Question Period Note: Renewal of the Fleet

Renewal of the Fleet

• The men and women of the Canadian Coast Guard are at work every day across the country, and our government is providing them the tools they need to keep Canadians safe and our economy moving.
• In 2019, the Government announced the largest investments ever made to renew the Canadian Coast Guard fleet with 24 new large ships: 16 Multi-Purpose Vessels, two Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships and six Program Icebreakers.
• Our significant commitment to renew the Coast Guard fleet will provide our crews with state of the art tools and preserve the world class marine safety regime that Canada enjoys.
• Interim measures such as the acquisition of three medium icebreakers and investing in vessel life extension work have been put in place to ensure that the Coast Guard can continue deliver essential services for Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

Icebreaking Fleet
• Coast Guard icebreakers are essential to Canada’s economy by supporting year-round marine trade and ensuring the safe passage of goods to keep our economy moving.
• By investing in six new Program Icebreakers the Government has taken steps to ensure the continuation of essential icebreaking services in Atlantic Canada, the St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes, as well as the Arctic.

Condition of the Fleet
• Our government is actively investing in the Coast Guard’s current fleet to extend their lives so that the Coast Guard remains ready to serve Canadians until new ships are delivered under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. The Canadian Coast Guard fleet has a rigorous maintenance plan for each of its vessels to keep them in safe, reliable working condition.
• Building new ships takes time. Until new assets are delivered, the Coast Guard is actively ensuring continued service delivery for Canadians - by undertaking vessel life extension work for existing ships and acquiring commercial vessels as required.

Fleet renewal
Background

• Renewal of the Canadian Coast Guard fleet is underway. Funded replacement plans are currently in place for 29 large ships, including:
o Three Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels, including two that have already been delivered;
o One Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel;
o One Polar Icebreaker;
o 16 Multi-Purpose Vessels;
o Two Arctic Offshore Support Ships (Coast Guard variants of ships currently in construction for the Department of National Defence); and
o Six Program Icebreakers.
• The National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) is delivering ships for the Canadian Coast Guard. The first Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel, CCGS Sir John Franklin, was delivered by Vancouver Shipyards in 2019. The second ship, CCGS Capt. Jacques Cartier, was delivered on November 29th 2019. The third ship is expected in 2020.
• Coast Guard is also renewing its small fleet. Seventeen new small vessels have already been delivered, including two new Channel Survey and Sounding Vessels and six new Search and Rescue Lifeboats that have joined the fleet in the past two years. An additional 14 Search and Rescue Lifeboats are currently in construction at Hike Metal Products, in Wheatley, Ontario and Chantier Naval Forillon, in Gaspé, Quebec.
• Coast Guard has also completed the renewal of its helicopter fleet with 15 new light-lift helicopters and seven new medium-lift helicopters. These assets are currently in operation.
• The Coast Guard is putting in place interim measures and investing in vessel life extension work to ensure continued delivery of critical services and minimize impact on our programs until new ships are delivered. This includes:
o A comprehensive Vessel Life Extension program to maintain the current fleet operational as new ships are being built;
o Acquisition of three interim icebreakers, the first, CCGS Captain Molly Kool, came into service December 2018 with the second and third ships expected to be in service in 2020; and
o A RFP is under development to procure a fourth interim ship (a light icebreaker).
Announcements:
• On May 22nd, 2019, the Prime Minister announced a renewal of the Canadian Coast Guard fleet with up to 18 new large ships built in Canadian shipyards, helping the Coast Guard continue to deliver its important services, and creating good, middle class jobs across the country.
o Total funding for the 18 large ships is $15.7 billion, which represents early estimates of project budgets including construction, logistics and support, contingency, project management and infrastructure costs. The costs of each ship will be announced following contract negotiations.
o Irving Shipbuilding will build two non-combat Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships, which will be adapted for the Coast Guard to perform a range of critical mission, including Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organizational patrols.
o Vancouver Shipyards will build up to 16 Multi-Purpose Vessels to support a variety of missions, including light icebreaking, environmental response, and offshore search and rescue.
• On August 2, 2019, the Government of Canada announced that six new Program Icebreakers would be constructed for the Canadian Coast Guard.
o The total value of the Government’s investment was not announced to ensure a fully competitive procurement process.
o The Government intends to add a third strategic partner for large ship construction under the NSS to build the six Program Icebreakers. This additional shipbuilding capacity is needed to meet Coast Guard’s urgent requirements for replacements for its aging Medium and Heavy Icebreakers.
o The Government of Canada issued an Invitation to Qualify (ITQ), to establish a short list of shipyards that demonstrate they meet the initial, defined requirement to build six program icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard. Results are currently being reviewed.
• The Government of Canada will also proceed through a competitive process with the design of a new class of smaller ships, the new Mid-Shore Multi-Mission ship, which would complement the work of the large fleet in shallow areas and deliver mid-shore science activities.

Condition of the fleet
Background

CGS Georges R. Pearkes

• On November 28, 2019 the Canadian Coast Guard was further advised that that due to the discovery of lead paint in a work area (that requires modifications to allow the work package to continue) a lead abatement process will have to be completed. The vessels return to service date is now anticipated to summer 2020.
• On November 6, 2019, during scheduled maintenance (refit) on the CCGS George R. Pearkes in St. John’s, NL, lead paint contamination was discovered on the ship. The remediation work delayed the completion of the refit and delayed the return to service date to mid December.
• The ship was scheduled to begin work on our aids to navigation program following its refit. As a result of the extra work required, we will review our work plan, reschedule and reassign resources based on our operational requirements.

CCGS Hudson

• On November 28, 2019 the Canadian Coast Guard was further advised that that due to the discovery of new work that the vessel will be delayed further. The vessels return to service date is now anticipated to be June 1, 2020. The ship was scheduled to commence a science program and the Canadian Coast Guard is working with Science to charter the SV John Cook.
• In June 2019 lead was found on the vessel and a lead abetment process was completed to the affected areas. On June 18, 2019, the Coast Guard was provided with a revised work schedule from the shipyard.
• On February 12, 2019, St. John's Dockyard Ltd. (NEWDOCK) was awarded a $10-million vessel life extension contract for the CCGS Hudson, a Dartmouth-based offshore oceanographic science vessel launched in 1963. The work started February 25 and was expected to take six months to complete.

On the Third Yard
• The process of identifying a third National Shipbuilding Strategy shipyard for large vessel construction by Public Services and Procurement Canada is currently underway. Once selected ,the Government of Canada will undertake a due diligence phase prior entering into a contract.

If Pressed on Lead Paint Found Aboard the CCGS Georges R. Pearkes
• During a scheduled maintenance refit on the Canadian Coast Guard Ship George R. Pearkes at the St. John’s Dockyard, workers at the yard discovered lead paint particles on the ship.
• Remediation and cleanup will result in an approximate two-to three-week delay in the drydocking maintenance schedule.
• This unforeseen work will delay the vessel’s availability to return to service from until summer, 2020. Plans are underway to mitigate the delays.
If Pressed on CCGS Hudson Repairs
• The CCGS Hudson is a reliable ship thanks to the regular maintenance of the Coast Guard. The vessel meets all Transport Canada regulatory requirements and is fully certified.
• On June 18, 2019, the Canadian Coast Guard was advised by the shipyard of a revised work schedule, identifying an approximately six month delay.
• On November 28, 2019, the Canadian Coast Guard was further advised of a revised work schedule, identifying an additional 2 month delay to address unplanned work that will see the vessel to return to service in June 2020.
• The Coast Guard is working hard to mitigate the delays.
If Pressed on Lead Paint Found on the CCGS Hudson
• The health and safety of our personnel and contractors is a top priority for the Canadian Coast Guard.
• During work on interior spaces of the CCGS Hudson last spring, workers encountered paint containing lead. Work aboard the vessel in the affected areas was halted and containment measures were put in place.
• Employees have been provided with information and have received training in lead awareness.