Today, it is announced that Vard Marine has selected American Bureau of Shipping Canada Inc. (ABS Canada) as a Preferred Supplier to Team Vigilance to provide Classification Society services and specialty engineering, in particular the application of their Light Warships, Patrol and High-Speed Naval Vessels rules, and their expertise in harsh environment operations.
Additionally, a recent focus area for ABS Canada has been their work in certifying the use of Canadian‑made, CSA‑grade steel in shipbuilding projects. Thus, it is further announced today that ABS Canada has accepted the direct specification and use of CSA Standard steel for the design and construction of the Vigilance next generation OPV.
The ability to use of CSA Standard steels has significant benefits for Team Vigilance and the program writ large. Leveraging local Ontario sources of supply will decrease project risk and cost while enhancing Team Vigilance’s value proposition with a higher direct Canadian content value.
Not only will the Vigilance Class provide the sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve the modern tools they need to protect Canada’s vital interests at home and abroad, it will also promote economic development in Canada and bring shipbuilding back to Ontario in a substantive way.
Derek Buxton, Vice President Business Development, Vard Marine Inc., said: “We remain fully committed to the mantra that VIGILANCE will be designed, built and equipped in Canada. Bringing ABS Canada onboard as a Preferred Supplier to Team Vigilance, with their support on the use of CSA Standard steels as we continue to mature the design of the vessel, is a big step in that direction.”
James Bond, Vice President, American Bureau of Shipping Canada Inc., said: “ABS is excited to officially join Team Vigilance. As the class society of the Royal Canadian Navy’s non-combatant fleet, the alignment of transition and fleet renewal simply makes sense. The application of the newest and comprehensive light warship rule set, coupled with CSA steels direct usage and the growing ABS Canada team of professionals across the country speaks to the ABS commitment to Canada.”
Ted Kirkpatrick, Director of Business Development and Government Relations, Heddle Shipyards., said: “Ontario’s industrial supply chain is second to none, and steel production has long been the core of heavy industry across Ontario. With ABS as a preferred supplier of team vigilance, we have an even stronger path to bringing shipbuilding back to Ontario and leveraging the industrial might of this province.”
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 being 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 Heddle Shipyards
Heddle Shipyards is the largest Canadian ship repair and construction company on the Great Lakes operating three shipyards across Ontario. Our vision is to be recognized as the most reliable provider of ship repair and maintenance services in Canada and to become a meaningful partner in the shipbuilding industry. For more information, visit https://heddleshipyards.com/.
About American Bureau of Shipping Canada Inc.
Founded in 1862, The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) is a global leader in providing classification services for marine and offshore assets. Our mission is to serve the public interest as well as the needs of our members and clients by promoting the security of life and property and preserving the natural environment.
ABS has been supporting the Canadian marine industry for decades and recently formalized its efforts with the creation of American Bureau of Shipping Canada Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary headquartered in Ottawa. ABS Canada is the class society for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) non-combatant fleet and for the Canadian Coast Guard fleet under our Delegated Statutory Inspection Program (DSIP) contract. ABS Canada performs plan approval in Ottawa, R&D from our Harsh Environment Technology Centre in St John’s and has dozens of experienced survey personnel in six provinces. ABS Canada is supporting new construction, ship repair, vessel life extension and the marine supply chain across the country. For more information, visit https://ww2.eagle.org/en.html.