Irving Shipbuilding chooses TMC for Canadian patrol ships

6 November 2024 – TMC Compressors has been contracted by Irving Shipbuilding Inc. to deliver the marine compressed air system for two newbuild Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) that the shipbuilder is constructing for the Canadian Coast Guard.  

Under the contract, Norway-headquartered TMC will provide a complete marine compressed air system, including compressors for service and control air, for both AOPS. TMC has not disclosed the value of its contract.

“We are aware that the Canadian and Norwegian coast guards last year entered into a cooperation agreement to advance marine safety and environmental protection. As a Norway-based supplier, we are proud to support both Irving Shipbuilding and indirectly the Canadian Coast Guard, and to contribute towards further enhancing Norwegian-Canadian relations,” says Christian Ness, CEO of TMC.

TMC’s compressors are renowned worldwide for their operational reliability and low energy consumption, and they are designed so that crews can maintain the compressors themselves. In total, this reduces both the shipowner’s fuel and operating costs as well as emissions to air.

The Canadian Coast Guard’s AOPS will be tasked with a wide range of missions. Both ships will operate as the Canadian Coast Guard’s primary platform with increased capabilities to support fisheries enforcement on Canada’s east coast, support search and rescue and icebreaking operations, while strengthening Canada’s presence in the Arctic.

“Our compressors are designed for marine and offshore use only. They are not land-based compressors that have since been marinized. This is an important distinction that becomes increasingly important the further offshore and longer period of time a vessel it as sea. As will be the case for these two AOPS,” says Hans Petter Tanum, TMC's director of sales and business development.

TMC will manufacture the equipment in Europe and transport it to Irving Shipbuilding’s yard in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Irving Shipbuilding is Canada’s National Shipbuilder, selected in 2011 to build the new fleet of combat vessels to the Royal Canadian Navy. To date, five Arctic and Offshore Patrol ships have been delivered for the Royal Canadian Navy and a further three are under construction. The company is building the final two variants of the AOPS for the Canadian Coast Guard before commencing the larger River-class destroyer (RCD) Fleet. www.shipsforcanada.ca