GASPÉ, QC – Chantier Naval Forillon today announced the delivery of the fifth search and rescue vessel it has built for the Canadian Coast Guard, the CCGS Hare Bay, as part of a major contract, the first having been delivered in 2017. The contract calls for the yard to supply the Coast Guard with a total of ten vessels by 2023.
The entire team is pleased to have contributed to the production of vessels that will serve the Canadian Coast Guard in various provinces across the country. Boat enthusiasts will be able to admire the units produced by Chantier Naval Forillon in the various rescue stations in British Columbia, Newfoundland and the Magdalen Islands (Qc), among others. The CCGS Hare Bay will be stationed in Nova Scotia, where it will provide essential search and rescue services, including on-water searches, response to distress calls at sea and assistance to vessels in difficulty.
“Search and rescue vessels are an essential component of the Canadian Coast Guard fleet and are vital to marine safety and to supporting environmental response operations. Congratulations to the skilled workers at Chantier Naval Forillon for their exceptional work in building the CCGS Hare Bay,” said Mario Pelletier, Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard.
The contract was won as a result of the shipyard’s positive response to a number of criteria, including its strong shipyard organisation, proven expertise and value for money. Over the years, the team at the helm of the company has sought and found ways to increase production without neglecting the quality of the vessels built.
As a result, more than double the number of jobs have been created since the contract was confirmed, mainly as project managers and naval architects. The 37 employees have been joined by 34 who are retained on a year-round basis. The company is now operating with 70 employees on board and Jean-David Samuel, president and CEO of the shipyard, attributes this growth to the Coast Guard contract. “Obviously, this contract has proven to be structuring for the company. And we are pleased to be able to offer value-added jobs because of it,” he said.
Founded in 1952, Chantier Naval Forillon is a company that builds and repairs boats. Its advantageous geographical location allows it to accommodate coastal and ocean-going vessels weighing up to 800 tons. It also provides services to several shipowners in Eastern Canada, and its infrastructure makes it one of the best equipped shipyards in the province for the construction and repair of boats.
