The Federal Government today announced a series of preliminary contracts valued at a total of $15.7 million for the joint support ships, the CCGS John G. Diefenbaker polar icebreaker and the offshore fisheries science vessels.

As part of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS), these initial agreements will enable Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd. to:
assist in the progression and assessment of the joint support ship design options;
initiate a review of the polar icebreaker design; and
refine the offshore fisheries science vessel design and specifications; and produce construction plans and determine requirements for material, subcontractors and labour.

As part of the non-combat package under the NSPS, the joint support ships will replace the Royal Canadian Navy’s auxiliary oiler replenishment vessels. The new polar icebreaker, the CCGS John G. Diefenbaker, will be delivered to coincide with the decommissioning of the Canadian Coast Guard’s heavy icebreaker, the CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent, and the offshore fisheries science vessels are intended to replace the CCGS Teleost, the Alfred Needler, and the W.E. Ricker.