The following is the text of a news release from Chantier Davie Canada:
(LEVIS, Quebec) — Davie Shipbuilding marked a major milestone Tuesday with the first cutting of steel for the new Resolve-class auxiliary oiler replenishment vessel.
The project consists of converting a containership into an auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) ship in order to support the operations of the Royal Canadian Navy. This kind of conversion already has been performed a number of times by international navies. The conversion of the vessel will be entirely compliant with international regulations.
"Today's ceremony shows Davie at its best. We are able to exclusively deploy significant resources for production for shipbuilding projects of large scale like Resolve. Davie is the biggest shipyard in Canada, with the largest production capacity in the country and with the best shipbuilders in the continent. We are ready to deliver," said Jared Newcombe, CEO of Davie.
The event was attended by the mayor of Levis, Gilles Lehouillier; Jean D'Amour, minister for maritime affairs; and Jean-Yves Duclos, minister of Families, Children and Social Development.
Spencer Fraser, CEO of Federal Fleet Services, owner of the Resolve-class AOR, said, "through this program, Davie provides Canada the largest ship in operation for the Royal Canadian Navy and more large backup capacity in disaster and humanitarian aid."