At CANSEC 2023, Vard Marine Inc. (VARD), a Fincantieri company, proudly launched VIGILANCE, as their solution to replace the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) Kingston Class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDV) under Pillar Two of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). In conjunction with Team Vigilance partner companies Thales Canada, Ontario Shipyards, SH Defence, and Fincantieri, VIGILANCE will provide the RCN with a lightweight and operationally flexible military asset that is highly capable and globally deployable. VIGILANCE can perform all roles of the existing MCDV, while also fulfilling crucial naval warfare duties beyond the capabilities of both the MCDV and the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels (AOPV), including in the littoral battlespace.
This collaboration ensures Team Vigilance can meet the needs of the Royal Canadian Navy’s future fleet with a tailored naval solution, striking the optimum balance between capability and cost, while also maintaining the life-cycle cost advantages VARD’s naval designs are known for.
As a part of the ongoing effort, Team Vigilance continues to assemble a broad coalition of Canadian companies that can offer important services and vital equipment to the program. Building a robust coalition is key to the core objective that VIGILANCE be designed in Canada, built in Canada, and equipped in Canada. To this end, Team Vigilance launched their Preferred Suppliers Program at DEFSEC 2023 in Halifax last October.
Dominis a Preferred Supplier to Team Vigilance
Today, it is announced that VARD has named Dominis Engineering Ltd. (Dominis) as a preferred supplier to Team Vigilance. Established in 1985, Dominis is Canada's only "design to build" propeller manufacturer, specializing in designing, machining and measurement of marine propellers, water jet impellers and hydro turbine runners. The company has developed state-of-the-art technology for CNC milling of sculptured surfaces to final form and finish.
Dominis has created proprietary technology and methods that eliminate the need for both robotic and manual grinding during the manufacturing process. The level of precision achieved creates a high-quality product that exceeds the performance of traditional manufacturing methods in terms of both efficiency and noise. Their extensive experience in full 5-axis machining of mono-block propellers, propeller blades and water jet impellers demonstrate an impeccable track record.
The RCN is world class at its craft and like any craftsman they rely on the right tools to get the job done. Since the 1990s, the Canadian Patrol Frigates (CPF) were the right tool for ASW and the RCN is internationally recognized for their skill in that domain. To get that job done, in 2003 the Government of Canada awarded a contract to Dominis to manufacture propeller blades for the CPF. So, to get the job done right moving forward it makes sense that VIGILANCE would also follow suit with Dominis propellers.
With four decades of experience providing high-quality propellers and water jet impellers for naval programs in Canada and the United States, Dominis will design and manufacture a superior product for VIGILANCE.
Not only will VIGILANCE provide the sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve the modern tools they need to protect Canada’s vital interests at home and abroad, it will also allow them to continue to leverage the best that Canadian industry has to offer from companies like Dominis that remain a trusted source of supply of critical components for RCN warships. VIGILANCE also aims to assist in the ongoing creation and development of a true strategic capability across all aspects of the shipbuilding value chain.
Derek Buxton, Vice President Business Development, Vard Marine Inc., said,
“We remain fully committed to the principle that VIGILANCE will be designed, built and equipped in Canada. Quite obviously, propellers are a fundamental component for any ship and the ability to manufacture propeller blades right here in Canada is therefore a fundamental element in developing a true sovereign domestic shipbuilding capability. Bringing Dominis into the Preferred Suppliers Program is an easy decision given their long-term and successful track record of supplying critical components for installation on RCN combatant vessels.”
Bodo Gospodnetic, president of Dominis Engineering Ltd., said,
“Always strive for perfection. Good enough is not good enough.”
About Vard Marine Inc.
Vard Marine is a consulting naval architecture and marine engineering company with Canadian offices in Vancouver and Ottawa and employees situated in seven Canadian provinces. The company offers professional ship design, engineering, and shipbuilding technology services, and its vessel design portfolio ranges from offshore construction, supply, and patrol ships, to icebreakers, research vessels and ferries. Vard Marine is an international reference player in the design of offshore patrol vessels having delivered designs for the US, UK, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand, among many others. Their most recent designs include the Argus-Class Offshore Patrol Cutters for the US Coast Guard and the Harry DeWolf-Class Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Royal Canadian Navy. More information on Vard Marine can be found at https://vardmarine.com.
About Dominis Engineering Ltd.
Dominis Engineering designs and manufactures high performance marine propellers. The company has developed state-of-the-art technology for CNC milling of sculptured surfaces to final form and finish. This technology eliminates hand finishing from the manufacturing process. Dominis has extensive experience in CNC machining of monoblock propellers, CP propeller blades and water jet impellers in duplex stainless steel. Dominis Engineering also develops all the necessary tooling, fixtures and CAD/CAM programming for its production. The company was established in 1985. For more information, please visit https://www.dominis.ca/.
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