Four diesel generators and engines for the Royal Canadian Navy’s Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) have been shipped to Irving Shipbuilding’s Halifax shipyard where GE has begun acceptance testing on the first AOPS propulsion motor, expected to ship in early July.
GE’s Marine Solutions business in Peterborough, Ontario is thereby completing one of the first milestones of the company’s 7-year contract with Irving Shipbuilding to provide electrical power, propulsion systems, installation and commissioning services for six ice-capable offshore patrol ships.
GE suppliers located in Ontario are contributing to the project providing steel, skids, metal and machining.
The contract is part of the Government of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). Across Canada, ISI has awarded over $1 billion in contracts as part of NSS.
Tim Schweikert , President & CEO of GE’s Marine Solutions, said: “The Arctic is an exciting and challenging new frontier for commercial shipping. The Royal Canadian Navy operates under some of the world’s most extreme weather and sea conditions making reliability a key factor. We are delighted that ISI has selected GE’s technology to deliver ice capable vessels that will play a significant role in the development of new global opportunities in the Arctic.”