The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that Canadian Coast Guard personnel have the equipment they need to keep Canada’s waterways open and safe.
On July 28th, the Canadian Coast Guard announced the award of a $36.14 million contract for dry-docking and extending the operational life of Canada’s most recently built research vessel, the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) George R. Pearkes.
Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of the Canadian Coast Guard, has awarded Heddle Shipyards, Hamilton, Ontario, a contract to complete vessel life extension work on the CCGS George R. Pearkes. The vessel, stationed in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, officially entered into service in 1986. It primarily performs light icebreaking and buoy tending and is available for search and rescue and environmental response operations on Canada’s east coast.
“A strong, well-equipped, Canadian Coast Guard fleet is essential to protect Canadians on the water, and the marine environment,” said The Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard. “This Government continues to make important investments through the National Shipbuilding Strategy so that Canadian Coast Guard personnel have state of the art equipment to perform their crucial work. With the vessel life extension of the CCGS George R. Pearkes, Canadian Coast Guard personnel will continue their key role in supporting Canada’s blue economy.”
The vessel life extension work includes:
- steel hull reinforcement;
- hull, superstructure, deck and mast recoating;
- galley modernization;
- replacement of the bow thruster, cycloconverter, propulsion generator and the internal communication system;
- tail shaft and rudder inspections; and
- domestic and auxiliary system upgrades.
This contract award is categorized under the repair, refit, and maintenance pillar of the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). The NSS ensures that Canada has a safe and effective fleet of ships to serve and protect Canadians for years to come while creating ongoing opportunities for shipyards and suppliers across the country.
“Canadians from coast to coast to coast know the importance of our Coast Guard. I am thrilled that a company from Hamilton will be able to help ensure that personnel of Canada’s Coast Guard have a safe and effective fleet of ships to serve and protect. This contract award today demonstrates that the National Shipbuilding Strategy provides economic opportunities for shipyards across Canada. Canada’s skilled shipbuilding workforce is helping us repair and maintain our fleets, while supporting economic growth across the country,” concluded The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Public Services and Procurement.
In order to ensure the safety of Canadian waters, the Canadian Coast Guard will reallocate its other maritime resources while the ship undergoes vessel life extension from Winter 2023 to Spring 2024.