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Tactical communications for JSS Leonardo DRS (Booth 1511) has announced that its Canadian subsidiary, DRS Technologies Canada Ltd (DRS TCL), will be providing tactical integrated communications systems to Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards for the Royal Canadian Navy’s Joint Support Ship (JSS) programme. This subcontract, from Thales Canada, was awarded in support of the JSS total Internal Communication System contract and includes the provision of
the Secure Voice and Tactical Intercommunication System, the ship’s telephone system and the main broadcast and alarm system. In addition, DRS’s scope includes the flight deck communications system, the sound and selfpowered systems and the medical communications system. To satisfy the Canadian Navy’s Tactical and Secure Voice requirements, DRS TCL will provide its Shipboard Integrated Communications System (SHINCOM 3100) including
New momentum on the west coast Prime minister Justin Trudeau’s announcement last week that Seaspan Shipyards will build 16 new Multi-Purpose Vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard brings new momentum to Canada’s two-coast strategy. As builder of the combat ship portion of Canada’s national shipbuilding strategy, east coast-based Irving Shipbuilding’s Halifax yard on the Atlantic coast naturally gets most of the attention. However, 2,300 employees at Seaspan Shipyards – many of whom work at its integrated shipbuilding and maintenance facilities in Vancouver and Victoria on the Pacific Coast – have been quietly beavering away building non-combat vessels.
The company continues to repair and maintain Royal Canadian Navy Victoria-class submarines and Halifax-class frigates. Seaspan’s three-ship Offshore Fisheries and Science Vessel construction programme is also proceeding apace. The first two ships are slated to be delivered later
the helicopter audio distribution system, recorder storage units, and a selection of DRS TCL’s 3D spatial audio tactical terminals and ancillaries. For external communications, the company will provide the wideband audio network data switching system for automated switching of any source to any radio. SHINCOM 3100 is the latest generation in shipboard communications technology, which provides reliable, red/ black security-certified tactical communications for naval operators. SHINCOM was originally developed for the Canadian Patrol Frigate programme, and later installed on board the Iroquois-class destroyers and Protecteur-class auxiliary oiler ships of the Royal Canadian Navy. The system is already installed on board the Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class frigates, and with the United States Navy, the Royal Australian Navy, the Royal New Zealand Navy, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force, and the Republic of Korea Navy. For JSS, DRS TCL will produce two shipsets, the first of which will be delivered in early 2020. this year and the third is under construction. Company officials say Seaspan continues to build efficiencies as the initiative progresses. These include a 27 per cent productivity increase on the second ship and a further 30 per cent on the third. This provides great news both on the jobs and regional benefits fronts. Seaspan officials claim to have awarded more than C$870 million in contracts to 540 Canadian suppliers across the country, to have trained more than 200 apprentices and coached 75 intern engineers, architects,
AOPS PETER DIEKMEYER The announcement earlier this year that Irving Shipbuilding (Booths 1801 and M7) would design and build the 15 Canadian Surface Combatants was a significant boost to the company. But a problem remained: how to keep the cross-Canada supply chain and its 2,000 employees – programme managers, finance analysts and estimators, and ships’ planners during the past year. Yet Seaspan officials are far from satisfied. The company continues to invest in its Vancouver shipyard to build capacity for current and anticipated future work. Seaspan officials also worry about the potential effects of Trudeau’s announcement that the government is introducing a third shipyard – presumably Davie Shipbuilding of Levis, Quebec – into its national strategy. Canada’s joint support ship programme remains Seaspan’s biggest hope. Company officials said it has begun work on 18 blocks on the programme and is planning to start work on a further 27. However the real action will only begin once a formal contract is signed, which Seaspan officials hope will take place in the spring of 2020.
