HALIFAX,
NS, July 31, 2024 /CNW/ - The Canadian Coast
Guard serves Canadians everyday by protecting lives and the
environment, and supporting the safe movement of goods in our
waterways. The renewal of its fleet ensures the Canadian Coast
Guard can continue to carry out its important work for years to
come, while supporting innovation and creating new shipbuilding
jobs from coast to coast to coast.
Today, Darren Fisher, Member of
Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole
Harbour, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier,
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, was at
Irving Shipbuilding Inc. in Halifax, Nova
Scotia, to celebrate significant construction milestones for
the Canadian Coast Guard's two new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships
and to announce their selected names.
A keel laying ceremony was held for the first Arctic and
Offshore Patrol Ship, the CCGS Donjek Glacier. The keel
laying marks the moment when the first constructed module, or
block, is placed in position and the ship begins to take form.
Additionally, a ceremony to signify the start of construction was
held for the second Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship, the CCGS
Sermilik Glacier.
The Canadian Coast Guard's new versatile and ice-capable ships
will support fisheries enforcement and surveillance missions on
Canada's east coast, including
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization patrols. They will
also support offshore search and rescue and icebreaking operations
in Arctic and southern waters, strengthening Canada's presence in the Arctic.
In addition to their primary missions, the Arctic and Offshore
Patrol Ships will be able to support environmental response and
aids to navigation maintenance, allowing greater flexibility and
adaptability for the Canadian Coast Guard's operations. Outfitted
with science equipment and a medical facility onboard, these modern
ships will also be able to conduct scientific research and support
humanitarian assistance missions.
The two ships are being built under the National Shipbuilding
Strategy. Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the
Government of Canada continues to
make significant investments in modernizing the Canadian Coast
Guard fleet while creating skilled jobs in Canada's shipbuilding and marine
industries.
Quotes
"These milestones underscore the Government of Canada's dedication to continuously sustain
and enhance the Canadian Coast Guard's maritime capabilities. We
are proud to stand ready to meet future challenges, supporting the
well-being of all Canadians and creating skilled jobs in our
shipbuilding and marine industries across the country."
The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries,
Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
"Canadians are deeply proud of our Coast Guard personnel and
we're working to ensure they have everything they need to protect
Canada's marine environment while
ensuring our country's sovereignty by maintaining a strong presence
in our waters — especially in the Arctic. Proudly built by
Nova Scotia's shipbuilders along
the shores of Halifax Harbour, the CCGS Donjek Glacier and
the CCGS Sermilik Glacier will support countless operations
and missions in the coming years."
Darren Fisher, Member of
Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole
Harbour
"Today's ceremonies underscore our government's steadfast
commitment to equipping the Canadian Coast Guard with the modern
ships it needs to do its important missions. Through the National
Shipbuilding Strategy, which prioritizes Canadian-built ships, we
are bolstering our maritime capabilities and generating high-value
jobs across our marine sector and supply chain. This strategic
investment not only ensures the Canadian Coast Guard can continue
safeguarding lives, protecting our environment and facilitating
safe maritime trade but also fosters innovation and creates new
shipbuilding opportunities from coast to coast to coast."
The Honourable François-Philippe
Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and
Industry
"Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, Canada continues to achieve significant
milestones for the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships project, while
strengthening our marine industry and creating good jobs for
Canadians. Today's announcement is a big step toward providing our
Canadian Coast Guard members with new, advanced vessels to
accomplish their missions on Canadian waters."
The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services
and Procurement
"The keel laying and start of construction for the CCGS
Donjek Glacier and the CCGS Sermilik Glacier are
important milestones and further proof points that the National
Shipbuilding Strategy is working. The 2,400 shipbuilders of the
Halifax Shipyard are proud to be building these multi-functional
ships, which will serve the Canadian Coast Guard well for decades
to come."
Dirk Lesko, President, Irving
Shipbuilding Inc.
"Today's construction ceremonies represent an important
milestone in renewing the Canadian Coast Guard fleet. It is a great
day knowing we are one step closer to having these two modern and
versatile ships join our fleet, ensuring we can continue to keep
mariners safe and protect the marine environment across the
Atlantic and Canadian Arctic."
Mario Pelletier, Commissioner,
Canadian Coast Guard
Quick Facts
- As part of the ceremonial event, a commemorative coin was
placed in a cut-out near the keel of the CCGS Donjek
Glacier. In maritime tradition, the coin is thought to bring
good luck to the ship and its crew.
- The Canadian Coast Guard's Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships
project will contribute more than $125M annually to Canada's GDP, and create or maintain close to
1,250 jobs annually in the Canadian shipbuilding industry over the
2022-2030 period.
- The CCGS Donjek Glacier is named after the Donjek
Glacier, located in Kluane National
Park in Yukon. Donjek is a
Southern Tutchone word meaning "white or silver berries." The CCGS
Sermilik Glacier is named after the Sermilik Glacier,
located in Sirmilik National Park in Nunavut. Sermilik is an Inuit word meaning
"place of glaciers."
- In May 2019, the Government of
Canada announced that, as part of
an investment to renew the Canadian Coast Guard fleet, Irving
Shipbuilding Inc. would build two Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships
for the Canadian Coast Guard, in addition to the six being built
for the Royal Canadian Navy. The ships will be adapted to the
Canadian Coast Guard's needs, including modifications to the bridge
layout, accommodations, and mission spaces.
- The Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships will replace two of the
Canadian Coast Guard's existing five Offshore Patrol Vessels. The
vessels will be 103 metres long, 19 metres wide, with approximately
6,677 metric tonnes of displacement.
- As of the end of 2023, over $26.5
billion in National Shipbuilding Strategy-related contracts
have been awarded to businesses throughout the country. Of this
amount, $5.38 billion is related to
contracts for the Canadian Coast Guard.
Related products
- Backgrounder: Canadian Coast Guard's Arctic and Offshore Patrol
Ships
- News Release: Construction officially begins on the first
Canadian Coast Guard Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship
Associated links
- Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships: Canadian Coast Guard
- The Canadian Coast Guard Fleet
- The National Shipbuilding Strategy
- Start Your Career with the Canadian Coast Guard
Stay Connected
- Follow the Canadian Coast Guard on X, Facebook, Instagram,
YouTube and LinkedIn.
SOURCE Canadian Coast Guard