Department of National Defense Awards $8.9M Platform Testing Contract to LeeWay Marine
December 1, 2021 (Ottawa, ON) - Our Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) must be well equipped and prepared for operations at home and abroad in order to support the safety and security of Canadians. The Government of Canada is supporting this requirement by investing in the Naval Experimentation and Testing - Engineering and Charter Services (NEXT-ECS).
Today, Defence Minister Anita Anand announced a contract with LeeWay Marine of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. With an initial value of $8.9M (including taxes) for three years, this charter service will allow the Department of National Defence to test and trial new technologies, practices, and operations at sea – while allowing RCN vessels to continue operations.
This contract will help the RCN keep pace with technological evolutions and ensure that the best possible support can be provided to our warships, and to RCN members at sea.
Through this contract, the Government of Canada is supporting the ability to find novel and modern advantages for the Canadian Armed Forces, maintaining and creating approximately thirty Canadian jobs, and advancing Canadian innovation by investing in domestically-produced technologies.
LeeWay Marine is expected to begin testing by March 2022.
QUOTES
The diversity in the design of the LeeWay Fleet will offer the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) the opportunity to evaluate maritime defense technologies in a broad range of mission conditions. The RCN will have unprecedented access to testing innovative technologies at sea without impacting the operational tempo of the Naval fleet and with the confidence that the LeeWay team of experienced engineers and technologists can evaluate the applicability of the technology to warships. We are exceptionally honoured to offer our service to those who serve.
-Jamie Sangster, CEO, LeeWay Marine
Our Royal Canadian Navy is crucial to Canada’s security. Our government is committed to investing in our Navy so that it remains strong, operationally capable, and effective in the years to come. We will continue to invest in cutting-edge experimentation and testing so that our Navy is well-prepared to take on important missions at home and abroad.”
-The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence
“The Government of Canada is committed to providing members of the Royal Canadian Navy with the equipment they need to ensure their future operational effectiveness. This contract will allow for testing and evaluating novel technologies, practices and operations, in support of fleet modernization while generating economic and social benefits in Nova Scotia.”
-The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Public Services and Procurement
Media Contact: Jamie Sangster, [email protected]