BC Ferries union upset Chinese company was hired to build new vessels

Following the selection of a Chinese state-run firm to build four new vessels, backlash has been strong and swift.

News that BC Ferries has hired a Chinese company to build four new vessels for its aging fleet has generated choppy waters, including from the company’s workers.

“We listened to the prime minister say, ‘build, baby, build,’ we listened to the prime minister say, ‘buy B.C.’ You know my members are going to the grocery store – I’m going to the grocery store – we’re picking the fruits and vegetables that are local to Canada,” said Eric McNeely, with the BC Ferry and Marine Workers’ Union.

The value of the contract hasn’t been released, but the union thinks the jobs should stay in B.C. to bolster shipbuilding in the province.

“A generational impact in shipbuilding,” said McNeely Wednesday, describing the potential impact of the four new major vessels. “We’re probably looking at a billion dollars of ship investment.”

Amid a trade war with China that includes tariffs on Canadian seafood and tensions between the U.S. and China, the opposition B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad is also upset.

“My big concern here is the instability, the friction that’s building between United States and China,” said Rustad.

Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth emphasized Wednesday that BC Ferries is not a Crown corporation, even if it gets significant funding from the province.

He too says he’s disappointed by the decision to hire a Chinese shipyard to do the work, but is heartened that the maintenance and repair contracts will stay in B.C.

“On something like this, you always want to see as much Canadian content as possible, as much British Columbian content as possible, so that’s my main concern,” said Farnworth Wednesday.

BC Ferries says no Canadian company bid on the project, adding Chinese shipbuilders now account for two thirds of global builds, and the winning bidder is responsible for Canadian ships, along with others around the world.

“This particular shipyard has really focused on the exact type of vessel that BC Ferries needs - specifically, large, high-quality roll-on. roll-off passenger ferries,” said Ed Hooper with BC Ferries.

The new vessels are scheduled to be done between 2029 and 2031.

B.C.’s main shipbuilder and the obvious local choice, Seaspan, says it’s too busy with federal projects - navy and coast guard ships - to meet the project’s timeline, but wants a piece of future contracts with three more builds already expected when these are done.