An agreement between Hepburn Engineering and Davie Shipbuilding will bring new technologies to Davie’s Resolve-Class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment (AOR) ship.
As the leading supplier of Underway Replenishment Systems, Hepburn will provide Davie with a Replenishment-At-Sea (RAS) system. Previously, Hepburn has supplied the RCN and RAS with equipment for over 45 years.
“We are very pleased to be working with Davie Shipbuilding on this truly innovative and exciting program,” said John Hepburn, President of Hepburn Engineering. “Clearly we are delighted to now be supplying our navy with the latest generation of equipment.”
RAS systems allow naval vessels to be refueled on-the-go, even in open waters under severe weather conditions. This will allow both vessels and task groups to increase deployment distances and remain “on station” for prolonged periods.
It’s the latest step in the Royal Canadian Navy’s Project Resolve. As of August 1st, the Government of Canada allowed Davie Shipbuilding to take steps to advance the project’s schedule.
Stephen Fraser, CEO of Project Resolve, believes that Hepburn’s rich history as a Canadian success story will prove beneficial to the project.
“We have worked extensively with them over the past 18-months on the design and engineering for the Resolve-Class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment ship,” said Fraser. “We are very pleased to have now concluded an agreement with them for the supply of one of their world-class, NATO-compliant systems.”
If all goes smoothly, the first Joint Support Ship will begin operations in late 2020.