Ordering A New Ferry For Canadian CTMA: Not A Piece Of Cake
CTMA badly needs a new ferry to replace the 1973-built CTMA VACANCIER.
In December the Prime Minister promised a new ferry. The newbuilding would largely benefit local companies. Davie Shipyard is the largest Québec-based shipyard.
The suppliers of the Davie Shipyard are united in a group, the AFCDC (l’Association des fournisseurs du Chantier Davie Canada) and they are not happy with the state of affairs with the Governement of Québec. The latter has promised to subsidize the new ferry for CTMA, if 30% of the ferry is related to supplying companies from Québec.
AFCDC’s president Pierre Drapeau says that 30% is not enough to guarantee that the ferry will be built at the Davie Shipyard. He says that several foreign shipyards are also in the running, and says it is difficult to compete with yards using cheap labour etc.
On August 17 Davie Shipyard submitted an offer for the new ferry, “with no risks and totally privately-funded.” The yard says that nothing has to be paid until the ship is ready and built according to the specifications. The yard adds that 70% of the cost involves local companies and that the ferry has a competitive price.
It is now up to the Government from Québec and CTMA to take a decision.
