The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, and the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, today announced that the Government of Canada has awarded an $8.5 million contract to NEWDOCK St. John’s Dockyard Limited for Vessel Life Extension (VLE) and refit work for Canadian Coast Guard ship CCGS Leonard J. Cowley.

Based in St. John’s, Newfoundland, the CCGS Leonard J. Cowley is an Offshore Patrol Vessel used primarily for fisheries enforcement and search and rescue services.  The CCGS Cowley celebrated its 30th year on the water in 2014.  The vessel has had a distinguished career; most recently the 2009 rescue of the 22-person crew of the Spanish fishing vessel FV Monte Galineiro, which was burning and sinking off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The VLE contract will include extensive repairs and upgrades throughout the vessel, such as repairs to the hull, upgrades to the main engine, as well as to the auxiliary generator controls and replacement of the lift that takes the Fast Rescue Crafts out of the water during operations.  The work must be carried out during the non-operational period of the vessel, from February to October 2015.

This contract is being awarded as part of the $360M investment to extend the life of the Coast Guard fleet announced in February 2013. The National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy aims to support the Canadian shipbuilding industry while ensuring the best value for Canadian taxpayers.

Quick Facts

Work is scheduled to begin in February 2015 and be completed by October 2015.

As announced in Economic Action Plan 2012, the Government will extend the life of sixteen Coast Guard vessels and complete mid-life modernizations on an additional two existing hovercraft over the next 10 years.