Distinguished Speaker: Drydocks and Vertical Shiplifts

The Royal United Services Institute of Nova Scotia extends an invitation to a presentation Wednesday, 29 January, by Robert Taylor, Principal Engineer Shipyard Solutions, Bardex Corporation, on drydocks and vertical shiplifts.

Marine infrastructure, especially drydocks including mobile drydocks, are strategic assets for Canada in peace and conflict for the building, maintenance and repair of government and civil ships.  Reshoring ship construction and repair is quickly becoming a global priority in both the east and west.  Central to the success of any nation to achieve their maritime goals is modern shipyard infrastructure.  Understanding the available technologies, capabilities, time scales and budget for these infrastructure projects is necessary to improve capability.  The Halifax graving dock was built in 1886.  Most naval yard infrastructure in North America is over 60 years old and the average age of drydocks is 80 years old.  Most major shipyards and ports are fully built out and little space remains for expansion, causing the modernization of existing facilities to disrupt both new ship construction programs and maintenance of existing vessels.  The safety, environmental, and permitting regulations governing shipyard infrastructure projects are complex.  Bardex has been contracted by Irving Shipbuilding to construct a shiplift in the Halifax Harbour Narrows to support building of River-class destroyers, and later, maintenance of the destroyers, replenishment oilers and possibly submarines.  The new vertical shiplift system at Irving Shipbuilding demonstrates a pragmatic path forward for increasing ship building and sustainment capacity.  Robert Taylor will speak to developments in ship handling technologies and how these technologies and how these technologies are being used around the world to address the need for expanding vessel launch and retrieval capabilities across the maritime industry and how the Irving Shiplift system fits in this broader context.

The presentation will be conducted simultaneously in-person and online (via Zoom).  It will start at 1300 Atlantic time, be followed by Q&A and finish by 1500 Atlantic time.  The in-person part will be at the Royal Artillery Park Officers' Mess, Canadian Forces Base Halifax.  If necessary (e.g., due to bad weather) it is not possible to hold the in-person part, then the event will be online only.  People who register to attend in-person will be provided Zoom joining instructions so they can attend online if they wish.

Registration is required. To register, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by close-of-business Sunday, 26 January.  As the subject line for your registration email, put: RUSI(NS) Distinguished Speaker 29 January 2025 Registration.  Please indicate whether you plan to attend in-person or online.  Also indicate your unit, association or company.  If after registering your availability changes and you are no longer able to attend, please advise RUSI(NS) as soon as possible so your spot can be re-assigned.

Zoom instructions will be emailed to registrants by end Monday, 27 January.  If you have not received them by end 27 January, please check your spam folder and, if necessary, email RUSI(NS).

RUSI(NS) events may be cancelled at short notice. Email RUSI(NS) if there is a question about an event occurring.

Feel free to forward this invitation to anyone who you think may be interested in attending.