Defence Minister announces new jetties in dockyard

Last week, Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, announced plans to replace the existing A and B jetties in CFB Esquimalt’s dockyard.

With the grey hulls of naval warships looming in the background, Minister of National Defence Peter MacKay stood before base civilian and military personnel assembled on A jetty and announced a major project for the betterment of the navy.

Both A and B jetty will be replaced by a more sophisticated berthing system.  

The project will cost between $430 and $530 million, and will create an estimated 1,400 local jobs.

“The government has already awarded two design contracts to AMEC of Halifax and Stantec Consulting of Vancouver. It will be very good news for the workers and businesses in the community,” said Minister MacKay. “Esquimalt and the surrounding region will see significant economic benefits from this project when it’s fully underway.”

Once completed, the project will provide berthing space for four frigates, two Arctic offshore patrol vessels, one auxiliary oiler replenishment ship and two submarines.

Fleet and warship size have outgrown the existing jetties.

New steel and concrete pile jetties will replace the existing treated wood jetties that were originally built in the 1940s and have reached the end of their life.

This project will also replace electrical wiring and telecommunications cables in order to meet modern standards.

Design for the new jetties is expected to be ready in 2014 with construction to follow after the tender process is completed.

In anticipation of this work, and to enhance habitat diversity, CFB Esquimalt constructed a series of underwater artificial reefs within the western entrance of the harbour in conjunction with Fisheries and Oceans in 2012.

This infrastructure work represents phase two and three of a three-phased project. In June 2012 a construction contract valued at $19.7 million was awarded to Scansa Construction Ltd. for the construction of a utility corridor currently being built in dockyard.

-Shelley Lipke, Staff Writer