Irving’s new fabrication facility in Dartmouth on Thursday saw the cutting of a piece of steel, but for the workers and dignitaries gathered for the occasion, it meant much more.
In the words of Irving Shipbuilding President Kevin McCoy, it means something very positive for the province and his company.
“Ships have started,” McCoy said.
“That’s the first bulkhead, if you will, of the first unit going into the first (Arctic offshore patrol ship),” he said.
The ceremonial steel-cutting marked the start of construction of the Harry DeWolf-class Arctic offshore patrol ships Irving is building in Halifax.
Federal Public Works Minister Diane Finley was on-hand to do the honours.
She says that though construction is just starting, both the province and the country are already feeling the economic benefits of the massive project.
“Although the (Arctic offshore patrol ships) are being built in Nova Scotia, the suppliers for them are coming from across the country,” Finley told the crowd.
According to Finely, Irving Shipbuilding has award $720-million in contracts so far.
The company says Nova Scotia has already seen $190-million in benefits from construction and the ship contracts.
Premier Stephen McNeil says Nova Scotians have been eagerly awaiting the start of construction.
“We're excited that it's finally moving,” he said.
“I think Nova Scotians had an expectation that it would be starting sooner through all the hype that happened when the original contract was awarded.”
McCoy said the piece of steel cut on Thursday will be used in the first of two test modules to be built this summer
He said they’ll be more than just practice, emphasizing that the pieces will go into the first ship.
“We call it a test module because we're taking a little bit of extra time on it this summer to make sure our processes are right,” he said.
The end of the test period and the start of full construction is scheduled to happen in September.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Rick Grant
