Build Our Ships Here At Home - Canadian Marine Industry Opposes Federal Offshore Used Ship Purchases

OTTAWA, ON, Sept. 30, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Marine Industry and Shipbuilding Association (CMISA), representing marine suppliers and shipyards from all across Canada, strongly objects to the current Request for Proposal (RFP) published for the Canadian Coast Guard, where it is again purchasing a used ship from offshore, instead of building this ship right here at home https://buyandsell.gc.ca/procurement-data/tender-notice/PW-MB-007-27889. Our members are quite capable of designing, engineering, supplying material and building this ship in Canada where so many Canadians can benefit from this work. A fast track project to build this light icebreaker would be a winning solution for our members, the marine industry, and Canadian taxpayers. Why are federal departments continually allowed to ignore the Government's shipbuilding policy and buy vessels offshore when CMISA members have the capability to produce this vessel in Canada?

This is the second such procurement that has taken work from our members this past week. On the same day this light icebreaker RFP was published, Transport Canada proudly announced it had procured used tonnage from Europe with another 'in extremis' purchase of a large ferry from Spain called the Villa de Terror. We estimate that these two procurements will represent a loss of over 2.5 million person hours of labour and over $250M in material purchases in Canada. It is even more important to build our federal ships in Canada during this pandemic, with COVID-19 disrupting our lives and the Government searching for ways to stimulate our economy. Building this light icebreaker will certainly stimulate work for our Association members and allow our industry to continue to rejuvenate our domestic icebreaking expertise, as the importance of ice navigation around our country continues to grow.

Our ask is simple, return the icebreaker procurement to its original strategy of leasing or chartering a ship for the next 3 years and allow our membership to start on a fast track build-in-Canada solution. We must stop squandering opportunities to build ships for Canada where capacity and capability exists, and it does exist within the many companies that the Canadian Marine Industry and Shipbuilding Association represents.  

NOTE TO EDITORS:

About CMISA

In 2018 CMISA was founded on an idea, the idea to become the helm of the Canadian marine industry suppliers, services and shipbuilding.

Our primary goal is to focus on industry titans, as well as to serve the next generation of innovators; to drive and promote innovation, strategic partnerships, and advocacy and advancement of the Canadian marine industry and shipbuilding industry. To support Canadian marine companies to become super clusters to help market, to build and support ships built-in Canada and the globe.

Our purpose is to create value for all stakeholders and make what really matters be our driving force to support and help our member companies to become super clusters to help market, to build and support ships built-in Canada and the globe.

We are steering the course for marine industry leaders to leverage their innovation, creative and strategic partnerships to make a greater impact Canada of our economy.

SOURCE Canadian Marine Industries and Shipbuilding Association

Colin Cooke, President of Canadian Marine Industries and Shipbuilding Association, Tel : [phone], [email protected]