Canada To Seek Bids On $C43-Million Drydock For Use At Halifax Shipyards

A 43.5-million Canadian dollar agreement was signed recently for the purchase of an oversized Panamax floating dock for Halifax Shipyards of Nova Scotia.

The new dock will be capable of handling all types and sizes of vessels up to 115,000 dwt, and when commissioned will enable Halifax Shipyards to carry out repairs to the vast majority of vessels trading in the North Atlantic area.

The floating dock, tenders for which will be called for in early April, will be purchased by the Canadian Federal Government and the Provincial Government of Nova Scotia on an 80-20 costshare basis and owned by the Government of Nova Scotia. It will then be leased to Halifax Industries.

William J. Riley, president and chief executive officer of Halifax Industries, o w n e r - o p e r a t o r of Halifax Shipyards, said: "The new dock will mean that Halifax Shipyards can offer shipowners worldwide a complete service, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—regardless of the vessel's size. It will widen our potential market very considerably." The agreement to purchase the floating dock was signed jointly by the Honorable John Buchanan, Q.C., Premier of Nova Scotia, and the H o n o r a b l e Elmer Mackay, Canada's Federal Minister of the Department of Regional Economic Expansion.

When completed in 1981, the new dock will provide immediate additional employment for about 360 people, bringing the total labor force of the yard to over 1,000 employees. Construction of the drydock will cost 35 million Canadian dollars ar.d a further 8.5 million Canadian dollars will provide moorings, on-shore infrastructure and other equipment.

The dock will join Halifax Shipyards' other floating dock — the Scotiadock — which only recently came into operation. This dock (185 meters by 25.2 meters— about 607 feet by 83 feet) has a maximum l i f t i n g capacity of 16,000 tons.

The yard also operates a graving dock (length 172.9 meters— about 567 feet, draft over keel blocks 9.15 meters—about 30 feet, open width 24.4 meters—about 80 feet) as well as two slipways used for the construction of trawlers and five marine railways across the harbor at Dartmouth Marine Slips.

When completed, the new dock will be positioned inside the yard's operation on the Halifax side of the ice-free harbor.

Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 10, Mar 1980

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