Davie Shipbuilding
Encyclopedia
Davie Shipbuilding is a historic shipbuilding
company located in Lauzon, Quebec
. The facility has undergone restructuring and is currently operating as Davie Yards Incorporated
.
The Davie shipyard was founded in 1825 by Allison Davie (May 4, 1796-June 1836), an English
ship captain, however the construction record only dates to 1897. The company was established on the south shore of the St Lawrence River across from Quebec City
in the community of Lauzon, Quebec
(now part of the city of Levis, Quebec
). Davie's father in-law, George Taylor, had begun a shipbuilding business in 1811 and Davie apparently purchased those assets as well. Following Allison Davie's death, the company was headed by his wife Elizabeth Davie until 1850, when his son George Taylor Davie (d. 1870) as George T. Davie & Sons. It changed its name in 1914 to Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing. The Davie family sold the shipyard to Canada Steamship Lines in 1929, however, they also started another "George T. Davie shipyard" immediately next door to the larger Lauzon facility.
The company has built a wide range of vessels in the 1800s and first half of the 20th century, ranging from wooden sailing vessels and steamers to modern steel ships. During World War II, Davie built 35 warships (mine sweepers, corvettes and destroyers).
By the 1970s, Canada Steamship Lines was owned by Power Corporation
and in a 1976 restructuring, it sold the Davie yard to Societé de Construction Navale (Soconav) which was established by former employees of Marine Industries Ltd with financial backing of the Quebec provincial government's Societé Générale de Financement. In 1981 the Davie shipyard was sold to Dome Petroleum
and in 1985 it was sold to Versatile Corporation which changed the name of the shipyard to Versatile Davie Incorporated.
In the 1970s to 1980s the Davie yard built oil rigs and some warships however after CSL ended its ownership the company began to fail. By the 1980s, the company was in financial trouble and was bailed out by both the provincial and federal governments. In 1986 the federal government asked Quebec to rationalize its shipyards, which saw Marine Industries Ltd (MIL) merge with Versatile Davie Inc to become MIL-Davie Shipbuilding
. Under this new arrangement, MIL's shipyard in Sorel, Quebec was called M.I.L. Tracy (for Tracy, Quebec, a neighbourhood of Sorel) and the former Davie yard in Lauzon was called M.I.L. Lauzon. Shortly after the merger, the new company, MIL Davie Shipbuilding closed the Sorel shipyard along with the Versatile Vickers
(Canadian Vickers) shipyard in Montreal
, resulting in a total loss of 1,700 jobs but kept the Lauzon yard open as it was working on building two large vessels for Marine Atlantic
as well as three warships for the Canadian Patrol Frigate Project
.
After the warship project was finished in the early 1990s, MIL-Davie Shipbuilding, along with the Davie yard in Lauzon went into receivership. After being bought by the Quebec
government, Davie was sold to Dominion Bridge Company
for $1. In 1998, the parent Dominion Bridge Company went into bankruptcy and the Davie shipyard went into trusteeship in 1998. It was sold again in 2000 and became Industries Davie, Ltd. In 2006, the shipyard was sold to TECO Maritime ASA
of Norway which saw it restructured into a new company called Davie Yards Incorporated
.
In early 2011, TECO announced that Davie Yards Inc was in receivership and announced a bid by Fincantieri – Cantieri Navali Italiani
of Italy
and Fincantieri subsidiary DRS Technologies Canada to purchase the shipyard from TECO. This deal fell through in July 2011.
After the Fincantieri deal fell through, the yard underwent financial restructuring in July 2011 in order to qualify to bid for a portion of the $40 billion contract known as the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy
which will see ships built for the Canadian Coast Guard
, Canadian Forces
and Department of Fisheries and Oceans
. This procurement strategy had its bidding deadline extended by 3 weeks specifically to accommodate the Davie restructuring.
Part of the restructuring of Davie involved changing ownership to a partnership between Seaway Marine & Industrial Inc. (owner of the Port Weller Dry Dock) through its subsidiary 7731299 Canada Inc, as well as Canadian engineering conglomerate SNC-Lavalin
and South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering
(DSME). Final details of the restructuring have not been revealed.
Presumably the restructured company will have a new name and will not be using the term "Davie Yards Inc."
or Davie Yards Incorporated
.
Warships
1940-1942
1951-1953, 1955-1956
1940
1943-1944
Provider class auxiliary vessel
Coast Guard vessels
Ferries
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
company located in Lauzon, Quebec
Lauzon, Quebec
Lauzon is a former city in southern Quebec, Canada, located on the St. Lawrence River northeast of Lévis. Founded in 1910, Lauzon had a population of about 14,500 when it merged with Lévis in 1989...
. The facility has undergone restructuring and is currently operating as Davie Yards Incorporated
Davie Yards Incorporated
Davie Yards Incorporated is a ship building unit of TECO Group or Norway and is the successor to Davie Shipbuilding and MIL-Davie Shipbuilding....
.
History
The Davie shipyard in Lauzon has an incredibly complex ownership history.The Davie shipyard was founded in 1825 by Allison Davie (May 4, 1796-June 1836), an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
ship captain, however the construction record only dates to 1897. The company was established on the south shore of the St Lawrence River across from Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
in the community of Lauzon, Quebec
Lauzon, Quebec
Lauzon is a former city in southern Quebec, Canada, located on the St. Lawrence River northeast of Lévis. Founded in 1910, Lauzon had a population of about 14,500 when it merged with Lévis in 1989...
(now part of the city of Levis, Quebec
Lévis, Quebec
Lévis is a city in eastern Quebec, Canada. It is located on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, opposite Quebec City. A ferry links Old Quebec with Old Lévis, and two bridges, the Quebec Bridge and the Pierre Laporte Bridge, connect western Lévis with Quebec City. The Société de transport de...
). Davie's father in-law, George Taylor, had begun a shipbuilding business in 1811 and Davie apparently purchased those assets as well. Following Allison Davie's death, the company was headed by his wife Elizabeth Davie until 1850, when his son George Taylor Davie (d. 1870) as George T. Davie & Sons. It changed its name in 1914 to Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing. The Davie family sold the shipyard to Canada Steamship Lines in 1929, however, they also started another "George T. Davie shipyard" immediately next door to the larger Lauzon facility.
The company has built a wide range of vessels in the 1800s and first half of the 20th century, ranging from wooden sailing vessels and steamers to modern steel ships. During World War II, Davie built 35 warships (mine sweepers, corvettes and destroyers).
By the 1970s, Canada Steamship Lines was owned by Power Corporation
Power Corporation of Canada
Power Corporation of Canada is a Canadian company with assets in North America and Europe in a number of industries. These industries include media, pulp and paper, and financial services....
and in a 1976 restructuring, it sold the Davie yard to Societé de Construction Navale (Soconav) which was established by former employees of Marine Industries Ltd with financial backing of the Quebec provincial government's Societé Générale de Financement. In 1981 the Davie shipyard was sold to Dome Petroleum
Dome Petroleum
Dome Petroleum Limited was a Calgary-based petroleum producer in the Alberta oilfields. Jack Gallager joined a group of investors in Dome Exploration Ltd. in 1950 and built it into the major Canadian oil company Dome Petroleum Limited . Gallagher was the sole employee for the first two years...
and in 1985 it was sold to Versatile Corporation which changed the name of the shipyard to Versatile Davie Incorporated.
In the 1970s to 1980s the Davie yard built oil rigs and some warships however after CSL ended its ownership the company began to fail. By the 1980s, the company was in financial trouble and was bailed out by both the provincial and federal governments. In 1986 the federal government asked Quebec to rationalize its shipyards, which saw Marine Industries Ltd (MIL) merge with Versatile Davie Inc to become MIL-Davie Shipbuilding
MIL-Davie Shipbuilding
MIL-Davie Shipbuilding is a historic Canadian shipbuilding company that was located in both Sorel, Quebec and Lauzon, Quebec .In 1986, Marine Industries Limited merged with Davie Shipbuilding to become MIL-Davie Shipbuilding....
. Under this new arrangement, MIL's shipyard in Sorel, Quebec was called M.I.L. Tracy (for Tracy, Quebec, a neighbourhood of Sorel) and the former Davie yard in Lauzon was called M.I.L. Lauzon. Shortly after the merger, the new company, MIL Davie Shipbuilding closed the Sorel shipyard along with the Versatile Vickers
Versatile
Versatile is a Canadian brand of agricultural equipment that has produced augers, swathers and combine harvester.In the 1970s, it was an independent operation, founded by Peter Pakosh and Roy Robinson, that had 70% of the 4WD tractor market and then was later owned by Ford and Fiat's New Holland,...
(Canadian Vickers) shipyard in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, resulting in a total loss of 1,700 jobs but kept the Lauzon yard open as it was working on building two large vessels for Marine Atlantic
Marine Atlantic
Marine Atlantic Inc. is an independent Canadian Crown corporation offering ferry services between the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia.Marine Atlantic's corporate headquarters are in St...
as well as three warships for the Canadian Patrol Frigate Project
Canadian Patrol Frigate Project
The Canadian Patrol Frigate Project was a procurement project undertaken by the Department of National Defence beginning in 1975 to find a replacement for the , , , and destroyers.-Contract award:...
.
After the warship project was finished in the early 1990s, MIL-Davie Shipbuilding, along with the Davie yard in Lauzon went into receivership. After being bought by the Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
government, Davie was sold to Dominion Bridge Company
Dominion Bridge Company
Dominion Bridge Company Limited was a Canadian steel bridge constructor originally based in Lachine, Quebec. From the core business of steel bridge component fabrication, the company diversified into related areas such as the fabrication of holding tanks for pulp mills and skyscraper framing.Other...
for $1. In 1998, the parent Dominion Bridge Company went into bankruptcy and the Davie shipyard went into trusteeship in 1998. It was sold again in 2000 and became Industries Davie, Ltd. In 2006, the shipyard was sold to TECO Maritime ASA
TECO Maritime
TECO Maritime ASA is a specialist supplier of technical services to the maritime industry. TECO offer voyage repair and maintenance services onboard vessels, whilst they are in service. The range of products and services includes coating contracting, marine electronics, tank cleaning and ship...
of Norway which saw it restructured into a new company called Davie Yards Incorporated
Davie Yards Incorporated
Davie Yards Incorporated is a ship building unit of TECO Group or Norway and is the successor to Davie Shipbuilding and MIL-Davie Shipbuilding....
.
In early 2011, TECO announced that Davie Yards Inc was in receivership and announced a bid by Fincantieri – Cantieri Navali Italiani
Fincantieri
Fincantieri - Cantieri Navali Italiani S.p.A. is a shipbuilding company based in Trieste, Italy. It was formed in 1959 and is the largest shipbuilder in the Mediterranean, and one of the largest in Europe...
of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Fincantieri subsidiary DRS Technologies Canada to purchase the shipyard from TECO. This deal fell through in July 2011.
After the Fincantieri deal fell through, the yard underwent financial restructuring in July 2011 in order to qualify to bid for a portion of the $40 billion contract known as the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy
National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy
The National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy is a Government of Canada program operated by the Department of Public Works and Government Services.- Work :...
which will see ships built for the Canadian Coast Guard
Canadian Coast Guard
The Canadian Coast Guard is the coast guard of Canada. It is a federal agency responsible for providing maritime search and rescue , aids to navigation, marine pollution response, marine radio, and icebreaking...
, Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
and Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, frequently referred to as DFO , is the department within the government of Canada that is responsible for developing and implementing policies and programs in support of Canada's economic, ecological and scientific interests in oceans and inland waters...
. This procurement strategy had its bidding deadline extended by 3 weeks specifically to accommodate the Davie restructuring.
Part of the restructuring of Davie involved changing ownership to a partnership between Seaway Marine & Industrial Inc. (owner of the Port Weller Dry Dock) through its subsidiary 7731299 Canada Inc, as well as Canadian engineering conglomerate SNC-Lavalin
SNC-Lavalin
SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. is a large Canadian engineering firm. It is one of the ten largest engineering firms in the world and is based in Montreal, Quebec. It formed in 1991 from the merger of SNC and the failing Lavalin, another Quebec based engineering firm....
and South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd ' is the second largest shipbuilder in the world and one of the "Big Three" shipbuilders of South Korea.On 21 February 2011, the A. P...
(DSME). Final details of the restructuring have not been revealed.
Presumably the restructured company will have a new name and will not be using the term "Davie Yards Inc."
Ships built
This is a list of ships built by Davie Shipbuilding (1825-1986). For ships built after 1986, see MIL-Davie ShipbuildingMIL-Davie Shipbuilding
MIL-Davie Shipbuilding is a historic Canadian shipbuilding company that was located in both Sorel, Quebec and Lauzon, Quebec .In 1986, Marine Industries Limited merged with Davie Shipbuilding to become MIL-Davie Shipbuilding....
or Davie Yards Incorporated
Davie Yards Incorporated
Davie Yards Incorporated is a ship building unit of TECO Group or Norway and is the successor to Davie Shipbuilding and MIL-Davie Shipbuilding....
.
Warships
-
- 1953-1957
-
- 1960-1962
-
- 1969-1970
- 1969-1971
- 1969-1971
1940-1942
-
- HMCS Digby (J267)HMCS Digby (J267)HMCS Digby was a that served in the Royal Canadian Navy. She was commissioned on 26 July 1942 and paid off on 31 July 1945. She was recommissioned from 1953-1958....
- HMCS Granby (J264)HMCS Granby (J264)HMCS Granby was a that served in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II. She was commissioned on 2 May 1942 and paid off on 31 July 1945. She was recommissioned from 1953–1966 as a diving support ship....
- HMCS Lachine (J266)
- HMCS Melville (J263)
- HMCS Noranda (J265)
- HMCS Stratford (J310)
- HMCS Trois Rivières
- HMCS Truro (J268)
- HMCS Digby (J267)
1951-1953, 1955-1956
-
- HMCS Chignecto (MCB 160)
- HMCS Fundy (MCB 159)
- HMCS Gaspe (MCB 143)
- HMCS Trinity (MCB 157)
- HMCS Ungava (MCB 148)
1940
-
- HMCS Baddeck (K147)
- HMCS Brandon (K149)
- HMCS Buctouche (K179)HMCS Buctouche (K179)HMCS Buctouche was a that served in the Royal Canadian Navy.-Construction:She was ordered on 22 January 1940 from Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd., Lauzon, Quebec and laid down on 14 August 1940. She was launched on 20 November 1940 and commissioned into the RCN on 5 June 1941. She is named...
- HMCS Rimouski (K121)HMCS Rimouski (K121)HMCS Rimouski was a Royal Canadian Navy which took part in convoy escort duties during World War II.Rimouski was laid down at George T. Davie & Sons Ltd., Lauzon on 12 July 1940 and launched on 3 October 1940. She was commissioned into the RCN on 26 April 1941Rimouski served in the Battle of the St...
- HMCS Shawinigan (K136)
- HMCS Shediac (K110)HMCS Shediac (K110)HMCS Shediac was a of the Royal Canadian Navy. She was ordered from Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd., Lauzon, Quebec, laid down on 5 October 1940, launched on 29 April 1941, and commissioned on 8 July 1941 named after the town of Shediac, New Brunswick.-Background:Flower-class corvettes...
- HMCS Snowberry (K166)HMCS Snowberry (K166)HMCS Snowberry was a Royal Canadian Navy which took part in convoy escort duties during World War II.Snowberry was laid down at George T. Davie & Sons Ltd., Lauzon on 24 February 1940 and launched on 8 August 1940. She was ordered by the Royal Navy but was transferred to the RCN prior to...
- HMCS Spikenard (K198)
- HMCS Windflower (K155)HMCS Windflower (K155)HMCS Windflower was a Royal Canadian Navy which took part in convoy escort duties during the Second World War.Windflower was laid down at George T. Davie & Sons Ltd., Lauzon on 24 February 1940 and launched on 8 August 1940...
1943-1944
-
- HMCS Buckingham (K685)
- HMCS Carlplace (K664)
- HMCS Charlottetown (K244)
- HMCS Coaticook (K410)
- HMCS Fort Erie (K670)HMCS Fort Erie (K670)HMCS Fort Erie was a River class frigate that served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1944-1945 and as a Prestonian class frigate from 1956-1965....
- HMCS Hallowell (K666)
- HMCS Inch Arran (K667)HMCS Inch Arran (K667)HMCS Inch Arran with pennant number K667 was a River Class frigate named after Inch Arran Point in Dalhousie, New Brunswick, Canada. She was assigned to EG 28 in January 1945, and spent the remainder of World War II on patrol and escort duties in Halifax...
- HMCS Jonquiere (K2318)
- HMCS Lasalle (K519)
- HMCS Lauzon (K371)
- HMCS Penetang (K676)HMCS Penetang (K676)HMCS Penetang was a River class frigate that served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1944-1945 and as a Prestonian class frigate from 1954-1956....
- HMCS Sea Cliff (K344)
- HMCS Ste. Therese (K366)
- HMCS Sussexvale (K683)
- HMCS Toronto (K538)HMCS Toronto (K538)HMCS Toronto was a River class frigate that served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1944-1945 and as a Prestonian class frigate from 1953-1956.Built by Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co...
- HMCS Victoriaville (K684)
Provider class auxiliary vessel
Provider class auxiliary vessel
A Provider-class auxiliary oiler replenishment ship was used by the Canadian Navy to resupply ships at sea with food, munitions, fuel and spare parts. It had more sophisticated medical and dental facilities than smaller vessels. Only one ship of this class was built....
- HMCS Provider (AOR 508)HMCS Provider (AOR 508)HMCS Provider was a Canadian Provider-class replenishment oiler. She was the first dedicated Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment ship commissioned for the Royal Canadian Navy in 1963...
1961-1962
Coast Guard vessels
-
- CCGS D'IbervilleCCGS D'IbervilleThe CCGS D'Iberville was a Canadian Coast Guard Gulf icebreaker.Commissioned as the CGS D'Iberville for the Department of Transport's Marine Service, using the prefix "Canadian Government Ship", the D'Iberville was transferred into the newly-created Canadian Coast Guard in 1962...
, Seaway icebreaker - CCGS GriffonCCGS GriffonCCGS Griffon is a Canadian Coast Guard High Endurance Multi-Tasked Vessel and Light Icebreaker stationed in Prescott, Ontario, Canada. The CCG classes her as a "High Endurance Multi-Tasked Vessel – Light Icebreaker"....
, light icebreaker - CCGS Sir Humphrey GilbertCCGS Sir Humphrey GilbertCCGS Sir Humphrey Gilbert was a Canadian Coast Guard Medium Icebreaker and now a privately owned Arctic icebreaker Polar Prince.Built in 1959 at the Davie Shipyards in Levis, QC, the medium icebreaker served with the Department of Transport Marine Service and then the Canadian Coast Guard until 1986...
, medium icebreaker - now as Polar Prince
- CCGS D'Iberville
Ferries
- SS Charlottetown 1930
- MV Bluenose 1956
- MV Frederick Carter 1965