Family Businesses Benefit from Canadian Push for Shipbuilding

Three family businesses are benefiting from the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) in Canada, according to a release Monday.

Irving Shipbuilding Inc. is a member of the J.D. Irving, Limited group of companies, a diverse third-generation family-owned company with operations in Canada and the United States. The company has committed over $1.3 billion in spending to more than 300 Canadian organizations as part of the NSS and has awarded Rosborough Boats a 7.3 million contract to provide multi-role rescue board to the Artic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS).

The Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats will go on the six AOPS vessels Irving is building, the first of which is scheduled for 2018 delivery to the Royal Canadian Navy.

Rosborough Boats is owned and operated by Bob and Heaton Rosborough, the son and grandson of founder James D Rosborough, respectively.

The contract awarded to Rosborough Boats also supports work for another family-owned Nova Scotia small business, A.F. Theriault & Son Ltd. The company will build Rosborough Boats’ composite hulls and components.

NSS is a long-term project to renew Canada’s federal fleet of combat and non-combat vessels. The strategy provides economic benefits to Canadians and rebuilds the country's shipbuilding industry.