Canadian Coast Guard begins modernization of 1100 fleet.
A Burlington, Ont., firm has been awarded a $3-million contract to provide electrical system upgrade services for the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Sir Wilfrid Laurier.
Converteam will design, manufacture, supply and warrant the upgrade to the existing propulsion system, supply a new bow thruster system and supply new drive systems and motors for the existing cranes.
The company will also provide operator training program for each system. Most of the work for the contract will be performed by Converteam's Pittsburgh office.
The CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier is a 7,040-horsepower light icebreaker that operates in the western Arctic Ocean, with a mission of keeping shipping lanes open for cargo transport ships.
Its home port is Victoria, B.C., but it is frequently in Halifax Harbour. ( Actually the Newspaper has it wrong-the 1100's frequently seen here are the Sir William Alexander and Edward Cornwallis)
It was launched in 1986 and carries a crew of 26.