A Seaspan subsidiary has secured a potential $171.6 million contract to provide design and production engineering support for the Canadian navy’s future oiler ships.
Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards business will develop the Joint Support Ship project’s ship build plan, required manufacturing content and three-dimensional product model, according to a press release published Tuesday on the Canadian government’s website.
The JSS program covers the construction of build two ships, with an option for a third unit, to replace Canada’s Protecteur-class oiler replenishment vessels.
Vancouver Shipyards is scheduled to begin contract work in 2018 and deliver the first and second ships in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
The project, estimated to cost $1.7 billion, is part of the non-combat vessels package of Canada’s National  Shipbuilding Strategy.
Vancouver Shipyards was awarded a contract in 2015 to engage suppliers and select equipment for JSS and committed to invest 0.5 percent of the value of all contracts into Canada’s marine sector as part of NSS’ non-combat package.
Seaspan awarded NSS contracts worth nearly $149.3 million in total to 383 Canadian companies during 2016.
