Davie Yards poised to receive two ferry orders

Canada’s troubled Davie Yards is set to get orders for two ferries, once a planned acquisition by a consortium of Fincantieri and DRS Canada is complete.

The Government of Québec has announced that it will soon seek Canadian and international offers to build a 130 m ferry to replace the 37 year old MV Camille-Marcoux operated by La Société des traversiers du Québec on the , Matane, Baie-Comeau/Godbout routes.The entry into force, in December 2015, of the new Transport Canada stability will significantly decrease its loading capacity. The new vessel will be able to carry the equivalent of 180 cars rather than the current maximum of 120 cars for the MV Camille-Marcoux.

The ship will be the first of three to be procured under a $400 million fleet renewal plan announced by the Government of Québec in September 2009.

The vessel is to be bid internationally, because it will present a very high degree of building complexity and includes specifications that require special expertise, making it appropriate to solicit shipyards sites that specialize in the construction of ships with these characteristics.

That won’t be the case with twin ferries that are planned for the Tadoussac-Baie-Sainte-Catherine service. The Government of Québec, via La Société des traversiers du Québec, has reached a tentative agreement with the consortium of Fincantieri and DRS Canada that is planning to acquire the Davie Yards shipyard in Lévis, Quebec.

This move will allow Davie to meet a condition imposed under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy that requires the yard to hold a contract to build a ship of a capacity greater than 1,000 tonnes at the time of selection.

“This contract will generate significant economic benefits in Quebec and will allow Davie to position themselves advantageously for the submission of proposals to the federal government in July,” said deputy Transport Minister Norman MacMillan, yeserday.

June 15, 2011