LEVIS, QC, July 20, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ – Today, Canada’s largest and most experienced shipbuilder unveiled the Asterix, the first large naval ship to be built in Canada in over 20 years. Davie’s 1,369 staff together with over 900 Canadian suppliers spent just under 2 years delivering the Resolve-Class naval support ship which will enter into service with the Royal Canadian Navy by the end of this year as initially planned.
The Resolve-Class naval support ship will be the largest naval platform in service with the Royal Canadian Navy for the foreseeable future and will provide a wide range of functions from at-sea replenishment of fuels and cargo to aviation support, fleet medical support and humanitarian and disaster relief.
This program involves three levels of innovation for Canada allowing the delivery of a most needed ship in a timely manner and with the best value for Canadian taxpayers. Firstly, instead of building a ship from new, a modern containership has been converted into a state-of-the-art naval support ship. Secondly, the ship has been privately financed by Davie and will be leased to Canada – that means a fixed, transparent cost to the Canadian taxpayer. Thirdly, Federal Fleet Services, Davie sister company, will operate the ship with a mixed crew of merchant seafarers and Royal Canadian Navy personnel.
Today’s unveiling of the ship – which also underlines Canada’s 150th anniversary – included an employee appreciation for the Chantier Davie Canada Team as well as a Family Day, a blessing for the ship by the Huron-Wendat Nation and VIP tours onboard.
The traditional breaking of the sacrificial champagne bottle on the bow by the sponsor of the ship in order to bless the ship and her crew was performed by Her Honour Mrs. Pauline Théberge, spouse of His Honour the Honourable J. Michel Doyon, the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec.
Speakers at the event included:
- The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
- Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy
Jean D’Amour, Minister of Maritime Affairs - Gilles Lehouillier, Mayor of Lévis
- Jacques Létourneau, President, Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN)
- Alex Vicefield, Chairman of Davie
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