Esquimalt Graving Dock (Victoria)

 dock (maritime), shipyard, shipbuilding, drydock

www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/pac/cse-egd/index-eng.html

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Built: 1925

The Esquimalt Graving Dock (EGD) is a popular location for shipbuilding, repair and refit work for:
- cruise ships based on the west coast (Alaska, Hawaii and Mexican Riviera cruise ships);
- Bulk and general cargo vessels travelling to Alaska and the Pacific Rim; and
- Canadian vessels - especially the Department of National Defense and British Columbia Ferry Services Inc.

The facility, which can drydock and repair vessels of up to 100,000 deadweight tonnes, is owned by the Federal Government's Public Works & Government Services of Canada and is leased to private ship repair/shipbuilding firms such as Victoria Shipyards ( www.seaspan.com/vicship/ ), Canadian Maritime Engineering (now owned by Victoria Shipyards), Esquimalt Drydock Co. Ltd ( www.esquimaltdrydock.com/ ) and Intercon Marine.

Recent projects include the ongoing Halifax Class Modernization/Frigate Life Extension (HCM/FELEX) program to refit five of Canadian Navy's Halifax class Frigates, construction of eight Orca Class patrol boats for Canadian Navy and five Cape Class motor life boats for Canadian Coast Guard, and the assembly and launch of Translink's new aluminum passenger SeaBus ferry "Burrard Pacific Breeze" in July 2009.

In fall 2009 a new submarine maintenance facility hangar was erected for maintenance of Canada's submarine fleet. First up is the 2-year Extended Docking Work Period (EDWP) for refit of the submarine HMCS Chicoutimi which will commence in July 2010. The Chicoutimi, badly damaged in a 2004 fire on its delivery voyage from the UK to Canada, was transported to EGD from Halifax in spring 2009 aboard the heavy lift vessel MV Tern.

EGD is extending the drydock basin eastward by 100 feet to facilitate the FELEX program and the regular refit of BC Ferries fleet while continuing to provide adequate drydock facilities for cruise ship refits and other works.

EGD's south jetty is referred to by CFB Esquimalt as "E Jetty", and is often used by the Royal Canadian Navy.

EGD has three heavy-lift traveling cranes, of the Level Luffing type: on the north side of the drydock and capable of travelling along the north landing wharf are the enormous Krupp (150-tonne capacity) and a 30-tonne Ebco crane. A new 30-tonne KONE level luffing crane was installed in 2010 on the south side of the drydock. The 45-tonne Colby Hammerhead Crane that was in place since the graving dock opened, has been retired.

In October 2011, Seaspan Shipyards (owner of Victoria Shipyards) was awarded a CAD$8 Billion contract for construction of 7 or 8 non-combat ships under the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS). The ships will be constructed at Vancouver Shipyards, with final outfitting to be done at EGD. In advance of the program, Seaspan will spend $30 million to upgrade facilities at EGD, including construction of the Completion Shops and office building on the south jetty.

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