Battle for Canadian navy contract

The project for the construction of three naval ?Joint Support Ships? for the Canadian Government at a price tag of $2.1 billion is approaching decision time. On top of that, the project involves a 20-year servicing contract valued at $800 million.

The federal government began a bidding process two years ago which has been narrowed down to two consortia ? one aiming to build the ships at the Peter Kiewit Offshore facilities in Marystown and the other eyeing Victoria, B.C.

PKO is involved in a seven-partner consortium, called ?CANAMP ? Canadian North Atlantic Marine Partnerships?, and headed by two large German shipbuilding companies ?Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems? and ?Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft?. Also involved in the partnership is Maersk Canada, the largest vessel owner in the world. SNC-Lavalin Profac leads the B.C. bidding group.

In November last year, both competing bids received $12.5 million each in the form of a grant from Canada?s Defence Ministry to complete a design proposal for the ships, which also involves construction and servicing. The timescale calls for the proposals to be submitted in the autumn of this year and the contract to be let early in 2008. The first ship is to be delivered in 2012 and operational in 2013, with the final ship completed in 2016.

The three supply vessels will replace two 35-year-old ships ? the ?HMCS Protecteur? and ?HMCS Preserver?. The new ships will measure 200 metres in length, 26 metres in breath and have a displacement tonnage of 28,000 tonnes. They will provide at sea support for other naval ships such as fuel, food, spare parts/ammunition, modern medical and dental equipment, repair/technical facilities, support for three aircraft or four helicopters and can be converted to hospital ships to transfer injured or displaced people.