VICTORIA – Seaspan Shipyards (Seaspan) has been awarded the Frigate Systems Upgrade Project (the “Project”) as a subcontractor for Lockheed Martin Canada, working on the Royal New Zealand Navy’s ANZAC Class frigates.
The project will upgrade the surveillance, combat and self-defence capabilities of the ANZAC frigates to match current and future threats and address obsolescence of some of the frigates’ current systems.
“Seaspan Shipyards is proud to be working with Lockheed Martin Canada and the Government of New Zealand in upgrading the Royal New Zealand Navy’s ANZAC Class frigates,” said Brian Carter, President & CEO of Seaspan Shipyards.
“Seaspan’s success in winning this work demonstrates the capabilities of Canada’s shipbuilding and marine industries and builds on our company’s reputation for providing world-class service on complex projects.”
Lockheed Martin Canada is New Zealand’s Prime System Integrator, responsible for the supply of the Combat System upgrade on both ships as well as a new shore-based trainer. This includes the Combat System integration of new weapons and sensors, as well as Ship Design and Installation. The new Combat Management System (CMS) is based on Lockheed Martin Canada’s CMS 330.
“This Project from Lockheed Martin Canada, in addition to our existing contracts with both government and commercial customers, means that Victoria Shipyards is now more than 90 per cent booked through until 2020,” said Joe O’Rourke, Vice President and General Manager of Victoria Shipyards.
“This is an important achievement for Seaspan and ensures that we can continue to offer well-paid, skilled jobs here in the greater Victoria area.”
The Project builds on Seaspan’s highly successful subcontract work with Lockheed Martin Canada and the Halifax class modernization project, which is nearing completion both on time and on budget.
In addition to its work on Canada’s frigates, Victoria Shipyards has performed work on a number of government and commercial contracts. Thanks in part to stable and long-term projects like the Halifax class modernization project for the Government of Canada, Seaspan has been able to develop a world class shipbuilding and ship repair industry on the West Coast.
Her Majesty’s New Zealand Ship (HMNZS) TE KAHA arrived in Canada in March 2018 to commence the necessary work at Seaspan’s Victoria Shipyards later this Spring. Once upgrades to HMNZS TE KAHA are complete, work on HMNZS TE MANA will begin, anticipated for 2019.
The project represents a unique opportunity for a Canadian shipyard to perform work on foreign military vessels. It is evidence of Seaspan’s expertise in performing such work and points to future opportunities on similar projects.
