Author: Christine

At CANSEC 2023, Vard Marine Inc. (VARD), a Fincantieri company, proudly launched VIGILANCE, as their solution to replace the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) Kingston Class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDV) under pillar two of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy.  In conjunction with Team Vigilance partner companies Ontario Shipyards, Thales Canada, SH Defence, and Fincantieri, VIGILANCE will provide the RCN with a state-of-the-art, capable, operationally flexible, and globally deployable multi-mission naval vessel.

This collaboration ensures Team Vigilance can meet the needs of the Royal Canadian Navy’s future fleet with a tailored naval solution, striking the optimum balance between capability and cost, while also maintaining the life-cycle cost advantages VARD’s naval designs are known for.

As a part of the ongoing effort, Team Vigilance continues to assemble a broad coalition of Canadian companies that can offer important services and vital equipment to the program. Building a robust coalition is key to the core objective that VIGILANCE be designed in Canada, built in Canada, and equipped in Canada.  To this end, Team Vigilance launched their Preferred Suppliers Program at DEFSEC 2023 in Halifax last October.

Today, it is announced that VARD has named GeoSpectrum Technologies Inc. (GeoSpectrum) as a Preferred Supplier to Team Vigilance.  GeoSpectrum offers a multitude of naval equipment and systems including end-to-end integrated naval acoustic solutions.  Particularly noteworthy is the Towed Reelable Active Passive Sonar (TRAPS©), a compact modular system that was initially developed for and is deployed today on the MCDV.  Further, the modular approach adopted by GeoSpectrum for TRAPS© is consistent with the modular mission payload approach that is a core aspect of VARD’s design philosophy for VIGILANCE.

In addition to several successful domestic deployments, GeoSpectrum has an expanding international customer base. Domestically, TRAPS© with the RecView processing suite, has been purchased by and deployed with the RCN on both the Kingston Class and the Harry DeWolf Class, the latter of which recently circumnavigated North America including a passage through the Arctic.

Not only will VIGILANCE provide the sailors of the RCN and the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve the modern tools they need to protect Canada’s vital interests at home and abroad, it will also allow them to leverage the best that Canadian industry has to offer from companies like GeoSpectrum who succeed as international reference players in their respective market segments.

Derek Buxton, Vice President Business Development, Vard Marine Inc., said: “We are fully committed to the principle that VIGILANCE will be designed, built, and equipped in Canada.  Bringing GeoSpectrum on board as a Preferred Supplier to Team Vigilance, with the potential that their portfolio of innovative and leading-edge products offer, designed and manufactured right here in Canada, is an easy decision.  The fact that their equipment is already deployed in the existing fleet and performing critical functions in support of key RCN missions underscores the importance of their involvement in this program.”

Sean Kelly, Vice President Business Development, GeoSpectrum Technologies Inc., said: “This is a key strategic partnership for not only GeoSpectrum, but all Team Vigilance players and the Royal Canadian Navy. We are proud to provide a capability to Canada that is unsurpassed in the Naval environment while keeping Atlantic Canadians employed in sustainable jobs within the ocean sector.”

Vard Marine Inc. (VARD), a Fincantieri company, proudly launched the Vigilance Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) at CANSEC 2023 in conjunction with Team Vigilance partner companies Heddle Shipyards, Thales Canada, SH Defence, and Fincantieri.

This collaboration ensures Team Vigilance is able to meet the needs of the Royal Canadian Navy’s future fleet with a tailored naval solution, striking the optimum balance between operational adaptability while maintaining the life cycle cost advantages VARD’s naval designs are known for.

As a part of the ongoing effort, Team Vigilance is now working to assemble a broad coalition of Canadian companies that can offer important services and vital equipment to the program. Early identification of the members of this coalition will help to ensure Vigilance is designed in Canada, built in Canada, and equipped in Canada – a tenet of the Team Vigilance approach.  To this end, Team Vigilance launched their Preferred Suppliers Program at DEFSEC 2023 in Halifax last month.

Today, it is announced that VARD has selected Terragon Environmental Technologies Inc. (Terragon) as a preferred supplier to Team Vigilance to provide their expertise in environmental and waste management technologies, and to offer their leading-edge waste management systems into the Vigilance program.  The effective management of multiple waste streams is critical to meeting our overall objectives of delivering a green solution.  Vigilance will not only strive to meet current and future regulatory requirements anticipated over the life of the asset, but it will incorporate the latest commercially available green technology to achieve the aim of delivering a zero-waste vessel.

Terragon has developed the Micro Auto Gasification System, or MAGS^TM, which is a compact, efficient, and environmentally safe technology for the conversion of waste into thermal energy.  MAGS is currently being used on board various ships, including expeditionary cruise and commercial ships sailing in environmentally sensitive waters, to replace shipboard incinerators.  Waste streams that can be easily treated by MAGS, without the need for segregation, include but are not limited to paper/cardboard, plastics, food, oily rags, oils and sludges.

The Wastewater Electrochemical Treatment Technology or WETT^TM is an effective electrolytic wastewater treatment technology that can be used to generate reusable water or to treat water for safe discharge.  WETT can be configured to treat oily water (WETT-O), greywater (WETT-G) and blackwater/sewage (WETT-S).

Not only will Vigilance provide the sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve the modern tools they need to protect Canada’s vital interests at home and abroad, it will also allow them to lead the way and set the right example on environmental stewardship in the maritime domain.

Derek Buxton, Vice President Business Development, Vard Marine Inc., said: “We remain fully committed to the mantra that Vigilance will be designed, built and equipped in Canada.  Bringing Terragon on board as a Preferred Supplier to Team Vigilance, with their innovative and leading-edge technologies, designed and manufactured right here in Canada, was a no-brainer.  Their equipment is already deployed in support of both the RCN and the Canadian Coast Guard and has also been successfully exported to the cruise ship sector where environmental stewardship is afforded top priority.  We aim to offer a green solution to the RCN and with Terragon in our corner, we are well on our way to achieving this.”

Theodora Alexakis, Vice President Business Development, Terragon Environmental Technologies Inc., said: “Terragon is very pleased to be part of the esteemed Vigilance Team as a Preferred Supplier. Our primary goal at Terragon is to provide innovative, high performing, environmental technologies that are developed and manufactured in Canada.  We take pride that our mission aligns with that of this exceptional team.”

Vard Marine Inc (VARD), a Fincantieri company, proudly launched the Vigilance Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) at CANSEC 2023 in conjunction with Team Vigilance partner companies Heddle Shipyards, Thales Canada, SH Defense, and Fincantieri S.p.A.

This collaboration ensures Team Vigilance is able to meet the needs of the Royal Canadian Navy’s future fleet with a tailored naval solution, striking the optimum balance between operational adaptability while maintaining the life-cycle cost advantages VARD’s naval designs are known for.

As a part of the ongoing development effort, Team Vigilance is now working to assemble a broad coalition of Canadian companies that can offer important services and vital equipment to the program. Early identification of the members of this coalition will help to ensure Vigilance is designed in Canada, built in Canada, and equipped in Canada – a tenet of the Team Vigilance approach.  To this end, Team Vigilance has launched a Preferred Suppliers program.

Today, it is announced that VARD has selected American Bureau of Shipping Canada Inc. (ABS Canada) as a Preferred Supplier to Team Vigilance to provide Classification Society services and specialty engineering, in particular the application of their Light Warships, Patrol and High-Speed Naval Vessels rules, and their expertise in harsh environment operations. 

Additionally, a recent focus area for ABS Canada has been their work in certifying the use of Canadian‑made, CSA‑grade steel in shipbuilding projects. Thus, it is further announced today that ABS Canada has accepted the direct specification and use of CSA Standard steel for the design and construction of the Vigilance next generation OPV.

The ability to use of CSA Standard steels has significant benefits for Team Vigilance and the program writ large.  Leveraging local Ontario sources of supply will decrease project risk and cost while enhancing Team Vigilance’s value proposition with a higher direct Canadian content value.

Not only will the Vigilance Class provide the sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve the modern tools they need to protect Canada’s vital interests at home and abroad, it will also promote economic development in Canada and bring shipbuilding back to Ontario in a substantive way.

Derek Buxton, Vice President Business Development, Vard Marine Inc., said: “We remain fully committed to the mantra that VIGILANCE will be designed, built and equipped in Canada.  Bringing ABS Canada onboard as a Preferred Supplier to Team Vigilance, with their support on the use of CSA Standard steels as we continue to mature the design of the vessel, is a big step in that direction.”

James Bond, Vice President, American Bureau of Shipping Canada Inc., said: “ABS is excited to officially join Team Vigilance.  As the class society of the Royal Canadian Navy’s non-combatant fleet, the alignment of transition and fleet renewal simply makes sense. The application of the newest and comprehensive light warship rule set, coupled with CSA steels direct usage and the growing ABS Canada team of professionals across the country speaks to the ABS commitment to Canada.” 

Ted Kirkpatrick, Director of Business Development and Government Relations, Heddle Shipyards., said: “Ontario’s industrial supply chain is second to none, and steel production has long been the core of heavy industry across Ontario. With ABS as a preferred supplier of team vigilance, we have an even stronger path to bringing shipbuilding back to Ontario and leveraging the industrial might of this province.”

Vard Marine Inc. (VARD), a Fincantieri company, is proud to launch the Vigilance Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) at CANSEC 2023 in conjunction with Team Vigilance partner companies Heddle Shipyards, Thales Canada, SH Defence, and Fincantieri.

Collectively, Team Vigilance partner companies bring vast and impressive capabilities and experience to bear in naval ship design, Canadian and global shipbuilding, the integration of combat and offboard systems, modular payload systems, and life-cycle solutions. This collaboration ensures Team Vigilance is able to meet the needs of any naval operator in this space and beyond.

Tailored to the needs of the Royal Canadian Navy’s future fleet, Vigilance strikes the balance between flexibility, adaptability, and size, while maintaining the life-cycle cost advantages VARD’s naval designs are known for.  The vessel has been conceived for high-tempo sovereignty missions and engineered for global deployment and forward basing abroad. 

Cost effective and forward-looking, Vigilance will fulfill critical operational needs through a combination of organic and modular capabilities, enabling core naval mission such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, subsea infrastructure protection, mine countermeasures, resource conservation, and maritime interdiction operations. The seamless integration of the CUBE^TM plug-and-play mission module and payload handling system ensures Vigilance remains future-proof and can offer a true multi-mission capability regardless of the tasks assigned to the vessel.

Intended to satisfy projected future demands under the second pillar of the Government of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy as a replacement for the Kingston Class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels, these new ships will be designed, built, and equipped in Canada. 

Vigilance will provide the sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve the modern tools they need to protect Canada’s vital interests at home and abroad.

Derek Buxton, Vice President Business Development, Vard Marine Inc., said,

 “With our experience in designing modern multi-mission OPVs such as the RCN’s AOPS and the USCG’s Heritage Class Cutters, and the vast, aligned, experience of our Team Vigilance partners, we stand ready to support the Government of Canada throughout the ongoing conception, development, delivery, and deployment of their future offshore patrol vessel program."

Vard Marine Inc. has been awarded the contract to design a 70m Landing Craft Tank by Khulna Shipyard Ltd. The design contract was signed in October 2022 and work is now underway on the program. The ship building contract awarded to Khulna Shipyard Ltd of Bangladesh by the Bangladesh Navy will be a multi-stage program.

Based on the Vard 7 507 Landing Craft Series, these vessels are intended to operate in the Bay of Bengal to meet both wartime and peacetime requirements along the coast from Chattogram to St Martins and Mongla. The vessels are designed primarily for carrying out amphibious operations in the coastal areas of Bangladesh and for transporting landing forces, tanks, equipment and supplies. The vessels’ secondary missions during peacetime will be to transport relief goods and personnel for Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR) within Bangladesh and adjacent areas along the coast of the Bay of Bengal.

Wade Carson, President of Vard Marine Inc., said:

“This program is the beginning of what we hope to be fruitful relationship with Khulna Shipyard Ltd and of strategic importance to us in the landing craft sector. The unique requirements of this design presented Vard Marine Inc. an opportunity to demonstrate our versatility and exercise the full range of expertise within our design team to create a technically superior and cost-effective solution. We very much look forward to working with our new partners at Khulna Shipyards to bring this vital capability to the Bangladesh Navy.”

Managing Director, Khulna Shipyard Ltd said:

“It is really a milestone event in the shipbuilding history of the country. These landing craft tanks (LCT) will be constructed with the design and technical assistance from the VARD Marine Inc, Canada, one of the renowned ship design house in the world. It will be a wonderful experience working with VARD. I believe that both reputed companies can work together and deliver 3 in number State of Art LCTs to valued customer Bangladesh Navy. LCT will be deployed for carrying out amphibious operations in the coastal areas of Bangladesh and for transporting Landing Force/ Contingent. During peacetime, LCTs will be used to transport relief goods and personnel for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) within Bangladesh and adjacent coastal areas of the Bay of Bengal.  Inception of these vessels is surely going to augment the overall operational capability of Bangladesh Navy.”

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has awarded Approval in Principle (AiP) to Vard Marine Inc., a Fincantieri company, for its Vard 7 125 Next-Generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV).

The design of the 125-metre vessel is based on the successful Vard Series 7 OPV reference vessels and can be tailored to a broad range of military and naval missions. Enhancements include an upgraded weapons and sensors package, reduced acoustic, magnetic, and infrared signatures, along with minimized radar cross-section, Nuclear/Biological/Chemical defence, and improved damage control and survivability given compliance to military stability standards.

The vessel is offered as either a General Purpose (GP) or Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) variant. The vessel arrangement offers a multi-mission bay and a set-down area for containerized mission payloads, with a configuration that can be tailored to meet a variety of mission objectives.

LR is the first classification society to award AiP to the 125m offshore patrol vessel having completed an appraisal of the design, in accordance with the LR Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Naval Ships. The vessel design carries LR notations ✠ 100A1 NS2 Offshore Patrol Vessel, SA1, ✠ LMC and PSMR*.

The application of LR’s Naval Ship Rules and INSA’s Naval Ship Code are industry benchmarks; receiving approval to these standards offers additional assurance that the vessel’s design is fit for purpose and safe.

Kevin Humphreys, LR Americas Marine and Offshore President, said: “LR is delighted to have been selected as the first company to provide Approval in Principle for this vessel, the most modern variant of a very successful series of naval ships by Vard Marine. We have a longstanding working relationship with Vard and we are keen to continue supporting their growth and development”.

Derek Buxton, Vice President Business Development, Vard Marine Inc., said: “With our proven track record in the offshore patrol segment, and LR’s pedigree with naval programs, we are delighted to be working together in developing this enhanced product. We already have experience supporting many shipyards worldwide in constructing our offshore patrol vessel designs, so we are excited to now have an updated and enhanced design to support our customers and their evolving requirements with a highly capable yet cost-effective light-combatant naval solution.”

Meet LR (booth 1134) and Vard (booth 921/M2) at CANSEC, taking place 1-2 June 2022 at the EY Centre in Ottawa.

ABS has granted Approval in Principle (AIP) to Vard Marine for its 115-meter next generation offshore patrol vessel (NGOPV) design.

The VARD 7 115 NGOPV caters to a range of mission requirements, including air, surface, and sub-surface surveillance and engagement capabilities. The vessel arrangement offers a multi-mission bay and a set-down area for containerized mission payloads, with a configuration that can be tailored to meet a variety of mission objectives.

The vessel, which is to be unveiled at the Defence and Security Equipment International Show in London, was evaluated in accordance with the ABS Rules for Building and Classing Light Warships, Patrol and High-Speed Naval Vessels.  The design carries ABS notations: ✠A1, DV NAVAL CRAFT, Ⓔ, ✠AMS, ✠ ABCU, NIBS, R2.

“ABS is pleased to support VARD with this AIP based on our deep experience with classification, certification, and technical advisory services on advanced naval programs around the world,” said David Walker, ABS Vice President, Global Government Business Development.

“With our proven track record in the offshore patrol segment, and ABS’ record with naval programs, working together to deliver this project continues our collaborative approach to developing solutions for the now and the future,” said Wade Carson, CEO, Vard Marine Inc. “We already have experience supporting yards worldwide in constructing our offshore patrol vessel designs, so it is with great enthusiasm that we now have an updated and enhanced design to support our naval customers and their evolving requirements with a highly capable yet cost-effective solution.”