QUÉBEC, Aug. 16, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Ocean christened its trailing suction hopper dredge, the Ocean Traverse Nord, today. It was built this past year at Ocean Industries shipyard at Isle-aux-Coudres. The 25-million-dollar shipbuilding project, the largest ever in Eastern Canada and Ocean's first dredge, created over fifty new jobs at the shipyard while generating major direct and indirect economic benefits for the Québec City region and especially for Charlevoix.
The christening ceremony was held in the presence of President Gordon Bain, First Vice-President and General Manager Jacques Tanguay, and the shipyard's General Manager Manon Lavoie, who is also the vessel's godmother.
"We doubled the number of employees at the shipyard this past year to build this ship", said Ms. Lavoie. "Thanks to a motivated, driven, innovative, young and dynamic team that looks to surpass themselves and take pride in their accomplishments, we succeeded in building an extraordinary ship."
"Synergy among Ocean's diverse sister companies and an unwavering commitment to excellence are what enabled our teams, especially those working in dredging, engineering and at the shipyard, to rise to the challenge of building a ship of this size as well and as fast as they did. We are just as proud to be sharing this success with the best international resources as today's event pays tribute to a productive partnership of technology transfer with Damen Dredging Equipment and a remarkable collaboration with the Spanish architectural firm, Faustino Carceller, S.L.", added Gordon Bain.
The 64-metre dredge, equipped with the latest technology, can dredge up to 30 metres deep with a 5,500 m3 hourly pumping capacity. It is powered by two Z-Drive omnidirectional propellers and two 1,000-HP motors.
"The expertise of our shipyard and of our employees made it possible for us to build this ship, unique in Eastern Canada, on time and within budget. Once again, Ocean has shown its know-how and asserted its status as a leader in the maritime industry through the use of innovative work methods and cutting-edge equipment", explained Mr. Tanguay.
The Ocean Traverse Nord's assignments will include the maintenance dredging of the navigable waterway of the Saint-Lawrence River called "The North Traverse". This section is about 30 kilometres long and requires major dredging work every year. It is between St-Jean on the Island of Orleans, and Cap Gribane north of Isle-aux-Grues. Dragage Océan DSM Inc., one of Ocean's sister companies, obtained the seven-year, 30-million-dollar contract in March 2011. The Ocean Traverse Nord will also be available for other dredging operations in Canada and abroad.
Dredging work re-establishes navigable depths by removing accumulated sediment. The new dredge can vacuum and carry sediments over long distances. These sediments can then serve, with the use of the Ocean Traverse Nord and its pumping equipment, to restore and protect river banks.
ABOUT OCEAN INDUSTRIES
Located in Isle-aux-Coudres, Ocean Industries, an Ocean company, constructs and repairs light to medium-tonnage ships. With its 160 employees, it does assembly, finishing, sanding, painting, plumbing, machining, mechanical and electrical work and steel and aluminum welding.
ABOUT OCEAN
Ocean, a major Québec maritime company, operates out of several locations along the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes. Ocean currently counts some 650 employees and is one of the most important suppliers of maritime solutions in Canada.
SOURCE: Ocean
FOR INFORMATION:
Alexandre Boucher
Senior Consultant
NATIONAL Public Relations
418-648-1233, extension 235
[email protected]
SOURCE:
Vicky Boivin
Senior Consultant, Communications and Marketing
Ocean
418-694-1414
[email protected]
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