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.”