Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd. will receive $65.4 M in funding under the federal government’s National Shipbuilding Strategy.

The two new contracts will allow Seaspan to initiate early discussions with potential suppliers and to purchase material and equipment to build the offshore oceanographic science vessel and the joint support ships for the navy.

The $35-million contract for the navy support ships allows Seaspan to select the equipment needed to finalize the design and build the ships. The federal government said the size of the contract would grow as the design progresses. The first joint support ship will be delivered in 2020 and will be operational later that year.

The contract for the science vessel is worth up to $30 million and will allow Seaspan to buy propulsion systems, engines, scientific equipment and steel. Construction is expected to be completed in 2018/2019.

The National Shipbuilding Strategy is a 30 year initiative. An estimated 15,000 jobs and $2 billion in annual economic benefits are expected to be generated through the implementation of this strategy.

To date, Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd. has awarded $211 million in contracts to suppliers in Canada, and more than 160 companies in Canada have already benefited from these investments.