Cost questions abound as work set to start on navy’s new support ships
OTTAWA — The cutting of steel for the navy’s long overdue support ships will begin next month in Vancouver, even though the federal government doesn’t know how much the two vessels will ultimately cost.
Federal procurement minister Carla Qualtrough confirmed plans for an early start to work on the supply ships during a breakfast address Thursday at the Cansec defence show in Ottawa.
Seaspan Shipyards will receive $66 million to work on several dozen components of the so-called joint support ships during a lull in the building of two other Canadian Coast Guard vessels.
The government is hoping that advance work will shave about a year off the expected delivery time for the first support vessel, which is currently slated to hit the water in 2023.