Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, has announced a major investment to fund the completion of the renewal of the Canadian Coast Guard’s small vessels fleet. The investment, valued at $2.5 billion, provides for up to 61 small vessels and the ongoing replacement of small craft, barges and work boats with new modern equipment.
This investment will help modernize the Canadian Coast Guard’s small vessel fleet, so that they can keep Canadian waterways and Canadians safe, while creating good-paying jobs across Canada.
The investment will enable the Canadian Coast Guard to acquire up to:
- Six Mid-shore Multi-Mission Vessels;
- One Near-Shore Fishery Research Vessel;
- 16 Specialty Vessels comprised of:
- Two Special NavAids Vessels;
- Four Special Shallow Draft Buoy Tenders
- Four Inshore Science Vessels
- Four Special Enforcement Vessels
- Two Lake Class Vessels;
- Four Air Cushion Vehicles; and
- 34 Cape Class Search and Rescue Lifeboats.
The procurement of these small vessels will provide opportunities for smaller shipyards and suppliers across Canada, supporting good-paying jobs in our marine industry.
The National Shipbuilding Strategy is creating jobs in Canada’s shipbuilding industry and marine sector, and providing Canadian Coast Guard members with the equipment they need to continue their important work. Under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, 16 small vessels including 14 Search and Rescue lifeboats and two Channel Survey and Sounding Vessels have been delivered to the Canadian Coast Guard.
Contracts under the National Shipbuilding Strategy are estimated to have contributed approximately $21.26 billion ($1.93 billion annually) to Canada’s gross domestic product, and created or maintained over 18,000 jobs annually between 2012 and 2022.
(Canadian Coast Guard photo)
