Category: News

A groundbreaking tripartite alliance between Fincantieri, Vard Marine (VARD), and Sandock Austral Shipyards is poised to reshape the landscape of African maritime security. This strategic collaboration, unveiled today, centers around the Afrika Offshore Patrol Vessel (VARD 7 055), a testament to the alliance's commitment to empowering Africa's maritime security agencies.

The VARD 7 055, a 53-meter patrol vessel based upon proven in-service vessels yet tailored specifically for the African operating environment, is a symbol of self-reliance and innovation. Built in Africa, for Africa, by Africa, this vessel seamlessly blends world-class technology with cost-effectiveness, offering a potent solution to address the continent's diverse maritime challenges.

This landmark initiative bestows exclusive marketing and manufacturing rights for the VARD 7 055 upon Sandock Austral Shipyards across sub-Saharan Africa, backed by both the global reputation of Fincantieri and VARD. This strategic positioning will not only generate substantial employment opportunities but also stimulate the development of a robust maritime supply chain in South Africa. The alliance's focus on skills and technology transfer will further enrich the local workforce, contributing to the nation's economic growth.

The Africa Free Trade Agreement and Defense Cooperation Agreements provide a fertile ground for this collaboration to thrive. Sandock Austral Shipyards, capitalizing on its strategic location and competitive advantage, is primed to bring significant commercial value to this alliance. The positive repercussions of this endeavor are expected to extend far beyond the maritime sector, fostering broader economic development across the African continent.

The VARD 7 055 itself is a testament to cutting-edge engineering, purpose-built to address the multifaceted challenges facing African navies, coast guards and law enforcement agencies. Its adaptability, robust seakeeping capabilities, and fuel efficiency make it an ideal platform for a wide array of missions, from maritime security and fisheries enforcement to search and rescue and counter-piracy operations. The vessel's affordability and ease of maintenance, coupled with local support capabilities, ensure its sustainability and longevity.  These are all attributes that contemporary VARD OPV designs are known for.

This tripartite alliance signifies a paradigm shift in Africa's approach to maritime security. It underscores the continent's determination to harness its own resources and capabilities, fortified by international collaboration, to navigate towards a safer and more prosperous future. As we approach the Africa Aerospace and Defense Conference and Exhibition 2024, this alliance stands as a beacon of progress, poised to usher in a new era of African maritime prowess.

About the Companies:

• Fincantieri: One of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups, renowned for its expertise in naval vessel construction.
• Vard Marine: A leading naval architecture and marine engineering company, specializing in innovative vessel designs and a global reference player in OPV design.
• Sandock Austral Shipyards: The largest shipyard in Southern Africa, offering a competitive, low-cost manufacturing base.

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 (NSS). In conjunction with Team Vigilance partner companies Thales Canada, Ontario Shipyards, SH Defence, and Fincantieri, VIGILANCE will provide the RCN with a lightweight and operationally versatile military asset that is highly capable and globally deployable. VIGILANCE can perform all roles of the existing MCDV, while also fulfilling crucial naval warfare duties beyond the capabilities of both the MCDV and the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels (AOPV), including in the littoral battlespace.

This collaboration ensures Team Vigilance can meet the needs of the RCN’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.

Glamox Inc. (Canada) – a Preferred Supplier to Team Vigilance

At CANSEC earlier this year, it was announced that VARD has named Glamox Inc. Canada (Glamox) as a preferred supplier to Team Vigilance. Established in 1991, Glamox is Canada's leading marine lighting manufacturer and supplier, having provided complete lighting systems for all the RCN Fleet, from the Halifax Class Canadian Patrol Frigates right through to the new AOPV and Joint Support Ship programs, and all classes in-between.  With the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) fleet, this includes full lighting packages to the current new-build programs: Polar Ice Breaker, Multi-Purpose Vessels and Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel.

In addition to Canadian programs, Glamox takes pride on its involvement in many other overseas projects, including US Navy programs.  One of them was the TAK-E program (14 new build dry cargo/ammunition support ships), where Glamox supplied over 70,000 fittings to the project.

Glamox’s vision, “Creating light for a better life,” is incorporated in all Glamox lighting designs and applications. Glamox can fulfill the marine lighting requirements for all interior and exterior lighting on board, providing market-leading marine LED solutions specifically designed for long life and minimal maintenance, whilst providing high quality lighting for the safety and well-being of the crew.

Offering more complex and communicative Light Management Systems (LMS) for surface ships and submarines can provide significant advantages over standalone lighting including diagnostics, global commands and integration with damage control / fire detection systems providing visual indications in various scenarios. Human Centric Lighting can also be implemented, aiding the circadian rhythm for ship’s crew, increasing alertness and well-being. NVIS / NVG compatibility can also be incorporated into a wide range of lighting.

Glamox produces specially designed navy floodlights and navigation light systems, as well as advanced searchlight solutions using LED and HMI that can include night vision cameras, ability to communicate with bridge equipment and more. It also provides complete naval Helicopter Visual Landing Aid Systems (HVLAS).

By including Glamox as a preferred supplier, the Vigilance design will feature the company’s extensive experience with new build programs which can support these projects from early design stages using Glamox proprietary light calculation program (Optiwin 3D Pro) and in-house expertise. Glamox engineering support continues throughout the shipbuilding process to vessel completion. Full in-service support for the end-user can then be provided for the lifetime of the vessel.  Glamox is currently managing obsolescence on the older RCN and CCG vessels, providing innovative LED lighting solutions with same fit form function that will take these vessels to end-of-life.  This includes nearly 17,000 purpose designed LED retrofit and replacement solutions for obsolete fluorescent fixtures, floodlights, berth lights and more on the Halifax class ships, proudly designed and produced by Glamox at its full manufacturing facility in Newfoundland, Canada.  

Derek Buxton, Vice President Business Development, Vard Marine Inc., said, “We remain fully committed to the principle that VIGILANCE will be designed, built and equipped in Canada. Lighting is a critical part of any ship design and has a significant impact on the well-being and safety of the ships crew.  As a Canadian manufacturer of quality marine lighting solutions, with a proven record of supplying and supporting RCN vessels for over 30 years, bringing Glamox into the Preferred Suppliers Program is an easy decision. Their market leading and innovative solutions will ensure that VIGILANCE will have the opportunity to be fitted with the most current marine lighting technology available.”

Damian Coleman, Sales Manager of Glamox Inc. (Canada), said, “We are very proud of our many achievements over the years, especially our involvement with the Royal Canadian Navy vessels, old and new, and the support and solutions that we continue to provide.  We have a fantastic and dedicated team here in Canada and appreciate the recognition and selection as a Preferred Supplier to this program.”

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 (NSS). In conjunction with Team Vigilance partner companies Thales Canada, Ontario Shipyards, SH Defence, and Fincantieri, VIGILANCE will provide the RCN with a lightweight and operationally flexible military asset that is highly capable and globally deployable. VIGILANCE can perform all roles of the existing MCDV, while also fulfilling crucial naval warfare duties beyond the capabilities of both the MCDV and the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels (AOPV), including in the littoral battlespace.

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.

DEW a Preferred Supplier to Team Vigilance

At a pre-CANSEC event earlier this year, it was announced that VARD has named DEW Engineering and Development ULC (DEW) as a preferred supplier to Team Vigilance. DEW recently signed a Teaming Agreement with SH Defence as an experienced payload supplier and integrator for The Cube™ multi-mission module system and as a Canada-based production, sustainment, and marketing partner.

Established in 1978, DEW is a leading Canadian defence manufacturing company. With plants in Ottawa, Ontario and Miramichi, New Brunswick, DEW has a 45+ year history of successfully designing, testing, manufacturing, delivering, and supporting a broad range of defence equipment and materiel. DEW has a history of delivering quality shelters and containerised mission systems to the RCN from dive shelters to Deployable Fuel Test Laboratories. All DEW products are completely ITAR free.

DEW and SH Defence are ideal partners for Team Vigilance in the quest to be more operationally efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable in the Canadian naval and maritime domain.

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 continue to leverage the best that Canadian industry has to offer from companies like DEW that remain a trusted source of supply of critical components for RCN operations. VIGILANCE also aims to assist in the ongoing creation and development of a true strategic capability across all aspects of the shipbuilding value chain.

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

“We remain fully committed to the principle that VIGILANCE will be designed, built, equipped, and sustained in Canada. Modularity and the embarkation of mission payloads is a fundamental principle around which VIGILANCE is designed and thus the ability to manufacture and sustain them right here in Canada is therefore a fundamental element in developing a true sovereign domestic shipbuilding capability. Bringing DEW into the Preferred Suppliers Program is an easy decision given their long-term and successful track record of supplying systems that are critical for enabling RCN mission success.  Their partnership with SH Defence is also emblematic of the enduring economic benefit created by the Vigilance program.”

Ian Marsh, president of DEW Engineering and Development ULC, said,

“DEW is very pleased to be named a Preferred Supplier to Team Vigilance. In partnership with SH Defence we are well positioned to promote, design, manufacture and support Cube™ mission modules and to integrate mission payloads into The Cube™ multi-mission module eco-system in Canada for the Canadian marketplace.”

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 (NSS). In conjunction with Team Vigilance partner companies Thales Canada, Ontario Shipyards, SH Defence, and Fincantieri, VIGILANCE will provide the RCN with a lightweight and operationally flexible military asset that is highly capable and globally deployable. VIGILANCE can perform all the roles of the existing MCDV, while also fulfilling crucial naval warfare duties beyond the capabilities of both the MCDV and the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels (AOPV).

This collaboration ensures Team Vigilance can meet the needs of the RCN’s future Multi-Mission Corvette program 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.

SSI introduced as a Preferred Supplier to Team Vigilance at Mari-Tech 2024

This May at Mari-Tech 2024 in St. John’s, NL, Vard Marine and Ontario Shipyards announced SSI, a global leader in shipbuilding software solutions, as a preferred supplier. This partnership leverages SSI’s innovative digital shipbuilding platforms to enhance Team Vigilance’s design, engineering, and production capabilities, reinforcing SSI's commitment to supporting digital transformation across Canadian shipbuilding.

Joining Team Vigilance as a Preferred Supplier allows SSI to share their decades of shipbuilding technology expertise and experience supporting digital transformation for military ship designers and builders. This announcement also further cements SSI’s role as a key player in enhancing Canada’s sovereign naval capabilities.

SSI has been at the forefront of digital shipbuilding transformation for over 30 years, offering specialized software, services, and expertise tailored to the unique needs of shipbuilders. SSI’s flagship products, ShipConstructor and ShipbuildingPLM, are integral components of their Digital Shipbuilding Platform. This comprehensive, open architecture solution integrates seamlessly with other systems, ensuring a unified source of truth for shipbuilding project information throughout the entire lifecycle.

Adopting the SSI solution will give all Team Vigilance partners and Preferred Suppliers a unified connection to a digital twin for the entire Vigilance class, as well as for the individual vessels as they are designed, built, and set into service. Simultaneously, it will provide the RCN, and their selected in-service support partners, access to the digital thread required to execute maintenance, repair, and overhaul activities, giving them a modern and complete overview of their vessels - both as-built and as-maintained.

David Males, Director of Business Development for SSI, stated, "At SSI, we are thrilled to join Team Vigilance as a Preferred Supplier. Our commitment over the past 34 years has been to drive forward the digital transformation in shipbuilding, and this announcement is an extension of that. We are proud to support Canadian shipbuilding through our innovative technologies and comprehensive expertise working with defense designers and builders. Joining Team Vigilance further cements our role as a key player in enhancing Canada’s naval capabilities."

Alicia Nash, Vice President of Operations at Ontario Shipyards, said, “As we work towards the revitalization of the shipbuilding industry in Ontario, a critical component will be the adoption and implementation of cutting-edge technology in the shipbuilding process. With the addition of SSI to Team Vigilance, we ensure that we have a strong foundation of technological expertise, which will allow us to successfully deliver the future Multi-Mission Corvette for the Royal Canadian Navy.”

Derek Buxton, Vice President Business Development, Vard Marine Inc., said, “The SSI software suite offers a complete solution for design, engineering and construction. It is the only home-grown Canadian solution of its type and SSI has achieved huge export success, being for the design, construction, and sustainment of defense projects across North America and in shipyards around the globe. Being true to our core motivating principle that VIGILANCE will be designed, built and equipped in Canada, we are very pleased to announce that the SSI solution will be deployed at Ontario Shipyards if we are selected to deliver the Vigilance Class to the Royal Canadian Navy.”

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 (NSS). In conjunction with Team Vigilance partner companies Thales Canada, Ontario Shipyards, SH Defence, and Fincantieri, VIGILANCE will provide the RCN with a lightweight and operationally flexible military asset that is highly capable and globally deployable. VIGILANCE can perform all the roles of the existing MCDV, while also fulfilling crucial naval warfare duties beyond the capabilities of both the MCDV and the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels (AOPV).

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.

IDS North America a Preferred Supplier to Team Vigilance

At CANSEC 2024, it was announced that Montreal-based IDS North America Ltd. (IDSNA) has been recognized as a Preferred Supplier to Team Vigilance. IDSNA is a Canadian company and subsidiary of the Italian-based IDS S.p.A., a Fincantieri NexTech company. IDSNA offers cutting-edge high-tech solutions to the defence and security industry. The company has deep knowledge and expertise in products and services applicable to the naval sector, as well as specialized engineering and smart infrastructures.  

IDSNA has its roots in IDS, which was founded in 1980. The company was, and still is, serving the very niche market of electromagnetic design and engineering, covering critical aspects of naval combatant design such and EMC and  EMI. Leveraging decades of experience, the IDSNA team of seasoned professionals and technology experts offers unique and customer-tailored solutions. Today IDSNA, as a part of Fincantieri NexTech Group, has extended its portfolio here in Canada to include integrated logistics support, simulation and training solutions.

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 continue to leverage the best that Canadian industry has to offer from companies like IDSNA that remain a trusted source of electromagnetic design and engineering, ILS and training and simulation solutions and services. VIGILANCE also aims to assist in the ongoing creation and development of a true sovereign capability across all aspects of the shipbuilding value chain.

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

“We remain committed to leveraging VIGILANCE to help generate a true sovereign shipbuilding capability across all areas of the shipbuilding value chain.  This includes the areas of electromagnetic engineering and integrated logistics support critical to any naval newbuilding program.  Bringing IDSNA into the Preferred Suppliers Program is an easy decision given the suite of services they offer and the strong potential for knowledge and technology transfer from the impressive list of Fincantieri NexTech family of companies.”

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 (NSS). In conjunction with Team Vigilance partner companies Thales Canada, Ontario Shipyards, SH Defence, and Fincantieri, VIGILANCE will provide the RCN with a lightweight and operationally flexible military asset that is highly capable and globally deployable. VIGILANCE can perform all roles of the existing MCDV, while also fulfilling crucial naval warfare duties beyond the capabilities of both the MCDV and the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels (AOPV), including in the littoral battlespace.

This collaboration ensures Team Vigilance can meet the needs of the RCN’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.

Thordon Bearings – a Preferred Supplier to Team Vigilance

VARD has named Thordon Bearings Inc. (Thordon) as a preferred supplier to Team Vigilance. The Burlington, Ontario-based innovator secured its first naval contract in the early 1990s, supplying first-generation COMPAC bearing systems for installation to the RCN’s Halifax-class frigates and Oberon-class submarines. Since then, the company has supplied its bearings and seals to more than 50 Navies and Coast Guards around the world.

As part of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, Thordon Bearings has proudly supported the AOPS program, supplying COMPAC propeller shaft bearings to all ships in this series. 

By including Thordon as a preferred supplier, the Vigilance design will feature the company’s award-winning COMPAC seawater-lubricated propeller shaft bearings, SXL grease-free rudder bearings, and innovative SeaThigor mechanical face seals, which includes a unique “safe-return-to-port” function.  

The decision to include a Canadian propeller shaft and rudder bearings manufacturer is based on the performance, reliability, and low acoustic signature of the company’s propriety elastomeric propeller shaft bearings in naval applications spanning thirty years.

In addition to its lightweight hull, the design leverages the latest autonomous and mission system technology, with a modular mission bay for deck loadouts. Its capabilities are geared towards critical operational needs, including intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, subsea infrastructure protection, mine countermeasures, resource conservation, and maritime interdiction operations.

Derek S. Buxton, Vice President Business Development, Vard Marine Inc., said: “As a world leader in seawater-lubricated polymer bearing technology, bringing Thordon on board was an easy decision to render.  Given the fact that Thordon’s world-class products are manufactured right here at home and are already used throughout the RCN and CCG fleets means support costs will be greatly reduced over the entire life cycle of the Vigilance class.  Buying a Canadian product is also the right thing to do and reinforces the principle of creating enduring economic benefit right here at home.”

Scott Groves, Vice President Sales, Thordon Bearings, said: “We are thrilled to be part of the team offering this ground-breaking design. Vigilance is tailored specifically to meet future RCN requirements under the second pillar of the National Shipbuilding Strategy. The state-of-the-art design brings together a wealth of Canadian expertise capable of balancing operational flexibility, multi-mission versatility, and cost efficiencies with a vessel designed, built, and equipped in Canada.”

Anna Galoni, CEO & Chair, Thordon Bearings, said: “The unique properties of our COMPAC propeller shaft bearing system meets strict naval criteria not only in terms of bearing longevity, wear life and performance, but it has a lower coefficient of friction, greater shock resistance and a lower acoustic signature, compared to traditional naval bronze-backed rubber bearings. COMPAC ensures asset reliability.”