ABCO Industries in Lunenburg was recently awarded a major contract from the federal government to repair search and rescue boats used by the Canadian Coast Guard.
The Lunenburg-based company was one of four companies selected from around the country to service some of the Coast Guard’s Cape Class vessels.
ABCO Director Jason Huskilson says these types of contracts are always a point of pride for his company. “Our staff takes a great deal of pride when they see the boats we work on involved in rescue missions across the country that means a lot to them,” Huskilson said.
In response to the contract announcement ABCO released this statement;
ABCO Industries Inc. is pleased to continue to support all levels of aluminum boat building across Canada. From lobster fishing boats to uncrewed surface vessels and regulatory boats like the ones in this Coast Guard Contract.
ABCO is proud to supply engineered and fully welded aluminum workboats that provide safe, quality, and valuable solutions.
As we’re doubling the fabrications floorspace of our facilities to 40,000 square feet and adding to our engineering and fabrication team ABCO is eager to utilize this increased capacity to work for the marine industry.
ABCO is proud to be a part of the Shipbuilding Strategy in Canada and we are excited to put our decades of experience in aluminum boat building to work for our community and our country for decades to come.
Huskilson also says a contract of this size offers a sense of financial security in addition to the ability to continue to grow the company.
ABCO, Lunenburg October 25, 2019
ABCO’s portion of the contract will see them repair and refit six boats over three years. They have an additional contract for another three Coast Guard boats and work on that contract has already begun.
The company has worked with the Coast Guard in the past, previously making some smaller rescue crafts that are currently in service.
The other companies selected include Ocean Pacific Marine (Campbell River, British Columbia), Hike Metal Products Ltd. (Wheatley, Ontario), and Industries Ocean Inc. (Saint-Bernard-sur-Mer, Quebec).
The entire contract will cost the federal government over $77 million with $10.8 million going to ABCO.
Minister of Public Services and Procurement Filomena Tassi says the contracts were awarded to companies that had a demonstrated ability to complete the work, reasonable cost proposals, and geographic proximity to the vessels in need of work.
