News Article

Vard Welcomes Blumetric Into the Team Vigilance Preferred Suppliers Program

Published: May 7, 2024

At CANSEC 2023, Vard Marine Inc (VARD), a Fincantieri company, proudly launched VIGILANCE, as their solution to replace the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) Kingston Class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDV) under Pillar Two of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy. In conjunction with Team Vigilance partner companies Ontario Shipyards, Thales Canada, SH Defense, and Fincantieri, VIGILANCE will provide the RCN with a state-of-the-art, capable, operationally flexible, and globally deployable multi-mission naval vessel.

This collaboration ensures Team Vigilance can meet the needs of the Royal Canadian Navy’s future fleet with a tailored naval solution, striking the optimum balance between capability and cost, while also maintaining the life-cycle cost advantages VARD’s naval designs are known for.

As a part of the ongoing effort, Team Vigilance continues to assemble a broad coalition of Canadian companies that can offer important services and vital equipment to the program. Building a robust coalition is key to the core objective that VIGILANCE be designed in Canada, built in Canada, and equipped in Canada. To this end, Team Vigilance launched their Preferred Suppliers Program at DEFSEC 2023 in Halifax last October.

BLUMETRIC PREFERRED SUPPLIER TO TEAM VIGILANCE

Today, it is announced that VARD has named BluMetric Environmental Inc. (BluMetric) as a Preferred Supplier to Team Vigilance. BluMetric has supplied and serviced the water treatment systems for the Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) for over 20 years. BluMetric’s Shipboard Reverse Osmosis Desalinator (SROD) systems have provided reliable potable water to the Halifax Class since 2011 and will be installed in the RCN’s new Joint Support Ship (JSS).

BluMetric also boasts a complementary portfolio of supporting auxiliary equipment, having also provided JSS with its Shipboard Ultraviolet and Chlorine Dosing Units. Adding BluMetric to Team Vigilance not only adheres to our stated aim of equipping Canadian vessels but also offers significant potential cost savings realized through leveraging economies of scale for spare parts, maintenance, and training, given BluMetric’s presence throughout the RCN fleet.

BluMetric continues to provide in-service-support (ISS) to the RCN and remains the company of choice for technical advice on water related challenges for the fleet. BluMetric’s ISS experience supporting the RCN provides Team Vigilance with a well-established supply chain for critical parts, optimization, maintenance, and training for the water systems across all classes of RCN ships. With a solid reputation for product reliability, innovation, and service, BluMetric’s addition to Team Vigilance will ensure a made in Canada solution for the water requirements for the next generation of ships for the RCN.

With over 45 years of environmental and cleantech experience, BluMetric has the capability and professional expertise to meet the full range of water and wastewater requirements for its clients. BluMetric’s cleantech water products are multi-purpose and compatible over a wide range requirements and industries.

Maritime operations in littoral waters require potable water systems that can be reliably and safely operated in these waters; equipment BluMetric has provided the RCN for years. BluMetric’s innovative approach to filtering and purifying water in multiple water related environments makes it a Canadian leader in cleantech and provides Team Vigilance with many options.

Not only will Team VIGILANCE provide the sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve the modern tools they need to protect Canada’s vital interests at home and abroad, it will also allow them to continue to leverage the best that Canadian industry has to offer from companies like BluMetric who remain a trusted source of supply and services support partner for the RCN.

DEREK BUXTON, VICE PRESIDENT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, VARD MARINE INC., SAID:

“We are fully committed to the principle that VIGILANCE will be designed, built and equipped in Canada. Bringing BluMetric onboard as a Preferred Supplier to Team Vigilance, with the potential that their portfolio of innovative and leading-edge water products offer, designed and manufactured right here in Canada, is an easy decision. The fact that their equipment is already deployed in the existing fleet and performing critical functions in support of key RCN missions underscores the importance of their involvement in this program. Also, given these systems are certified to operate inside the 12 mile limit is key since Vigilance is designed to bring RCN capability to the littoral battlespace.

SCOTT MACFABE, CEO, BLUMETRIC SAID:

“We appreciate the confidence Vard Marine Inc. has shown towards BluMetric in selecting us to partner with them in their Preferred Supplier Program. As a Canadian company that has deep roots across the country, BluMetric is thrilled to partner with Vard Marine and become one component of the Team Vigilance proposal for the Canadian Multi-Mission Corvette Program.”