Seaspan is taking itself out of the running to construct three intermediate-sized B.C. Ferries vessels, meaning that those ships will almost certainly be built outside of Canada.
The other shortlisted yards for the construction, expected to run between $200 million and $300 million, are in Germany, Turkey, Norway and Poland.
North Vancouver-based Seaspan was the only Canadian firm to make the shortlist and it was the only B.C. shipyard to express interest in building the three ferries. The company owns Vancouver Shipyard and Victoria Shipyard, based in Esquimalt.
Construction of B.C. Ferries ships has been a controversial issue in this province after it lost more than $430 million on three catamaran ferries built in B.C. The subsequent decision to buy three new ships from a German shipyard sparked further debate.
Seaspan also announced today that it had won another B.C. Ferries' job to build the new $15-million cable ferry between Buckley Bay and Denman Island.
It is withdrawing from the three-ferry competition because of the upcoming cable-ferry job, slated to start in June, and other potential work coming up at its Vancouver Shipyard, the company said. The company is spending $200 million to prepare its facilities for what it expects will be decades worth of federal contracts to build large non-combat ships.
The 257-foot-long cable ferry is scheduled to be operating by summer 2015. It will carry up to 50 vehicles and 150 passengers. Construction is scheduled to start in June, 2014.
"We are proud to partner with BC Ferries to build its first-ever cable ferry, and this announcement is a further demonstration of our commitment to establishing Seaspan Shipyards as a world-class shipbuilding and ship repair centre of excellence," said Brian Carter, Seaspan Shipyards president.
"This cable ferry will allow us to fine-tune our skilled workforce as we prepare for efficient construction of the offshore fisheries science vessel for the Canadian Coast Guard this fall at our new, state-of-the-art facility."
Mark Wilson, Ferries' vice president of engineering, said in a statement, "B.C. Ferries followed a rigorous, world-wide competitive tendering process for the new cable ferry to ensure we receive a high quality vessel at a competitive price."
Contract highlights include a fixed price and guaranteed delivery date, Ferries said.
