Plant Will be Key for Mission Bay Handling System

Rolls-Royce has recently completed a 7,500sqft expansion of its Centre of Excellence for Naval Handling Equipment in Peterborough, Ontario, to support the 15-vessel Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) programme.

The new facility will be key to the assembly and test of the innovative Mission Bay Handling System, a key feature of the Global Combat Ship design recently selected for UK, Canada and Australia’s advanced anti-submarine warfare frigate programs. “The timely completion of the expansion and the significant investment in the infrastructure to support the CSC programme demonstrates our commitment to developing advanced industrial technologies to benefit the Canadian economy and Canada’s armed forces,” commented Bruce Lennie, VP Business Development & Government Affairs.

Rolls-Royce has already expanded its supply chain in Canada to meet the significant domestic and international export opportunities created by the Global Combat Ship programme, working closely with Irving Shipbuilding, prime contractor for CSC, as well as Lockheed Martin Canada and BAE Systems, to enable the company to sustain significant growth of the Canadian economy well into the future. The investment in this facility is an example of the National Shipbuilding Strategy delivering 100% Canadian Content Value as part of the Industrial and Technological Benefits policy.

Rolls-Royce is a diversified, high technology partner with over 70 years of service in Canada. Today, it employs approximately 1,000 Canadians across four facilities in cities including Montreal, Ottawa and Peterborough. The Centre will harness and build upon the wealth of Canadian engineering and technological expertise we have at Rolls-Royce.

Rolls-Royce’s Mission Bay Handling System (MBHS) is designed for adaptability and flexibility, offering a low-risk solution for tomorrow’s platforms. The MBHS has the capability to launch and recover naval vehicles and move containerised packages without the aid of a dockside crane. The multi-functional system can also be easily adapted to support custom operational requirements, such as humanitarian missions, by providing the space for medical facilities and aid supplies.