Davie shipyard considered to retrofit temporary naval supply ship

The federal government will have "preliminary discussions" with Quebec's Davie shipyard about retrofitting a commercialship to serve as a temporary naval supply ship, Defence Minister Jason Kenney announced today in Ottawa.

The discussions, starting tomorrow, will determine whether Davie could provide an interim solution "at a cost, time and level of capability acceptable to Canada and the Royal Canadian Navy," Kenney said.

• ANALYSIS |Canada's shipbuilding plan still at starting line

If the government chooses to enter into a contract with Davie to retrofit a ship, it would bridge the gap until a navy support ship is operational, expected in 2021.

The ship would have modest capabilities and wouldn't conduct full militaryoperations in high-threat or combatenvironments.

The move is necessary becauseexisting supply ships were forced into early retirement, such as HMCS Protecteur, decommissionedlast month. Its sister supply ship,HMCS Preserver, currently providing fuel service to the navy's Atlantic fleet,is also slated to be decommissioned ona date to be announced.

• HMCSProtecteur'selectrical system flagged as unsafe
• Protecteurtowed into home port inEsquimalt, B.C.
• Crew fought engine fire for 11 hours

The government's decade-long plan topurchase new supply ships is still in the design phase and construction has not yet begun.

Move forward quickly

Kenney said the government has been in "consultations" with a number of industry stakeholders since last year, ultimately choosing to explore the "real potential" in theproposal put forward by Davie.He addedit was the view of the cabinet that "this is a gap in our capabilities right now."

Davie shipyard is located in Levis, Que., the riding of Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney.

Unlikeother shipyards, Kenney said, Davie is unencumbered "with other huge projects for the Royal Canadian Navy."

"We, quite frankly, want to move forward with this as quickly as we can and not get bogged down in the kind of competitive process which sometimes hastaken years," Kenney said. "We don't have years. We need this capability as soon as we can quickly get it for the navy."

Last month, the navy bade farewell to HMCS Protecteur ata ceremony atCFBEsquimaltin British Columbia.The event marked almost 46 years of military service for the Canadiannavy supply ship, including the Cold War, Gulf War and hurricane relief.

Protecteur retired aftera devastating engine-roomfire in 2014, whichleft the ship burning, powerless and adrift off Hawaii for 11 hours. It wastowed toPearl Harbor, then towed back to its home port of Esquimalt, B.C.

In the meantime, Kenney said, the navy has found workarounds through flexible scheduling and relying on Canada's allies such as Chile and Spain.

The government's vaunted $35-billionshipbuilding strategy has faced a number of delays since it was launchedin 2010.