2023-06-03 05:48:08
(Ottawa) Having the assurance of building ships for the federal government does not change the world, except that… The Davie shipyard got a glimpse of it during its visit to the annual meeting of the defense sector, in the federal capital – where its acquisition project in Finland was also discussed.
“It’s a completely different situation,” explains the director, external affairs and industrial participation at Davie, Marcel Poulin, during an interview with The Press. “Before, what we talked regarding was developing a business relationship for potential contracts. Now, the contracts will come and we can concretize these business relationships. »
The Lévis shipyard is a regular at CANSEC, the defense industry high mass held earlier this week. Incorporated into the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSCS) last April, the company is negotiating the potential construction of seven new icebreakers for the Canadian Coast Guard – potential contracts worth $8.5 billion. She has not gone unnoticed in Ottawa this year.
Mr. Poulin did not take long to notice this.
We’re more popular, that’s for sure. Most of the big suppliers are here and there are hundreds of small and medium-sized companies that will come to us to have a face-to-face meeting with us.
Marcel Poulin, Director, External Affairs and Industrial Participation at Davie
CANSEC does not only bring together manufacturers of military equipment such as helicopters, vehicles and fighter planes. There are also cybersecurity specialists, manufacturers of radars, sensors and other technological solutions that can, for example, be found on an icebreaker. These are the companies that have an interest in getting closer to the Davie shipyard.
Identified as SNCN’s third supplier on April 4, the company is continuing its negotiations with the Canadian Coast Guard to finalize the contract for the construction of the first icebreaker. We are talking regarding “a matter of months” to conclude this round of talks, according to Mr. Poulin.
The National Shipbuilding Strategy in brief
It provides for the construction of regarding fifty ships for the Royal Canadian Navy and the Coast Guard. We are talking regarding nine types of large ships, including combat ships. In the case of Davie, it will be the construction of six icebreakers and a polar icebreaker. The Seaspan (Vancouver) and Irving (Halifax) shipyards were the only two partners retained in 2011. The Lévis shipyard has just been integrated. Ottawa must now negotiate with Davie to complete the negotiations and establish a delivery schedule.
Still room
Building new ships for the federal government is expected to take up 70% of shipbuilding capacity at Davie. Despite all the work that will ensue from SNCN, the shipyard will be able to carry out other contracts. This is also the message that Davie wishes to pass on within the framework of these appointments.
This past week has also been an opportunity for the shipyard to reflect on its international ambitions. The Ottawa meeting was the scene of a meeting with the Finnish ambassador to Canada, Roy Eriksson, explained Mr. Poulin, without venting the content of the exchanges between the two parties.
Davie still holds an exclusive option to acquire Helsinki Shipyard Oy, a shipyard located in the Finnish capital and owned by Russian industrialists. This shipyard saw the doors of its main market, Russia, closed in the wake of sanctions imposed on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
“The acquisition project is still on the table,” says Mr. Poulin. We are in due diligence [due diligence]. We have exclusive business development in Finland to find work over the next few years. There is nothing officially purchased. »
If completed, this transaction would position Davie as a leader in the construction of icebreakers on an international scale. The challenge for the company, owned by European investors Alex Vicefield and James Davies, is to determine whether it can find new opportunities within the NATO alliance for Helsinki Shipyard Oy.
The Press reported on March 28 that the Legault government is following this case closely. To allow Davie access to SNCN, Quebec has agreed to release 520 million to enable the shipyard to modernize its facilities. The bill for this project is estimated at 840 million.
Learn more
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- 1825
- Year of founding of the Davie shipyard
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