Ottawa, Ontario - Ensuring that Canadian Coast Guard personnel have the equipment they need to keep Canada's waterways open and safe is a key priority for the Government of Canada.
Today, the Canadian Coast Guard is announcing the award of a $36.14 million vessel life extension contract for the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) George R. Pearkes. The vessel will be dry-docked and enter an extended maintenance period designed to increase its operational life.
Following an open and competitive process, Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of the Canadian Coast Guard, has awarded Heddle Shipyards, Hamilton, Ontario, the contract to complete vessel life extension work on the CCGS George R. Pearkes. The ship primarily performs light icebreaking and buoy tending, and is available for search and rescue and environmental response operations on Canada's east coast.
The vessel life extension work includes:
- steel hull reinforcement;
- hull, superstructure, deck and mast recoating;
- galley modernization;
- replacement of the bow thruster, cycloconverter, propulsion generator and the internal communication system;
- tail shaft and rudder inspections; and
- domestic and auxiliary system upgrades.
This contract award falls under the repair, refit and maintenance pillar of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, which is helping to ensure that Canada has a safe and effective fleet of ships to serve and protect Canadians for years to come, while providing ongoing opportunities for shipyards and suppliers across Canada.
While the ship undergoes vessel life extension from Winter 2023 to Spring 2024, the Canadian Coast Guard will reallocate its other maritime resources to ensure Canada's waterways continue to be safe for all seafarers in Canadian waters.
