Hepburn Engineering to build replenishment-at-sea system for Davie’s Resolve-Class ship
by Canadian Manufacturing.com Staff
Replenishment ship will supply RCN with fuel and other necessities
ETOBICOKE, Ont.—Hepburn Engineering, a marine products and services company, has announced it has signed an agreement with Canada’s largest shipbuilder, Chantier Davie Canada, for the supply of a Replenishment-At-Sea system for its Resolve-Class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment ship.
The Government of Canada announced Aug. 1 it would allow Davie to start limited activities to advance the schedule in the Royal Canadian Navy’s Project Resolve. It said the first Joint Support Ship is anticipated to be operational in late 2020.
RAS equipment enables naval vessels to be refueled and resupplied ship-to-ship while on the open ocean, even under severe weather conditions. Hepburn said this allows naval vessels and task groups to deploy long distances from home-port and to stay “on station” for prolonged periods. It added that RAS equipment is the key maritime enabler underpinning a ‘blue water navy’
“We are very pleased to be working with Davie Shipbuilding on this truly innovative and exciting program,” John Hepburn, Hepburn president, said.
“Hepburn supplied the RCN with RAS gear over 45 years ago and we have provided the ‘in-service support’ since. Clearly we are delighted to now be supplying our navy with the latest generation of equipment,” he added.
The company said the RAS equipment will be designed and supplied from Hepburn’s facilities in Etobicoke, Ont.
