Transportation and Works
November 29, 2010
First New Provincial
Ferry Enters Final Phase of Construction
The first of the Provincial Government's
two new medium-size ferry vessels, currently under construction at the
Kiewit Offshore Services, Cow Head Facility near Marystown is entering
the final phase of construction. The Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister
of Transportation and Works, visited the facility today to view the load
out of the first vessel. He was joined by the Honourable Clyde Jackman,
Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture and MHA for Burin-Placentia West;
the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Education and MHA for Grand Bank;
and, Calvin Peach, MHA for Bellevue.
"It is great to have the opportunity to
see the first of these two new vessels now entering the final phase of
construction," said Minister Hedderson. "Once completed, they will be
state of the art and serve the people of the province for many years to
come. These are the first ferry vessels to be constructed within the
province in nearly 20 years and we are certainly looking forward to
putting them into service."
As it entered the final phase of
construction, the first vessel was moved out of the fabrication building
at the Cow Head Facility for the first time since construction began.
Today it will be loaded onto a barge which will be used to transport it
to the old Marystown Shipyard. Later in the week, it will be lowered
into the water via the synrcrolift at that facility.
From there, it will be towed back to Cow
Head where the vessel's interior will be completed at dockside over the
next six to seven weeks. It will then undergo several days of sea trials
before the Provincial Government formally takes receipt of the completed
vessel which is expected to take place in late January 2011. The
Provincial Government's second new medium-size vessel, also under
construction at the Cow Head Facility, is expected to be completed in
early March 2011.
"This will be the first ferry vessel to
be completed in the province since the MV Flanders was constructed here
in Marystown in the early 1990s," said Minister Jackman. "The entire
Burin Peninsula region is benefiting from the construction of this
vessel and its sister ship still under construction at Cow Head. Once
completed, I am confident both vessels will be a source of pride for
this region and its workforce for a long time to come."
"As construction on this first vessel
enters the home stretch, we eagerly anticipate its completion and the
opportunity to celebrate that achievement," said Minister King. "Both
vessels under construction are impressive indeed and speak to the
ability of our workforce to undertake major fabrication work and to
deliver quality products."
"It is great to see this first new vessel
outside the fabrication building," said Mr. Peach. "The progress to date
is the fruit of the hard work of a great many people from throughout the
region and I am confident that this will be an impressive vessel once it
enters service."
Budget 2010:
The Right Investments — For
Our Children and Our Future
allocated a record $1 billion for provincial
infrastructure investments, for a total infrastructure strategy valued
at more than $5 billion over the next several years. As part of this
investment, $55 million is allocated in 2010-11 to continue with the
vessel replacement strategy. Including these medium-size vessels under
construction, the Provincial Government is currently engaged in various
stages of work towards the construction of ten new vessels for the
provincial service.
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Media contacts:
Roger Scaplen
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 697-5267
rogerscaplen@gov.nl.ca
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Andrew Tobin
Executive Assistant to
Hon. Clyde Jackman
MHA Burin—Placentia West
709-729-7967
andrewwtobin@gov.nl.ca
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Corey Parsons
Constituency Assistant to
Hon. Darin King
MHA Grand Bank
709-832-2531
coreyparsons@gov.nl.ca
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Donna Ivey
Communications Manager
Government Members Office
709-729-0898, 697-1424
donnaivey@gov.nl.ca
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2010 11 29 10:35 a.m.
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