North Vancouver’s Washington Marine Group (WMG) has plans to pump out more ships to ply Burrard Inlet.
On Thursday, the company, which owns Seaspan International Ltd. and Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd., announced two new construction contracts.
Beginning in January, Vancouver Shipyards will build a double-hulled oil barge and in July begin construction on three new chip barges.
The company said the projects are a continuation of Seaspan’s reinvestment in fleet renewal.
In September, the company announced plans to build four new ship-assist tugs to handle increased port traffic. (See “Four new tugboats to handle port's growing tanker traffic” – BIV Business Today, September 29.)
That agreement followed an announcement in April when WMG teamed up with Thales Canada to bid for a contract to build six ice-breaking vessels for the Canadian Navy. (See “North Vancouver shipbuilder signs agreement to bid for $2 billion navy contract” – BIV Business Today, April 15.)
WMG CEO Jonathan Whitworth said the projects will “ramp up” the company’s skilled trades and project management team before Ottawa awards its National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS) programs next year.
The NSPS, announced June 3, will be an agreement between the federal government and two Canadian shipyards for the supply of combat and non-combat vessels.
WMG hopes to win one of the federal programs.
“Vancouver Shipyards will have the opportunity to hone its already efficient and well developed new construction skills just in time for the NSPS program,” Whitworth said.
WMG said the new oil barge will measure 83 metres in length and be completed next November, while the three ship barges will be 61 metres long and be finished in the spring of 2012.