Today Seaspan Shipyards announced it has cut steel to build a ‘Prototype Block’ and marking a critical step in its Polar Icebreaker Program. Seaspan is designing and building the first heavy Polar Icebreaker in Canada in more than 60 years. Lessons learned from building the Prototype Block will help improve the quality and efficiency of the process when production of the vessel begins in late 2024. [node:read-more:link]
Thales Canada joins partner companies Vard Marine, Heddle Shipyards, SH Defense, and Fincantieri S.p.A in launching the Vigilance Class Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV). [node:read-more:link]
A 33-tonne propellor shaft misaligned by no more than a millimetre took Britain’s newest aircraft carrier, the £3-billion HMS Prince of Wales, out of service after only one day in August 2022. Now the Royal Navy is trying to figure out liability for the massive repair bill, an exercise complicated by the fact that the ship was built by a now defunct consortium [node:read-more:link]
Australia’s national auditor has delivered a highly critical report on the selection of the country’s newest warship, the Type 26 Global Combat Ship. It says “management of this procurement and related advisory processes […] lacked a value for money focus” and transparency in choosing the BAE Systems design over two competitors. [node:read-more:link]
The current National Shipbuilding Strategy is not sustainable. Money is being pumped in, but how much is coming out? There does not appear to be a 'Plan B' to mitigate the risk to the Navy’s basic viability. [node:read-more:link]
The Turkish Navy received its largest vessel April 10, a landing platform dock displaces 25,000 tonnes loaded with a length of 231 metres and beam of 32m. Built locally in partnership with a Spanish company at an estimated cost of US$1 billion, it can carry a battalion-sized unit of 1,200 personnel, eight utility helicopters and three drones as well as 150 vehicles, including battle tanks. [node:read-more:link]
The largest U.S. military shipbuilding company, Huntington Ingalls Industries, has received Navy approval to begin installing some 3D-printed stainless steel fittings on aircraft carriers and submarines. Already proven in limited sea trials, it would enable crews to address issues while deployed. [node:read-more:link]
The Netherlands and neighbouring Belgium plan to acquire two ASW Frigates each. To be built by Damen Group at its Dutch yard, they are expected to enter service by the end of the decade. [node:read-more:link]
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today that Chantier Davie Canada, based in Lévis, Quebec, has joined the roster of shipyards formally approved for Defence Department and Coast Guard work. The decision evidently was prompted by a decade of CDC lobbying and delivery delays by Seaspan Shipyards of Vancouver and Irving Shipbuilding of Halifax. [node:read-more:link]
Taxpayers will find out in two months how much extra it will cost to fix a number of problems on the navy’s multi-billion-dollar fleet of Arctic and offshore patrol ships. Paul Thompson, Deputy Minister at Public Services & Procurement Canada has said that costs are coming down despite a $780-million spike over the past year. [node:read-more:link]
U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro says China’s growing projection of its global presence is facilitated by having not only some 340 naval vessels compared with under 300 in the USN but also more shipbuilding capacity. He said consistent Chinese “attempts to violate the maritime sovereignty and economic well-being of other nations” means the U.S. must expand its own fleet. [node:read-more:link]
The U.S. Navy is suspending submarine repairs at four dry docks in Washington state due to concerns about their possible vulnerability to seismic activity. Stressing that there is “no immediate risk,” the USN says the decision enables a team of experts to assess three drydocks at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard drydocks in Bremerton and one at the Trident Refit Facility in nearby Bangor. [node:read-more:link]
Russia’s trade and industry minister, Denis Manturov, was rebuked by President Vladimir Putin today for not stepping up orders for aircraft and ships. “It is taking too long,” Putin said during a government meeting, interrupting Manturov’s presentation. “What are you fooling around for?” Putin said the minister needed “to sort this out with the defence ministry.” [node:read-more:link]
The latest projected cost of having six Arctic offshore patrol ships for the Navy and two similar vessels built for the Canadian Coast Guard is upwards of $6.5 billion, according to the federal government and its procurement department. The cost of the naval ships has risen to $4.98 billion from an earlier estimate of $4.3 billion while the CCG estimate has risen by $100 million from $1.6 billion. [node:read-more:link]
Irving Shipbuilding and the federal government have finalized a $1.6-billion contract to build two additional Arctic and offshore patrol ships for the Canadian Coast Guard. “We're going to further grow our team . . . as we look to 2025 building these ships,” the company’s vice-president of communications, Mary Keith, said January 4. [node:read-more:link]
