Mohawk College in Hamilton has formed a new international partnership to help students learn shipbuilding and work in marine industries at the Ontario Shipyards site located in Hamilton.
Mohawk made the announcement on its campus on Fennel Avenue West this past Wednesday.
The partnership is with Hanwha Ocean and Great Lakes shipbuilder Ontario Shipyards, which also shared plans to enhance “large-scale shipbuilding in Ontario.”
Hanwha Ocean, a South Korean company that builds submarines and other naval vessels among various contracts, will provide knowledge and resources to Ontario Shipyards after signing a memorandum of understanding.
Ontario Shipyards operates as a private ship repair business, with locations in the cities of Hamilton, St. Catharines, and Thunder Bay across Ontario.
Glenn Copeland, CEO of Hanwha subsidiary Hanwha Defence Canada, told CBC Hamilton that the new partnership is valued at “tens of tens of millions of dollars,” but did not specify how much each partner would contribute to the project.
This initiative aims to upgrade Canada’s entire marine sector over the next decade, according to Hanwha Ocean CEO Charles Kim, who traveled from South Korea for the announcement.
This news comes just one day after the federal government unveiled a new defence strategy focused on prioritizing purchases from Canadian defense manufacturers.
The reported that during a news conference earlier Wednesday, Premier Doug Ford urged Ottawa to boost navy shipbuilding efforts within Ontario and specifically support Ontario Shipyards.
Canada unveils ‘Build at Home’ defence industrial strategyThe federal government has introduced its ‘Build at Home’ defence industrial strategy which moves away from relying heavily on U. S. suppliers alongside others while making military equipment production within Canada standard practice.
St. Catharines MP Chris Bittle described it as “exactly the kind of partnership” called out under Canada’s new defense approach.
Copeland mentioned that starting this summer , they plan bringing personnel from both sides-Ontario Shipyards team members traveling over into South Korea plus vice versa.
Hanwha Ocean continues working on building up-to-12 submarines designed specifically for Royal Canadian Navy; Copeland noted first delivery expected no later than year2032.
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Opportunities for around 1,000 students: Mohawk
Hanwha Ocean will assist in creating a 35-metre naval training and recruitment vessel that Ontario Shipyards plans to construct by 2026. The two companies have also signed a letter of intent with Mohawk to establish a shipbuilding training hub right here in Hamilton. This program is similar to Mohawk’s long-standing collaboration with KF Aerospace at Hamilton airport; it will lead towards developing specialized certifications and credentials for shipbuilding as stated by college president Paul Armstrong. It will also back apprenticeships and co-op placements while promoting research into automation, robotics, and manufacturing techniques. The three-way partnership involving Mohawk College will include training programs covering trades such as welding, electrical work, millwright skills, marine mechanics, robotics, and logistics. No specific timeline has been set for when students might start working at the shipyard; however Armstrong mentioned it would probably be within one year to 18 months. He added that by the time everything is fully operational, around 1,000 to 1,200 students across various programs could benefit from this initiative. In November 2024, Mohawk announced it faced a $50-million deficit along with multiple job cuts and program reductions over several months. Armstrong emphasized his previous commitment-to focus on “education and training related to what employers need”-is reflected through this shipbuilding agreement. “That’s how we’re going to be able to navigate what colleges are going to be facing.”This Partnership Aligns with Government’s Defence Strategy: MP Says
While at Mohawk on Wednesday afternoon , Hamilton Mountain MPP Monica Ciriello attended on behalf of Premier Ford , praising this partnership as something that will shape the marine industry for “generations to come.” Sean Padulo , CEO of Ontario Shipyards , expressed pride stating his brother served in Canadian Forces emphasizing how vital good ships are for ensuring service members have “the best chance of coming home safely.” Both St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe along with Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath were present too. Horwath referred these collaborations as “magic for us,” explaining they’ll enable Hamilton contribute significantly towards Canada’s upcoming industrial revolution.WATCH | Federal government announces new defence strategy:
Canada unveils ‘Build at Home’ defence industrial strategyThe federal government has introduced its ‘Build at Home’ defence industrial strategy which moves away from relying heavily on U. S. suppliers alongside others while making military equipment production within Canada standard practice.
St. Catharines MP Chris Bittle described it as “exactly the kind of partnership” called out under Canada’s new defense approach.
Copeland mentioned that starting this summer , they plan bringing personnel from both sides-Ontario Shipyards team members traveling over into South Korea plus vice versa.
Hanwha Ocean continues working on building up-to-12 submarines designed specifically for Royal Canadian Navy; Copeland noted first delivery expected no later than year2032.
Source link
