Milestone for Canada’s Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships

Posted by Eric Haun June 14, 2016

GE’s Marine Solutions business in Peterborough, Ontario is completing one of the first milestones of the company’s seven-year contract with Irving Shipbuilding Inc.,(ISI) to provide electrical power, propulsion systems, installation and commissioning services for six ice-capable Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) for the Royal Canadian Navy.

GE’s power and propulsion systems will position the new vessels amongst the highest performance in their class worldwide. Four diesel generators and engines have been shipped to ISI’s Halifax Shipyard, and GE has begun acceptance testing on the first AOPS propulsion motor, expected to ship in early July. GE suppliers located in Ontario are contributing to the project providing steel, skids, metal and machining.

“GE’s collaboration with Irving Shipbuilding Inc. (ISI) on this important large infrastructure project utilizing best-in-class technology, created an opportunity for developing a made-in-Canada solution and also delivered new business opportunities to our supply chain,” said Allan, GE Canada’s President and CEO.

The contract is part of the Government of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). To date, ISI has awarded over $526 million in contracts to companies in Ontario, generating over 3,500 direct and indirect jobs in the province. Across Canada, ISI has awarded over $1 billion in contracts as part of NSS.

“At Irving Shipbuilding, we believe that the innovative solutions Ontario companies, like GE, have to offer are vital to the growth and sustainment of Canada’s shipbuilding industry,” said Kevin McCoy, President, Irving Shipbuilding Inc. “As Canada’s chosen shipbuilder for Navy Combatants, we’re proud to engage companies across the country in building our Navy’s future fleet.”

During the past five years, GE, with assistance from the Province of Ontario, has modernized the Peterborough facility in order to increase the company’s opportunities to win new business contracts from a wide range of industries. This has included investments in innovation, and advanced manufacturing technology, along with site and building improvements. The ISI shipbuilding contract is one of the first significant business wins for GE resulting from these modernization efforts.

“GE has had a long standing commitment to the City and County of Peterborough and its residents,” said the Honorable Jeff Leal, MPP. “I am pleased that our government has partnered with GE in the past to protect jobs, create new ones and modernize the Peterborough facility. The modernization of the Peterborough Plant has positioned GE to be successful when bidding on new contracts. There is great potential for growth at the Peterborough plant and today’s announcement is proof that our investments are working.”

“GE Canada is a pillar of manufacturing, as well as an historic and significant employer in Peterborough-Kawartha. I am extremely proud that our community will benefit from Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy for the next six years and that well paid, quality jobs are being generated and maintained as a result. We are also proud that Peterborough-Kawartha is playing a role in supporting the women and men of our Royal Canadian Navy," said the Honorable Maryam Monsef, MP Peterborough-Kawartha.

“The Arctic is an exciting and challenging new frontier for commercial shipping,” said Tim Schweikert, President & CEO, GE’s Marine Solutions. “The Royal Canadian Navy operates under some of the world’s most extreme weather and sea conditions making reliability a key factor. We are delighted that ISI has selected GE’s technology to deliver ice capable vessels that will play a significant role in the development of new global opportunities in the Arctic.”