During an open house day on October 1, Canadian shipbuilder Seaspan unveiled the first large vessel to be designed and built in Canada under the National Shipbuilding Strategy
The unveiled ship is also the Canadian Coast Guard’s first offshore fisheries science vessel (OFSV), named after Sir John Franklin, a Royal Navy officer and Arctic explorer.
“Today is a historic day for the women and men of Seaspan Shipyards as we deliver on our commitments to the Canadian Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy,” said Brian Carter, president and CEO of Seaspan Shipyards. “In the unveiling of the first offshore fisheries science vessel, we are affirming our long-term commitment to Canada and our leading role in the growth of a West Coast centre of excellence in shipbuilding and ship repair.”
In addition to the unveiling of OFSV 1, visitors also got a firsthand look at the visible progress of OFSVs 2 and 3 and received a series of guided facility demonstrations.
“Seaspan Shipyards could not be where it is today without the unwavering support of our friends, neighbours and other community partners, and words cannot express how proud I am to open our doors to show them the world-class vessels we are building,” said Brian. “Today is not just a celebration; it is proof of the incredible capabilities of Canada’s shipbuilding industry.”
Other ships being built under the NNS include an 86m Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) oceanographic research vessel, and two 174-meter joint support ships, the longest class of NSS-vessels currently slated for construction at Seaspan.