Canadian Coast Guard Awards Contract for Icebreaker Life Extension

Canada's Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Jean-Yves Duclos, on behalf of the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Diane Lebouthillier, announced a contract award following a competitive process, valued at approximately $44 million (including taxes) to Ocean Industries Inc. for the vessel life extension of the CCGS Griffon.

Scheduled to take place from June 2025 to October 2026, the vessel life extension work entails refurbishing and repairing the main propulsion motors, the steering gear system, the four main propulsion generators, and the main emergency switchboards. Other new equipment installations include a new stores crane, a new mast, a new propulsion control system, a set of propellers, an oily water separator, boilers, HVAC units, a sewage treatment plant, and various piping replacements, all of which will increase the vessel’s operational life and maintain its safety and reliability

The CCGS Griffon, built by Davie Shipbuilding and commissioned in 1970, is a high-endurance, multi-tasked vessel that performs light icebreaking and navigational buoy-tending operations primarily in the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence Seaway and Atlantic Canada. In addition, the vessel is available for search and rescue and other emergency response operations when needed.

“Today’s contract award is proof of the Government of Canada’s commitment to actively invest in the Canadian Coast Guard fleet to ensure our dedicated personnel remain ready to serve Canadians. Through planned maintenance, repair and refit works, we are ensuring our Canadian Coast Guard vessels remain well maintained and in service,” said Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.

This vessel life extension work will help sustain up to 50 skilled jobs. This contract awards fall under the repair, refit and maintenance pillar of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, which is helping to ensure that Canada has a safe and reliable fleet of ships to serve and protect Canadians for years to come, while providing ongoing opportunities for shipyards and suppliers across Canada.

“With the National Shipbuilding Strategy, we are making sure the Canadian Coast Guard has the equipment and tools they need to carry out its important work,  while providing social and economic benefits across the country. This contract with Ocean Industries Inc. will extend the life of the CCGS Griffon while creating and maintaining up to 50 jobs in Quebec,” said Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Public Services and Procurement.

Jacques Tanguay, President and CEO, Groupe Océan Inc., said, “By winning the contract to extend the life of the CCGS Griffon, after having obtained that of the CCGS Martha Black in June 2023, Ocean Industries Inc. confirms the importance of its expertise in maintaining the Canadian Coast Guard fleet. With our three shipyards along the St. Lawrence River, our desire is to be more fully part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy and to support the federal government in maintaining its existing fleet, as well as in the construction of new small and medium ships.”