As per the press release of the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans the contracts have been awarded for the design of the Canadian Coast Guard’s new offshore science vessels. Minister Shea said that the Government of Canada is pleased to be moving forward with these projects.
She also said that such an investment demonstrates government’s ongoing commitment to the safety and sustainability of Canadian waters, as well as to Canada’s marine and shipbuilding industries. Four new scientific research vessels will be designed by Canadian shipbuilding firms including three new offshore fisheries science vessels and one new offshore oceanographic science vessel.
The information revealed that the three new fisheries science vessels will be designed by Robert Allan Ltd, Alion Science and Technology (Canada) Corporation and Alion Science and Technology Corporation in joint venture. Two of these vessels are intended as replacements for CCGS Teleost, CCGS Alfred Needler, and CCGS W.E. Ricker, as well as CCGS Wilfred Templeman, which the Coast Guard uses to fill in for the other vessels when they are out of service for repairs.
Minister Shea said that the Coast Guard vessels are critical resources for the science that helps to manage and protect our precious marine resources. In addition to fulfilling its primary commitment to marine safety and environmental response, the Canadian Coast Guard plays an indispensable role in fulfilling the mandate of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to conduct marine scientific research and related activities.
