to both vessels is estimated to cost an additional $260 million while a two-year delay is estimated to cost an additional $530 million.

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OTTAWA — The Liberals’ new defence policy is promising to at least consider expanding and renewing Canada’s submarine fleet, and the prime minister is not ruling out that nuclear submarines could be part of that upgrade.

The long-awaited defence policy review was released at Canadian Forces Base Trenton on Monday. It includes billions in new proposed spending that the government said would bring the country’s military budget closer to NATO target of two per cent of GDP, but it will still fall short.

The policy review was launched just after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and was proposed as a response to the changing global situation. The document said Canada would consider investing in new submarines.

“We commit to vastly improving the Canadian Armed Forces’ ability to surveil and control our underwater and maritime approaches,” the document reads. “We will explore options for renewing and expanding our submarine fleet to enable the Royal Canadian Navy to project a persistent deterrent on all three coasts, with under-ice capable, conventionally powered submarines.”

Canada has four diesel submarines purchased second hand from Britain in the late 1990s. The submarines have a dismal performance record and have spent much of their time in dry dock undergoing lengthy repairs. During a recent four-year span, all four submarines spent a combined total of just 214 days in the water, with two of the subs spending no time at sea at all.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the government will start a process to determine what would be the best fit as a replacement. While the defence review suggested the subs would be “conventionally powered,” Trudeau didn’t rule out considering a nuclear-powered fleet.

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Get financial support and personalized advice to connect with potential foreign partners, pursue new business opportunities abroad or attract foreign investment into Canadian communities.

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anada has awarded a £15.1m ($19.2m) contract to Systems Engineering & Assessment (SEA) for the production of a lightweight Torpedo Launcher System (TLS) for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) on a major naval vessel programme, to be completed in 2030, with work expected to begin immediately, according to a release from Cohort PLC, SEA’s parent company, on 29 January.

SEA’s TLS is a weapon-agnostic system capable of firing a range of Nato standard lightweight torpedos. With more than 30 years service with the UK Royal Navy, the system has a proven modular and flexible design, capable of firing the US Mk 44, Mk 46 and Mk 54 torpedoes, UK Sting Ray, Italian A244S, French MU 90 and the Korean Blue Shark.

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Abandoned and wrecked vessels can be harmful to the environment and to public safety. Through Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan, the federal government made abandoning your vessel illegal in Canada and it is taking action to remove abandoned and wrecked vessels from our waters and protecting our coasts and waterways.

Today, Patrick Weiler, Member of Parliament for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, on behalf of the Minister of Transport, Pablo Rodriguez announced up to $1.6 million for eight projects which will assess, remove, and dispose of 34 abandoned and wrecked vessels in Canadian waters. The organizations that will receive funding are:

• Salish Sea Industrial Services
• Rugged Coast Research Society
• Gibsons Marine Transport Ltd.
• Freedom Diving Systems Ltd. 
• Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
• TS'IL SDANG

Abandoned boats in Canada (for example, recreational and small commercial fishing vessels) have economic and environmental impacts on local communities. They can pollute the marine ecosystem, damage infrastructure, interfere with navigation and pose a safety risk to Canadians.

The Oceans Protection Plan is a Canadian success story. When Indigenous Peoples, industry, communities, scientists, and government work together to protect our environment, grow our economy, and support good jobs across the country, we deliver real results. The Oceans Protection Plan is keeping our oceans and coasts healthy, advancing reconciliation, and building a clean future for everyone.

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The federal government is paying $38.6 million to buy a Norwegian car and passenger ferry to replace MV Holiday Island, which was scrapped after an engine fire in the Northumberland Strait in 2022.

The government announced the price tag in a news release Thursday, three months after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed negotiations for MV Fanafjord during a visit to P.E.I.

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Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), on behalf of the Department of National Defence, awarded a $560-million contract to Weir Canada Inc. to manage the Naval Engineering Test Establishment (NETE). The first contract will be for five years, beginning in April 2024, with options to extend for an additional 15 years.  

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It’s hard to find a place that can serve as both a training ground for military ships and aircraft, and as a home to sensitive wildlife. With the help of Defence Research and Development Canada, the ocean can more safely be both. This capability was exemplified during Exercise CUTLASS FURY 2023, where defence scientists took to the seas to improve the safety of marine mammals.

Exercise CUTLASS FURY is a biennial NATO exercise that takes place in the North Atlantic, off the coast of Nova Scotia. The exercise is an opportunity for NATO Allies to gather and put their skills to the test in a simulated tactical marine environment. This year, the exercise ran from September 10 to 22.

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B.C. Ferries has withdrawn an application to electrify its six existing Island-class ferries, saying it will submit a new plan in coming weeks.

It also said it wants to buy four new electric-powered Island-class vessels.

No further information about existing and potential new vessels was revealed.

B.C. Ferries had won approval in 2021 from the B.C. Ferry Commissioner to electrify its Island-class ferries by using on-board batteries and installing up to nine land-based rapid-charging systems.

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The federal government has found a temporary replacement for the MV Holiday Island ferry on the Northumberland Strait run between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.

Transport Canada is expected to buy Norwegian-flagged MV Fanafjord and have it enter service with Northumberland Ferries Ltd. in May 2024. Once the deal is finalized, the 16-year-old ship will supplement the service provided by MV Confederation while a new ferry vessel is built to carry passengers and vehicles between the two provinces.

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