Canada Coast Guard to get New Ships

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during his visit to Vancouver on Wednesday announced the plans to build up to 18 new coast guard ships at a cost of $15.7 billion in an effort to renew Canada’s Coast Guard fleet.

Anchored in Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards, under the renewal project, up to 16 of the ships will be constructed. Two others — Arctic patrol ships that will be modified for the Canadian Coast Guard — will be built at Irving Shipyards in Nova Scotia.

“This fleet renewal is going to create jobs in everything from ship design and engineering to construction, welding and inspection while strengthening this world class Canadian industry.” Trudeau said during his speech.

Aside from the shipbuilding plan, the federal government is providing an additional $351.3 million to enhance capacity of the coast guard, strengthen management and oversight and promote a greener way of doing business.

Trudeau also announced the government is launching a competitive process for the design of a new class of smaller ships. The mid-shore multi-mission ship will work with the large fleet in shallow areas and perform some science activities.