The first piece of steel for the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) Program at Irving Shipbuilding was cut at an official ceremony on June 18 at Marine Fabricators in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

“Today it begins - SHIPS START NOW,” announced Kevin McCoy, President of Irving Shipbuilding. “This is a day that we can celebrate – across the province and the country.”

McCoy welcomed special guests including The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works Government services Canada, Scott Armstrong, MP for Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley, the Honourable Diana Whalen, Deputy Premier of Nova Scotia and Lorelei Nicoll, Deputy Mayor of Halifax.

The steel will  be used in center block of the first AOPS near the propulsion systems which are being built by General Electric at their plant in Peterborough, Ontario.

The steel began arriving last month to Marine Fabricators, from Essar Algoma in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

To date, over $720 million in Canadian contracts have been issued for the modernization and AOPS, including $190 million in Nova Scotia contracts.
 
The Irving Shipbuilding supply chain team has been busy issuing new contracts for AOPS as the shipyard prepares for the start of full production on September 1.

Over 600 people attended a hiring fair in Dartmouth this month as the Irving Shipyard looks hire over 200 journeymen in the following trades:  ironworkers, pipefitters and welders as production ramps up this fall.. 

Irving Shipbuilding will host a hiring fair in Fort McMurray, Alberta on July 8, and in Sydney, Cape Breton on July 15.  For more information click here. 
  
Read the full media release from Public Works Government Services Canada.

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MEDIA CONTACT: 

Mary Keith
Vice President, Communications
J.D. Irving, Limited 
(506) 632-5122 office
keith.mary@jdirving.com