Heddle Shipyards secures life extension deal for Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker

The Canadian Coast Guard has awarded a vessel life extension contract for the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker CCGS George R. Pearkes to Ontario-based Heddle Shipyards.

As informed, the contract was awarded following an open and competitive process, Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of the Canadian Coast Guard. The vessel will be dry-docked and enter an extended maintenance period designed to increase its operational life.

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 falls under the repair, refit and maintenance pillar of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, which is to ensure that Canada has a safe and effective fleet of ships.

The value of the contract is $36.14 million.

The ship primarily performs light icebreaking and buoy tending, and is available for search and rescue and environmental response operations on Canada’s east coast. While the ship undergoes vessel life extension from winter 2023 to spring 2024, the Canadian Coast Guard will reallocate its other maritime resources in the region.

“A strong, well-equipped, Canadian Coast Guard fleet is essential to protect Canadians on the water, and the marine environment. This Government continues to make important investments through the National Shipbuilding Strategy… 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,” Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard said.