Heddle Shipyard

Hamilton- For more than thirty-five years, the name “Heddle” has been synonymous with hard work, determination, perseverance and the “mettle” it takes to fix and build ships in Canada. It is important to respect and understand the past in order to ensure a successful future. On January 1^st, 2024, Heddle Shipyards became Ontario Shipyards to reflect the next phase of our company’s growth and future success.

“We must never forget where we have come from, but it is important to always be forward-thinking and strive for a better future,” said Shaun Padulo, President and CEO.

“The rebranding of our company to Ontario Shipyards marks a significant shift. It is a poignant signal that our company will activate and harness the capacity, capabilities and output of Canada’s industrial heartland to build and fix ships. We will always maintain the core values that have made us successful – Ontario Shipyards is Where Water Meets Mettle.”

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We are pleased to present the Vice admiral (ret'd) Peter Cairns Leadership Award
Generously sponsored by Heddle Marine

Call for submissions

The Vice-Admiral (Ret’d) Peter Cairns Award is created to recognize and honour a Canadian innovator and trailblazer in the shipbuilding industry who has made an inspiring contribution to Canada, the Canadian Marine sector and the Canadian shipbuilding industry.

Vice-Admiral(Ret’d) Cairns joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1956 and assumed his first Command of HMC Submarine Onondaga in 1972, and later, became Commander of the First Canadian Submarine Squadron in 1974. He subsequently commanded HMC Ships Fraser, Margaree and Assiniboine. His last appointments were as Commander Maritime Forces Pacific in 1989 and as Commander Maritime Command in 1992 before he retired in 1994.

In 1998 after a brief period with SPAR AEROSPACE, Vice-Admiral (Ret’d) Cairns went onto lead the Shipbuilding Association of Canada as its President for 20 years. During his tenure Vice-Admiral (Ret’d) Cairns was dedicated and persistent in his advocacy to the government of Canada for a national policy on federal shipbuilding. Under his leadership and articulation of Canada’s need for a modern navy and a sustainable industry, the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy was born. Later re-named the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) it went onto be the policy framework for the award of combat and non-combat ships worth over $100B.

Under his tenure as the President of the Shipbuilding Industry Association for 20+ years, Vice-Admiral (Ret’d) Cairns was instrumental in the development and enablement of the most substantial marine industrial policy development in Canada since WWII.

In the years to come, as a result of his dedicated and persistent leadership, the Canadian government will make its single largest investment since Confederation of over $100B into the fleet renewal of Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and Canadian Coast Guard.

This recapitalization of Canada’s federal fleets, will not only replace Canada’s ageing combat fleet, and create a new level of ice-breaking and rescue capability for Canada it will establish a vibrant and modern shipbuilding industry, in Canada, for future generations.

Vice-Admiral (Ret’d)Cairns stewardship and persistence in his associations and participation in the development and championship of the National Shipbuilding Strategy will ultimately provide stability for the marine sector, the RCN, the Coast Guard, and the maritime community in Canada.

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Heddle Shipyards has been awarded a $135.5 million dollar contract for the Vessel Life Extension (VLE) of the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker (CCGS) Terry Fox – securing the future of the Port Weller Dry Docks for the next generation of Ontario shipbuilders. The nearly three-year project will involve an extensive engineering, planning and procurement phase, with shipyard work scheduled to begin in December 2023.

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The Canadian Coast Guard announced Wednesday that it has awarded a $36.14 million vessel life extension contract to Hamilton’s Heddle Shipyards.

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The province announced it is investing $8.7 million in Heddle Shipyards to invest in “cutting edge Shipyard 4.0 technology and train Heddle’s workforce in Hamilton, Port Weller and Thunder Bay on state-of-the-art equipment.”

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Hamilton – Heddle Shipyards announced today it has been awarded the vessel life extension of the Canadian Coast Guard Icebreaker, the CCGS Amundsen ushering in a new era of growth and stability for the storied Port Weller Dry Docks. 

Once a premier shipbuilding facility in Canada, the St. Catharines Shipyard employed upwards of 2000 people during peak operation.  The CCGS Des Groseilliers, sister ship to the CCGS Amundsen and backbone of the Canadian Coast Guards large icebreaking fleet, was constructed at Port Weller in the early 1980s. 

This week, the CCGS Amundsen will arrive at the Port Weller Dry Docks, where it will stay through June 2022.  The eight-month refit valued at approximately C$12 million will sustain over 100 direct jobs and support subcontractors and suppliers across the Niagara Region, Ontario, and Canada.  Heddle Shipyards has also secured the dry docking of a seaway max laker at our Port Weller facility, ensuring a busy 2022 winter work season.

Heddle Shipyards will be hiring upwards of one hundred people across all positions to support the single largest project executed by the Port Weller Dry Docks under Heddle Shipyards’ management.

“It is a truly exciting time for us,” says Heddle President Shaun Padulo,.”Projects like the CCGS Amundsen help reduce the boom and bust cycle of the ship repair and construction industry in Ontario and will allow us to continue to grow and strengthen our team.  We are extremely grateful to the Canadian Coast Guard and the Government of Canada for a project that will support the revitalization of the shipbuilding industry in Ontario.” (Photo Heddle Shipyards)

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HAMILTON ― The Ontario government is investing $3.3 million in a new ferry for the Simcoe Island community to ensure residents and visitors have reliable access to the island, and more opportunities to participate in the regional economy. The ferry will be built by Heddle Shipyards in Hamilton and will help support up to 24 local jobs during construction.

“By delivering a brand-new made-in-Ontario ferry for Simcoe Island, our government is fulfilling its promise to deliver transportation that the island community needs,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “Building this new ferry in Hamilton will also drive regional economic growth and support good local jobs. Our province takes pride in its skilled workers, and we are excited to see the build and fulfillment of this vessel by Heddle Shipyards.”

The building of the Simcoe Island Ferry will also spur economic growth in the region by contributing approximately $2 million of real GDP in the shipbuilding and supply-chain industries in 2021-22 alone, with further benefits to be realized as the project progresses.

“Heddle Shipyards is extremely grateful to Minister Mulroney and the Ontario Government for their commitment to shipbuilding in this province,” said Shaun Padulo, President of Heddle Shipyards. “The Simcoe Island Ferry New Build project will create and sustain skilled trades jobs here at our Hamilton Shipyard and is a critical step in rebuilding the capacity of Ontario Shipyards. With the support of the provincial government, we will bring shipbuilding back to Ontario.”

“Hamilton is one of the fastest growing regions in Ontario. To support this growth, it’s critical that we make smart investments that will support workers, families, and businesses,” said Donna Skelly, MPP for Flamborough–Glanbrook. “With Heddle Shipyards in Hamilton being selected to build the new ferry for Simcoe Island, these jobs will help stimulate our local economy immediately.”

The new ferry, which is expected to be in service by late 2022, will allow for the transport of up to three times more vehicles than the current ferry. The new vessel will also be able to carry larger service vehicles, such as fire trucks and vehicles required for maintaining roads and infrastructure.

“Ferries are a vital link that help people on Simcoe Island get to where they need to go,” said Daryl Kramp, MPP for Hastings–Lennox and Addington. “The recent arrival of the hybrid-electric Wolfe and Amherst Island ferries in Ontario, and the addition of a new ferry for Simcoe Island, demonstrates our government’s commitment to providing sustainable and efficient transportation for local communities.”

The province will pay the total cost of the new Simcoe Island Ferry and the Township of Frontenac Islands will be responsible for operating its service.

Quick Facts

• The Simcoe Island ferry is a cable ferry that operates between Simcoe Island and Wolfe Island in the spring, summer and autumn. The current vessel was first launched in 1963.
• The Township of Frontenac Islands employs 3 full-time and 2 part-time staff to operate the ferry.
• In 2019-20, the province provided $270,000 in funding – through the Municipal Ferries Program – to the Township of Frontenac Islands to help support the operation of ferry service to Simcoe Island.
• The province has also invested in two new, larger hybrid-electric ferries – the Wolfe Islander IV and Amherst Islander II – that will provide improved service to Wolfe Island and Amherst Island once they go into service in Spring 2022.

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THUNDER BAY — The MS Chi-Cheemaun, the 643-passenger ferry and vehicle ferry that runs between Manitoulin Island and Tobermory on the Bruce Peninsula, has arrived at the Heddle Shipyards in Thunder Bay.

The ship will be in dry dock for about six weeks for its mandatory five-year safety inspection.

The Chi-Cheemaun has been to Thunder Bay for previous inspections, but the last one – in 2016 – was conducted at a shipyard at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

A spokesperson for the ferry operator, the Owen Sound Transportation Company, says the location for the work is selected through a procurement process.

The ferry is expected to return to Owen Sound harbour to spend the winter by early December.

Heddle Shipyards is working to revitalize the historic Thunder Bay shipyard which it purchased in 2016.

In August, it announced the acquisition of Thunder Bay's Fabmar Metals, a fabrication and marine repair specialist 

Earlier this year it also announced that it will play a role in building Canada's new Polar-class icebreaker.

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