Thales to integrate electronic systems into Canadian Coast Guard vessels

Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards (VSY) has contracted Thales Canada to integrate electronic systems into three Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels (OFSV) built for the Canadian Coast Guard’s (CCG), under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS).

Under the $35m contract, Thales will be responsible for selection, procurement and integration of the electronic systems and equipment on the vessels, including radar, communications, and bridge and mission systems.

Thales is capitalising on the revenue generated by the project to invest in research and development to enhance the systems to be integrated onto CCG and the Royal Canadian Navy vessels.

The company has opened a new maritime lab in its Ottawa offices last year, which will act as the systems integration and test facility to support the integration of electronic systems for the Canadian Coast Guard vessels.

The facility will serve as an important infrastructure in the Thales NSS project and can also be used in future infrastructural projects.

Seaspan Shipyards president Brian Carter said: "Seaspan is full-steam ahead on the production and delivery of its first two National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) Non-Combat vessels, and we are pleased and excited to partner with Thales’ world-class team of experts.

"Today’s announcement is not only a strong reminder of the progress being made under the NSS, but also of the impact it is having, continuing to increase opportunities for Canadian companies and creating jobs for Canadians."

Thales was already a part of the OFSV project during its initial phases of construction since 2013 and has also been contracted by Seaspan for initial phases of the Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel (OOSV) for the CCG and the Joint Support Ships (JSS) for the RCN.

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Image: An artist’s rendition of the Canadian Coast Guard’s future OFSVs. Photo: courtesy of Thales.