Canadian shipbuilder Seaspan announced it has awarded Hawboldt Industries two contracts totaling CAD$8 million for work on Canada’s new Joint Support Ships (JSS).
This is one of several contracts expected to be announced for Canadian suppliers supporting Seaspan’s work on naval supply ships under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS).
The contracts will see Hawboldt provide deck equipment for JSS. This equipment will include anchoring and mooring packages and the primary cranes. Hawboldt has an established relationship with Seaspan thanks to its work under the NSS on the Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels (OFSV), the first of which was launched late last year.
“Seaspan’s investment in Hawboldt is a prime example of how we are using our purchasing power to drive shipbuilding innovation and support Canadian jobs,” Navdeep Bains, Minister of Industry, Science, and Economic Development, said. “Our government is using the Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy to make sure that projects under the National Shipbuilding Strategy deliver jobs and economic benefits across the country.”
Earlier this year, Seaspan Shipyards received a CAD$66 million contract to start work on the 173-meter ships. Seaspan will build up to 52 blocks that will eventually constitute complete ships.
The construction start of the JSS blocks in June 2018 will result in the first JSS being delivered in 2022/23, and the second in 2023/24, according to the government. The two JSS will be crewed by 240 sailors and will replace the former Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment vessels.