Ships Start Here

Thank you.

shipAdmin — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:09:17 +0000

The Ships Start Here partnership is proud to announce that Irving Shipbuilding has been chosen by the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy to negotiate the right to build Canada’s next generation federal combat vessel fleet. Read the official release from the Government of Canada and messages from Irving Shipbuilding and Premier Darrell Dexter here.

Everyone involved in this effort shares in Irving Shipbuilding’s celebration. It is truly a privilege to be chosen to do this work.

We want to thank you for all your support, and for demonstrating that we are built to build.

Thank you to the incredible employees of Irving Shipbuilding. This news is due to your unmatched expertise, skills, and dedication.

Thank you to every Atlantic Canadian and those abroad who supported this campaign by putting up a lawn sign, placing stickers on your car, placing a pin on our virtual map (over 10,800 of you did that) or just telling a friend or colleague. Because of your support for this campaign, Canada knows we are built to build.

Thank you to the Province of Nova Scotia, Premier Darrell Dexter and his team, and every single member of the Ships Start Here partnership. Your hard work and community spirit have constantly demonstrated our pride, strength, and confidence.

Finally, thank you to every single individual who supported the Ships Start Here effort and helped spread the word that we build the best ships in the world. We’re ready.

Sincerely,
The Ships Start Here partnership

The People of Georgetown are Ready to Work

shipAdmin — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 13:44:46 +0000

It is with great pleasure that I extend my full support of the Atlantic bid for the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy on behalf of the residents of Georgetown and surrounding area as the newly elected MLA for District 2: Georgetown – St. Peters.

Georgetown is home to the Irving owned, and recently closed East Isle shipyard. The community has a workforce which is highly skilled and nationally regarded in the ship building sector. They have superior work-ethic, are committed to quality service and are eager to regain employment.

History has proven that the East Isle Shipyard is equipped with the tools and resources to produce premium products. Securing this bid would re-energize a community that was once a hub for economic activity due to the shipbuilding industry.

The industrial economic spin-off of securing the Atlantic bid will have significant benefits for our Island economy by generating meaningful employment for our residents and attracting new businesses to Eastern PEI. Most importantly though, it will ensure the residents of Georgetown have the opportunity to work and live at home with their families and in the community they love.

Steven Myers, MLA
District 2: Georgetown – St. Peters

La Chambre de commerce du Grand Caraquet supports Irving Shipbuilding’s bid for NSPS contract

shipAdmin — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:28:12 +0000

The economic impacts of the contract would mean a lot to our region, more specifically to the New Brunswick Naval Center in Bas-Caraquet, New Brunswick.

Irving Shipbuilding, the Halifax shipyard, and the region have a proven record of expertise in building naval ships and so does the north eastern part of New Brunswick.

Irving Shipbuilding has not only a proven record in building ships, but also in their supply chain. We believe that our marine industry will benefit directly from the contract being awarded to Irving Shipbuilding and provide a long-term boost to our region’s econcomy.

- Normand Mourant
President, la Chambre de commerce du Grand Caraquet Inc.

The NS Association of Community Business Development Corporations supports Irving Shipbuilding’s bid for NSPS contract

shipAdmin — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:02:59 +0000

The positive economic impact of a successful bid for Nova Scotia, as well as the shared benefit for all of Canada, has been well documented by the Conference Board of Canada’s recent study. The Nova Scotia Association of CBDCs sees the potential positive impact for businesses and residents within our province. A project of this scope will provide increased business opportunities in many areas – as suppliers, sub-contractors and service providers both directly to the project, and to the anticipated 11,500 employees. A project of this magnitude will ensure a period of economic growth for the province, unparalleled since Confederation, benefiting every community in our province.

We are aware that your office is fully behind this project, and are pleased to offer our assistance and support in any way we can.

- Loretta Davis
President, NS Association of CBDCs

New Brunswick Naval Center supports Irving Shipbuilding’s bid for NSPS contract

shipAdmin — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 12:35:54 +0000

The New Brunswick Naval Center’s Board of Directors has unanimously adopted a resolution expressing full support to Irving Shipbuilding’s bid for one of the two National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy contracts.

The members of our Board of Directors are confident this contract will help bring pride and long lasting shipbuilding history to our region, as well as skilled jobs. Economic development opportunities will be made possible under Canada’s Industrial and Regional Benefits Policy.

Based on past history, we are confident that Irving Shipbuilding has the ability to generate socio-economic benefits to the marine industry, locally, regionally, and across Canada. We look forward to working with Irving Shipbuilding to make this project a viable one, which will generate benefits for North Eastern New Brunswick.

- Jacques Dugas,
President, New Brunswick Navel Center

Belledune Port Authority of New Brunswick supports Irving Shipbuilding’s bid for NSPS contract

shipAdmin — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:15:33 +0000

The Belledune Port Authority agrees that this contract will help return the pride and long lasting shipbuilding history to our region, not to mention the many associated skilled jobs. Furthermore, the economic development opportunities generated under Canada’s Industrial and Regional Benefits Policy will also be beneficial.

Based on past history, we are confident that Irving Shipbuilding has the ability to generate socio-economic benefits to the marine industry, locally, regionally and across Canada. We look forward to working with Irving Shipbuilding to make this project a viable one, which will generate benefits for North Eastern New Brunswick.

- Rayburn Doucett
President & CEO, Belledune Port Authority

Province Invests in Next Generation of Shipbuilders

shipAdmin — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:33:19 +0000

Nova Scotia is built to build ships and the province is investing in the next generation of shipbuilders.

The province, through jobsHere, the province’s plan to create good jobs and grow the economy, will invest more than $190,000 in a new metal fabrication program at Nova Scotia Community College beginning in September.

“One of the main goals of the jobsHere strategy is to help Nova Scotians learn the right skills to land good jobs and that is what this investment is all about,” said Premier Darrell Dexter. “Nova Scotia has a proud history of shipbuilding, and the future looks bright. This is an investment in jobs, in education, and in future generations of shipbuilders in Nova Scotia.”

Metal fabricators cut, bend and assemble metal into structures, and these skills are essential to key Nova Scotia industries such as shipbuilding, heavy machinery and structural steel and manufacturing plants.

The provincial investment included $67,200 to redevelop the metal fabrication apprenticeship curriculum and $123,000 to buy equipment to support a second section of the metal fabrication diploma program at NSCC. The new, re-developed program will continue at the Marconi Campus in Sydney and the additional section will be offered at the Akerley Campus in Dartmouth.

Irving Shipbuilding Inc. donated 25 state-of-the-art welding stations and supplies worth $112,500 as part of its commitment to industrial and regional benefits for the Mid-Shore Patrol Vessel construction program at Halifax Shipyard. These welding machines will be used by students in the new metal fabrication lab at the Akerley Campus.

“This new program is a prime example of the province of Nova Scotia and NSCC responding to a growing labour force need,” said Steve Durrell, president, Irving Shipbuilding. “Steel fabrication is a huge part of the shipbuilding industry and, based on our current order book of projects, we will need more steel fabricators at Irving Shipbuilding over the next five to seven years. The number of apprentices in our workforce peaked at 300 last year, a clear indication that we have already begun in earnest to invest in the shipbuilders of tomorrow. It certainly made the decision to invest in new welding equipment to support this new program an easy one.”

Another dozen employers from Nova Scotia’s steel manufacturing industry have donated $119,500.

“The input we received from employers and the workforce development experts at the Department of Labour and Advanced Education is just as valuable as their financial contributions,” said Don Bureaux, president, NSCC. “Their knowledge, insight and experience is infused in this program, which means our students are learning exactly what they need to build careers, and futures, right here at home in Nova Scotia.”

Irving Shipbuilding Inc. is the single largest employer of apprentices in Nova Scotia. Premier Dexter said it’s this kind of commitment to skills and training that makes the company the best choice to build Canada’s fleet.

“This new program is a demonstration of the possibilities created when government, industry and educators work together,” said Premier Dexter. “It’s what makes Nova Scotia built to build.”

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Media Contacts: Melissa MacKinnon
Premier’s Office
902-240-9077
E-mail: mackinnm@gov.ns.ca

Deborah Hashey
Irving Shipbuilding
902-499-7975
E-mail: hashey.deborah@irvingshipbuilding.com

Kathleen Cameron
Nova Scotia Community College
902-499-7844
E-mail: Kathleen.cameron@nscc.ca

Kevin Finch
Labour and Advanced Education
902-424-0847
E-mail: finchkh@gov.ns.ca

Shipbuilding gets boost

shipAdmin — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:26:36 +0000

The premier says a newly redesigned metal-fabrication program at Nova Scotia Community College will help bolster a workforce to meet industry demands.

N.S. invests in shipbuilder training

shipAdmin — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:21:32 +0000

A baker’s dozen of employers and the Dexter government have contributed more than $400,000 in cash and equipment to double the number of metal fabrication students at the Nova Scotia Community College this fall.

Mayann E. Francis, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, supports Irving Shipbuilding’s bid for NSPS contract

shipAdmin — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:19:12 +0000

The people of Nova Scotia join me in wishing Irving Shipbuilding Ltd every success in its bid to become one of two major suppliers of shipbuilding to the Canadian Government as a result of the National Procurement Strategy. We are well aware of the benefits a project of this magnitude would bring to the economy of our province and to a generation of shipbuilders.

- Mayann E. Francis, ONS, DHumL
Lieutenant Governor, Province of Nova Scotia