In a perfect world, the dry dock at the Victoria Shipyards would always be full and Joe OB次元官网网址橰ourke could run 800 staff per day.

But after 30 years of working in the shipyard industry, he knows thatB次元官网网址檚 never going to happen. OB次元官网网址橰ourke is happy with the amount of work thatB次元官网网址檚 come in to the shipyard (owned by North VancouverB次元官网网址檚 Seaspan ULC) since he arrived from Portland, Ore. 10 months ago to take the reins as general manager. But heB次元官网网址檚 also actively bidding on a lot more commercial work, specifically aiming at markets in the U.S. due to the low Canadian dollar.

B次元官网网址淚 feel confident that Victoria Shipyards are going to continue to grow, albeit on a cycle. Some years are down versus others just because thereB次元官网网址檚 only so much in that market you can grab,B次元官网网址� said OB次元官网网址橰ourke, noting the first six months of the year are busy, but after that the workload is fairly light.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e trying to fill the gaps as much as possible.B次元官网网址�

Compared to previous years, the work at the shipyards has been fairly stable. Six years ago, a lack of contracts dropped the number of workers significantly, but one year it reached as high as 1,200. OB次元官网网址橰ourke expects to have 550 to 600 direct people working on vessels in the future.

Much of the stable work is due to the frigate and submarine program with the Royal Canadian Navy, which has been a consistent source of revenue for the last five years with contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars. According to OB次元官网网址橰ourke, the navy work (under prime contractor Lockheed Martin Canada) involves part modernization (with new combat systems) and part life expansion.

There is never a day that employees donB次元官网网址檛 have some job theyB次元官网网址檙e working on that takes at least 100 tradespeople.

The shipyardB次元官网网址檚 workforce rarely, if ever, falls below 300.

B次元官网网址淵ou want to take a vessel and make enough improvements and bring it up to a standard thatB次元官网网址檚 going to extend its life out,B次元官网网址� said OB次元官网网址橰ourke, adding there are many changes to sensor and weapon systems.

During the peak of the program, 485 workers were employed B次元官网网址� including many who reside on the West Shore B次元官网网址� but that number now hovers around 350. After 11 months, work on the fifth frigate, HMCS Regina, will be completed this spring. After that, OB次元官网网址橰ourke said the shipyards will continue to do work off and on for the navy thanks to a contract that runs through 2018. The navy submarine HMCS Corner Brook is also now in the yard and will be brought up to date with the latest systems during the next two years.

B次元官网网址淚t (work) wonB次元官网网址檛 be as high as it was before, but itB次元官网网址檚 still going to be very substantial and more substantial than it was prior to the modernization program,B次元官网网址� said OB次元官网网址橰ourke, noting the shipyard is like a glorified gas station with a repair function.

B次元官网网址淚t (the shipyard) is not a factory that processes things. To some end your work load is determined by whatB次元官网网址檚 available, by what the customer will give you. You can go and seek more markets, but there are periods where nobody has repair needs so you train your organization that itB次元官网网址檚 ready to go down to 350 people or max back up to 1,000.B次元官网网址�

The large graving dock at the shipyards can hold three small vessels or one large cruise ship B次元官网网址� a lucrative industry the company has also managed to tap into.

In December, the Ruby Princess was pulled into the dry dock with a refit contract worth around $5 million that employed as many as 330 people. Putting in 10 to 12 hour shifts every day, workers had 10 days to install two giant emission scrubbers and replace the bow thrusters.

Adding to the pressure of an already intense job with tight deadlines, the work was done in some of the worst weather OB次元官网网址橰ourke has worked in. Crane services were taken down seven times in 10 days due to safety reasons.

Ruby Princess was the third cruise ship to have scrubbers installed in the Victoria Shipyards. Two more cruise ships are scheduled for work in April and May, and another two are booked in the fall of 2017. The shipyards also do general commercial work with B.C. Ferries, tow ships, fishing vessels and barges.

The work with the navyB次元官网网址檚 frigate modernization program has also been noticed overseas. Negotiations have yet to be finalized, but starting in 2017 the New Zealand navy would see the first of two aging frigates updated in Victoria. Each ship is expected to be here for about six months, providing 300 to 400 jobs during that period.

editor@goldstream gazette.com