Imtech Marine will be involved in the realisation of the Canadian government’s National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS) programme as a technology partner of Seaspan Vancouver Shipyards. This programme involves the construction of a large number of navy, coast guard and research vessels.
https://imtech.eu/NL/corporate[Imtech] will be involved in the programme’s ‘non-combat’ section and expects to work on a total of eight vessels. Investment in this part of the programme amounts to some 8 billion euro. Imtech is https://www.seaspan.com/[Seaspan]’s intended partner for the supply of the ships’ platform automation, electrical solutions, electric propulsion and air conditioning and climate control systems (HVAC).
Production at Techsol in Canada
The company feels its earlier https://www.swzonline.nl/nieuws/artikel/846[acquisition of Groupe Techsol Marine] and the presence of marine subsidiary Radio Holland Canada have contributed to being involved as a partner. The on-board electrical solutions for these orders will be produced at Techsol’s recently completed production centre in Quebec.
High-Tech Ships
The ‘non-combat’ section of the programme is expected to comprise:
Two Joint Support Ships (JSS), which will each have a length of 175 m, as well as the option to realise another such vessel. These ships will supply the vessels of the Royal Canadian Navy – or the fleet they are sailing in – at sea, transport heavy or special equipment and support land operations from the water. In addition, their tasks will include humanitarian operations and civil activities like emergency management.
– The construction of an 85-metre Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel (OOSV) that will conduct oceanographic research along Canada’s eastern coast.
– Three Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels (OFSC,) that will conduct research into the fish stock and the development of local ecosystems along both the western and eastern coasts of Canada.
– Seaspan will be building a 140-metre long polar icebreaker that can be considered the ‘crown jewel’ of the new Canadian fleet. This high-tech icebreaker will be safeguarding Canada’s polar sovereignty in the country’s northern waters under the most extreme climate and weather conditions, as well as playing an important role in the protection of the environment and Canada’s natural heritage in the Arctic region.
