Canada invests additional $2.5bln into coast guard’s small vessels fleet

The Government of Canada has decided to invest an additional $2.5 billion into Canadian Coast Guard’s small vessels fleet.

The investment will cover the Canadian Coast Guard’s small vessels, which play a critical role in our fleet, especially in shallow coastal waters and inland lakes and rivers where larger ships cannot operate.

It will complete the renewal of the Canadian Coast Guard’s small vessels fleet and 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.

Small vessels can provide search and rescue services as well as assistance to disabled vessels and support aid to navigation programs.

The procurement of these small vessels will provide opportunities for smaller shipyards and suppliers across Canada, the government emphasized.

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.

To date, under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, 16 small vessels have been delivered to Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard. This includes 14 Search and Rescue lifeboats and two Channel Survey and Sounding Vessels. 

“This is a critical investment that will help modernize the Canadian Coast Guard’s small vessel fleet. We are making sure the Canadian Coast Guard has the equipment it needs to keep Canadians and Canada’s waterways safe, while also creating good-paying jobs across the country,” Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard said.

“Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the government is providing the members of the Canadian Coast Guard with the ships they need to carry out their important work for Canadians. This significant investment also will create more jobs, generate significant economic benefits and help grow the marine industry throughout Canada,” Helena Jaczek, Minister of Public Services and Procurement.