A crowd watches as Seaspan Shipyards officially launches the Canadian Coast Guard’s flagship science vessel, CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk, in August 2024.
The North Vancouver Chamber is renewing its call for local shipbuilding investment following the recent announcement that B.C. Ferries has awarded contracts for four new major vessels to an international shipyard in China.
At the 2024 BC Chamber of Commerce AGM, our policy resolution — Businesses & Communities Win When We Build New B.C. Ferries In B.C. — was officially endorsed by the provincial network of Chambers. This endorsement signals broad support for investing in local jobs, skills development, and economic resilience by strengthening B.C.’s domestic shipbuilding capacity.
Our policy resolution urges the Province to invest in B.C.’s shipbuilding sector by keeping ferry construction and maintenance local.
While we recognize the complexity of large-scale procurement decisions, this development highlights the importance and value of strengthening British Columbia’s domestic shipbuilding capacity — and ensuring local industry has the opportunity to compete on future builds.
North Vancouver is home to a highly skilled marine sector, including shipyards, suppliers, and tradespeople ready to contribute to major public projects. Keeping shipbuilding in B.C. creates high-value jobs while strengthening our regional economies.
Resources
News releases
- BC Ferries News Release: BC Ferries selects shipyard to construct four New Major Vessels
- Seaspan News Release: BC Ferries will not be built in BC
Local response
- North Shore News – B.C. Ferries selects Chinese shipyard to build major vessels
- CBC – B.C. shipyard contracted to build federal vessels but not local ferries
- Vancouver Sun – Opinion: We’re not just outsourcing ships. We’re outsourcing opportunity
Federal response
- Business in Vancouver – Transport committee will study BC Ferries’ receiving $1B loan for Chinese ships
