The Department of National Defence has issued a $72-million tender as one phase of a major project to replace two jetties at CFB Esquimalt.
The project has a total budget of $781 million, a significant increase from the $430 million to $530 million initially estimated when the project was first announced in 2013. The Department of National Defence could not be reached to explain the reason for the budget increase.
Construction to replace A and B jetties is projected to create about 1,400 jobs over the life of the work.
The tender involves demolition of the existing B jetty at Dockyard and site preparation. Future work will include the rebuilding of B jetty, made of steel and concrete piles, followed by the demolition and rebuilding of A jetty.
Each jetty is expected to take 18 to 24 months to complete.
Both jetties are used for berthing operational warships leaving or returning from missions at sea.
The old jetties, made of treated wood, were built in the 1940s and are well past their service life. The military says they are too short and narrow.
The new jetties will be longer and better able to accommodate the modern ships that will eventually be added to the Pacific Fleet under the federal government’s national shipbuilding procurement strategy.
North Vancouver-based Seaspan, which owns Victoria Shipyards, is building two joint support ships, part of an $8-billion contract to build non-combat vessels.
When the vessels near completion, they will be brought to Victoria Shipyards in Esquimalt for final work and testing.
The jetties will also be equipped with new cranes to load and unload warships.
CFB Esquimalt base commander Capt. (Navy) Steve Waddell said the infrastructre will better serve the needs of Canada’s Pacific Fleet and are designed to withstand the effects of an earthquake or tsunami.
“Modern and functional ship-berthing facilities are essential to meet the operational missions of the Canadian Armed Forces and the needs of the Royal Canadian Navy,” said Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan. “The long history of Esquimalt Harbour, which has been closely associated with the presence of the Royal Canadian Navy for more than 100 years, is about to enter a new era.”
The project was announced in Victoria 2013 by then-minister of National Defence Peter McKay and represents the most significant engineering project in the Dockyard since the Second World War.
— with files from Carla Wilson
