Issued by Public Works and Government Services Canada:

Today’s briefing by Canada reaffirms that the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS) process continues to move forward.  Our focus is on meeting the current federal schedule to cut steel on the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships in 2015 which was confirmed again today, while at the same time completing our estimated $300 million shipyard investment to realize the long term, generational  opportunity that NSPS provides.

 We look forward to an announcement regarding the Definition Contract for AOPS in the very near future.

The infrastructure upgrade at Halifax Shipyard is underway with first tasks involving the work on Piers 6 and 7 that will result in new docking and launching capability. Detailed plans for shipyard modernization are still being finalized and construction is expected to begin in the Spring. Within the next several months we expect to be placing contracts for goods and services required as part of the infrastructure upgrade and will be sharing our plans in more detail once they are finalized.

For more information on the federal press realse please visit:   http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do?nid=723029