By Amy Woolvett
FOR THE SOU’WESTER
Transcontinental Media/The Coast Guard
Irving Shipbuilding is about to purchase the Shelburne Ship Repair yard from the province for $1.
The company is in the process of completing a transaction with Nova Scotia Business Inc. to purchase the site after 13 years of leasing.
It also will be purchasing a water lot in front of the shipyard site for fair market value.
“Today, the company is undertaking significant investments in improving the wharf and the marine railway at the site,” said Mary Keith, vice president of communications for J.D. Irving, Ltd. “Given these investments to secure the long term future of the shipyard, an agreement to purchase makes good business sense.”
Earlier in the year the government loaned the company $9-million to make the much-needed improvements to the dry dock and railway. $2-million of the loan is repayable if steady jobs are created.
Total investments in shipyard improvements are estimated at $10-million.
When the Shelburne yard closed last year, 60 workers were laid off but 27 employees were rehired to work on the upgrades. An additional 20 are working on the Mexican offshore drill rig docked in Dartmouth.
It is estimated that the full 60 workers will be back to work at the shipyard once operations resume in Shelburne.
Keith said that work on the cradle and marine railway are expected to be completed by the end of the year and wharf repairs to be finished by spring 2011.
