The following is the text of a news release from Seaspan:
(VANCOUVER, British Columbia) — Seaspan Shipyards has announced the start of construction on Seaspan’s second National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) ship, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG)’s second offshore fisheries science vessel (OFSV).
“Seaspan is now full-steam ahead on the production and delivery of its first two National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) vessels, and we are rewriting shipbuilding history in Canada in the process for generations to come,” said Seaspan Shipyards President Brian Carter. “Today not only marks a proud moment for the progress and success of the NSS, it also serves as a testament to the hard work and tireless commitment of our world-class team of experts at Vancouver Shipyards (VSY) in readying us for this milestone.”
With production of the second OFSV now underway, significant progress continues on the first OFSV with 35 of 37 blocks currently under construction. The two CCG ships are part of VSY’s three vessel, incentive-based build contract for the construction of three OFSVs, which will be delivered under a ceiling price contract before the end of 2017. Work on the third OFSV is scheduled to begin later this year.
Seaspan’s cutting of steel on the second OFSV also follows the announcement on March 14 of two new NSS contracts valued at more than $65.4 million, which will help pave the way for future construction of the CCG’s offshore oceanographic science vessel (OOSV) and the Royal Canadian Navy’s joint support ships (JSS) at VSY.
To date, Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards has awarded over $400 million in contracts to suppliers in Canada, with more than 160 Canadian companies having already benefited from these investments. It is estimated that Seaspan’s NSS work will create more than 2,300 direct, indirect and induced jobs annually, produce almost $290 million per year in GDP for Canada’s economy, and mean thousands of people will get the opportunity for a new career in shipbuilding.
