Government of Canada announces procurement of new four-season lighted navigation buoys for the Canadian Coast Guard

LAVAL, QC, Oct. 5, 2018 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is investing in new four-season lighted navigation buoys to ensure the Canadian Coast Guard has the equipment it needs to keep Canadian seafarers and waterways safe.

On behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, announced today the Canadian Coast Guard will receive 184 four-season lighted navigation buoys to be deployed in the St. Lawrence River shipping channel, between Québec and Montréal. These new modernized buoys are part of the Coast Guard's network of over 17,000 aids to navigation located across the country, such as light houses and beacons, helping to maintain one of the safest navigation systems in the world.

The four-season buoys are unique in the world, designed using Canadian Coast Guard expertise to withstand the severe ice and tidal conditions found in the St. Lawrence shipping channel. They will remain in the water year-round and only require maintenance every two to four years. The four-season buoys will replace the seasonal navigation buoys operated by the Coast Guard that are currently deployed each summer and winter. The reduction in servicing and maintenance required for the new buoys, will allow the Coast Guard to achieve operational efficiencies.

In July 2018, the Government of Canada awarded a contract of $12,351,790 (including taxes) to Canam-Ponts from Québec, Quebec, for the procurement of 184 four-season lighted navigation buoys. The contract includes options to acquire up to 204 additional buoys.

Quotes

"With this investment in the new four-season lighted navigation buoys, we are making sure the Canadian Coast Guard has the tools and equipment they need to keep Canadian waters safe. These new navigation buoys, along with other innovative new equipment, demonstrates our government's commitment to having a world-leading marine safety system."

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

"This investment in new and modern equipment for the Canadian Coast Guard is an example of our government's commitment to ensuring the safe transport of people and goods on our waterways, while providing opportunities for businesses in Quebec."

The Honourable Marc Garneau
Minister of Transport Canada

"Our government is investing to provide a safer shipping channel for vessels using this portion of the St. Lawrence River throughout the year. This contract award is a prime example of what we are doing to enable the safe transport of goods, while providing meaningful opportunities for businesses across Canada, including in Quebec."

The Honourable Carla Qualtrough
Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility

"It is a new range of products for Canam-Ponts, and it is making sense in terms of our development and operational diversification plan. This contract fits within the long-term vision we have for the Laval firm, which has been making metal components for more than 57 years. Our employees are among the most specialized in the industry. This project is a beautiful challenge for us."

Marcel Dutil
President of Canam Group Inc.

"Our government is ensuring economic growth in Quebec and all over Canada. This investment is another example of our commitment in creating good middle class jobs, and I'm happy my constituents in Vimy and in Laval will directly benefit from this project."

Eva Nassif
Member of Parliament for Vimy

Quick Facts

    --  The new four-season lighted navigation buoys will replace the seasonal
        navigation buoys currently in place which require deployment, retrieval
        and maintenance to be performed in a short period of time during early
        spring and late fall.
    --  The first delivery of the four-season lighted navigational buoys is
        expected late October 2018 to the Canadian Coast Guard bases in the
        cities of Québec and Sorel.
    --  Two navigation buoy model sizes have been designed and will be built to
        be deployed in various locations of the St. Lawrence shipping channel,
        based on different operating water depth conditions. The larger buoy
        model measures 9.5 meters in length, a hull diameter of 1.3 meters,
        weighs 4,000 kilograms and will operate in water depth conditions of 9
        to 30 meters. The smaller buoy model measures 8.7 meters in length, a
        hull diameter of 0.7 meters, weighs 2,100 kilograms and will operate in
        water depth conditions of 9 to 25 meters.
    --  The St. Lawrence River shipping channel provides passage to over 6,000
        commercial vessels annually.
    --  Over 38 million tonnes of cargo, valued at $10 billion (CAD), was moved
        along the St. Lawrence Seaway in 2017.

Related Products:

    --  Backgrounder

Associated Links

    --  Canadian Coast Guard

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SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada