Canadian ship repair and construction firm on the Great Lakes has halted work at its facility in Thunder Bay.
Operations at the site have been temporarily idled largely due to a slow market and the availability of skilled workers, the company told local media.
The yard struck a deal in 2020 to build blocks for two polar icebreakers under the country’s National Shipping Strategy and bought Fabmar Metals the following year to facilitate the development.
Vancouver builder Seaspan was in charge of the project but due to delays one icebreaker unit was awarded to Davie Shipyards and plans to fabricate ship components at Thunder Bay are unknown.
Ontario Shipyards has operated shipyards in Canada for over 35 years. In addition to the Thunder Bay shipyard, the former Heddle Shipyards also operates two other sites in Port Weller and Hamilton. The idled site is reportedly fully equipped but 15 workers had been laid off earlier this year.
The yard was actually shut down last year. No shortage of qualified workers… Bad disission making somewhere up the corporate food chain.