Irving to buy Shelburne, N.S., repair yard
Last Updated: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 | 9:31 PM AT
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The Irvings intend to purchase the Shelburne Ship Repair yard from the Province of Nova Scotia.
Irving Shipbuilding Inc. has been leasing the rundown Shelburne yard for 13 years and has an option to buy it for a dollar.
The company plans to employ 60 people there when major repairs are completed next spring.
"There are projects that Shelburne is ideally suited to, in terms of small and medium-sized vessels," said Irving spokesperson Mary Keith.
"As we pursue new federal contracts, there may be an opportunity for certain components to be fabricated at that site."
Some of the good fortune at the Irving-owned Halifax Shipyard may spill over to Shelburne. Maintaining navy frigates and the construction of an offshore vessel at Halifax have boosted employment there to nearly 1,000 people.
At Shelburne, Irving is upgrading its dry dock and railway with a $9-million loan from the province. Only $2 million of the loan will be repayable if steady jobs are created.
Irving laid off all 60 workers when it closed the Shelburne yard last fall. The company rehired 25 people to work on the upgrade and another 20 to refit a rig in Halifax harbour.
Kirk Cox, chief administrator for the municipality of Shelburne, is encouraged by Irving's plan to buy the yard and get 60 people back to work.
"Southwestern Nova Scotia now has the highest unemployment rate in Eastern Canada," he said. "We're excited about Irving's commitment to the area … to create more jobs."
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