News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – A new agreement has been signed between the provincial government and Ocean Group, allowing the company to resume operations out of the New Brunswick Naval Centre in Bas-Caraquet.

“This new improved agreement is a better deal for taxpayers,” said Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Donald Arseneault, who is also minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation. “We know how important creating jobs, growing the economy, and securing health care and education are to New Brunswickers. Jobs continue to be our government’s number one priority and creating opportunities, including in the Acadian Peninsula, is important.”

Under the new agreement, Ocean Group will resume construction of a floating dry dock on Nov. 21 at the naval centre. Among other clauses of the agreement, the company will pay increased rent for use of the facility and will be responsible for the maintenance and repair of all equipment, including its future replacement.

“We are happy to restart work at the shipyard in Bas-Caraquet,” said Jacques Tanguay, Ocean Group’s chief executive officer. “We have always believed in the region’s great potential. The construction of the floating dry dock is an ideal project to revive shipbuilding and repair activities. We will also need skilled workers and we encourage anyone interested to contact us.”