Alexandra Porter
October 14, 2021
Hello all! Or, whatta y’at bys?
Happy Friday! Before you head into your weekend, here’s a little bit about me. My name is Alexandra Porter, and I am in my second work term as an engineering student here at Irving Tissue, Dieppe. I have spent my time working as part of the Quality Assurance team, where I focused on quality improvement initiatives through product development trials and on leading change through implementing new processes. I am so thrilled to be back for a second time to start on some new projects!
When I’m not working for Irving Tissue, I am a 3rd year student pursuing a degree in Process Engineering from Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN), located in a little province I like to call home. Although engineering can be a tough route to take, I’ve just started my 8th year at MUN… and I think I have gotten pretty good at the student thing! In my limited spare time on campus, I love being my process class’s representative, and was coaxed in to being the president of the grad committee. We’ll see what kind of party I can come up with in due time.
I initially wanted to start engineering out of high school, but my teachers convinced me I would be a great scientist. And while I enjoyed completing my BSc. in biochemistry/chemistry I was accepted into engineering before I had graduated the first degree. I chose process because I believe I’ll be able to apply my previous education to the profession, and I am loving my choice so far!
Since arriving back at the plant, I have had to be very on top of my organization and time management as I’ve taken on many tasks, as well as my new term projects. I’ve learned more than imaginable in my first two and a half weeks and I’m looking forward to what else comes up along the way.
As I write this to you on my birthday, my only wish is for you to check out my blog throughout the fall for helpful tips and advice that I pick up on during my time with Irving Tissue.
Some of you may be reading my blog posts and thinking “Okay what you’re telling us is great but is what you’re learning really something you’ll use forever?”. My answer to that question is the same as what your high school teachers said when you used to ask them if you’d ever really use what they’re teaching you in the real world: YES!
To reassure you, here are 4 things I think everyone will learn when they do a co-op term with JDI:
How you work
Working in a professional environment is a lot different than managing coursework at school. During a work term you’ll learn a lot about yourself, especially what it takes for you to be motivated and excited about your work. You’ll also be able to learn how best to prioritize your work and what helps you stay organized to get things done.
It’s good to take risks
To clarify, I’m not saying you should run wild and try to do everything yourself. What I mean is that after you’re comfortable with your role, sometimes it’s good to take a chance with something or make an independent decision. You might end up being wrong or making a mistake, but that’s just another chance for you to learn.
The work culture you want
School is way different than a professional work environment because most of the people around you are the same age and dealing with the same problems. Working in a “real” work environment for a co-op term can help you figure out the culture you’ll be looking for when you start your career. Luckily for me, the culture at Lake Utopia is a definite example of what I’d like to be a part of. Everyone is friendly, welcoming and approachable – which is great for a student who has a lot of questions.
What your future career will be
My supervisor told me that there are three “L’s” that will help you decide what your full-time job will look like: Love, Location and Lifestyle. One of the things your co-op term will help you figure out is if you love that industry, job, or company. You can adjust your future job searches accordingly when you know what you love from an actual experience. Location and lifestyle might not be as easy to figure out as a student, but you have to wake up every day and do your job, so loving what you do is really important.
I will never forget my first day of my first term at Irving Shipbuilding, as I walked through Halifax Shipyard for the first time. At the end of orientation, all the new hires, (several of which were co-op students from my own university!) were brought on a tour of the yard to see shipbuilding in action. It was quite a significant thing to witness in person.
It is a massive production line that extends 4 football fields – with several ships in various stages of production. Plates of steel are mark the beginning of the ship as you enter the Assembly Hall. Laser cutters make precision cuts for the steel to be welded and formed. As you move down the hall the mega blocks (there are 3) are taking shape. At the end of the Assembly Hall, the awesome mega block is in front of the massive blue hangar door, ready to be moved 27 metres high, 2600 tonnes of ship!
Caption: Stern and Centre Mega Blocks for the third Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship, the future HMCS Max Bernays move from the Assembly Hall at Halifax Shipyard to be joined at land level, January 2021.
Stern megablock (1) being moved alongside centre megablock (2)
A lot has changed since that first tour of the Halifax Shipyard. Those steel plates I was initially surrounded by at the entrance of the building are now pictured above in the form of the recently moved Mega Blocks for the third of six Artic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) being built for the Royal Canadian Navy. This move was a major milestone for the program.
In addition, during my 2020 co-op term, HCMS Harry DeWolf (AOPS 1) was being prepared for test and trials – it has since been delivered to Canada’s Navy and is in active service. At the same time, the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) program has been progressing quickly! The team is working on the Preliminary Design Phase right now to ensure the CSC design is meets the requirements set out by Canada for the various missions the Royal Canadian Navy will undertake with this new class of ship. Everyone is working hard to have everything ready in time for when the fast-paced build of AOPS ships has concluded.
It is an exciting place to be as a Naval Architect – part of a new era of sophisticated ships. There is always something new –and interesting— to be observed or learned. Adapting quickly and using every opportunity to take in something new has meant some really rewarding assignments!
Blog 2: A Coupla’ Pointers
Blog 1: A Newfoundlander on the Mainland
October 1, 2021
My nerves were shot (translation: I was very nervous) my first few weeks with J.D. Irving back in January. I thought at first that I felt that way because it was my first work term, but that same feeling came rushing back when I started here again in September. I should have known enough not to feel that way, right? Wrong. As a student, it is intimidating to transition from a classroom to real responsibilities within your new role and sometimes it’s easy to feel like an imposter. I still do, and I’m on my 6th month! I want to share with you some helpful tips I picked up along the way that help me get the most out of my short time with J.D. Irving.
- Get to know your peers!
Each and every person you encounter during your work term will contribute to your learning and experience. So, meet them all! The full-time employees KNOW THEIR STUFF! These people are incredibly knowledgeable when it comes to not only their department of expertise, but also the company and processes inside and outside the walls of the plant. If there are other co-op students in your location, they will be a rock for you since they can relate to your feelings and experiences the most. Getting comfortable with the shift coordinators and operators on the plant floor was key to understanding how we get finished tissue products on the shelves. In my experience, everyone loves to help and if they can’t, they’ve always directed me to the right people!
- NO question is a silly question
Time and time again, I’ve been told that no question is a stupid question and that really stuck in my time here at J.D. Irving. When asking questions, it not only clarifies things for you, but also reduces the risk of failure, creates a sense of trust with the employee you asked, and progresses the task you are working on. Often, I learn more asking questions than I do researching on my own. This is a new job, a new company, a new process, and you are not an expert yet; it is more than okay to be confused. By the end of your term, I’m sure someone will come to you for help too!
- Hunt for your feedback!
Assuming you will get enough feedback from your peers is not always enough. I personally, unless prompted, will not give any unwarranted opinions on someone’s work or presentations and you will find that with some of your coworkers as well. It will benefit you in the future if you are asking for feedback from your supervisor and peers now. They will help you progress your technical and soft skills like no other!
- Don’t be afraid to be wrong
You will quickly learn that your critical thinking skills will be challenged every single day. It might take you a little while to get comfortable in your position, but don’t let the potential of being wrong stop you from answering questions, making suggestions and having opinions. Your supervisors and peers will appreciate your effort and involvement while also guiding you where you might be wrong or need more information. My supervisor asks me questions, not because he doesn’t know the answer, but to test my critical thinking skills and keep me on my toes!
I could go on for the rest of my term trying to help you out with tips and tricks, so I hope this is enough for now! Just know that you’ll figure it out as you go 😊
Some of you may be reading my blog posts and thinking “Okay what you’re telling us is great but is what you’re learning really something you’ll use forever?”. My answer to that question is the same as what your high school teachers said when you used to ask them if you’d ever really use what they’re teaching you in the real world: YES!
To reassure you, here are 4 things I think everyone will learn when they do a co-op term with JDI:
How you work
Working in a professional environment is a lot different than managing coursework at school. During a work term you’ll learn a lot about yourself, especially what it takes for you to be motivated and excited about your work. You’ll also be able to learn how best to prioritize your work and what helps you stay organized to get things done.
It’s good to take risks
To clarify, I’m not saying you should run wild and try to do everything yourself. What I mean is that after you’re comfortable with your role, sometimes it’s good to take a chance with something or make an independent decision. You might end up being wrong or making a mistake, but that’s just another chance for you to learn.
The work culture you want
School is way different than a professional work environment because most of the people around you are the same age and dealing with the same problems. Working in a “real” work environment for a co-op term can help you figure out the culture you’ll be looking for when you start your career. Luckily for me, the culture at Lake Utopia is a definite example of what I’d like to be a part of. Everyone is friendly, welcoming and approachable – which is great for a student who has a lot of questions.
What your future career will be
My supervisor told me that there are three “L’s” that will help you decide what your full-time job will look like: Love, Location and Lifestyle. One of the things your co-op term will help you figure out is if you love that industry, job, or company. You can adjust your future job searches accordingly when you know what you love from an actual experience. Location and lifestyle might not be as easy to figure out as a student, but you have to wake up every day and do your job, so loving what you do is really important.
I will never forget my first day of my first term at Irving Shipbuilding, as I walked through Halifax Shipyard for the first time. At the end of orientation, all the new hires, (several of which were co-op students from my own university!) were brought on a tour of the yard to see shipbuilding in action. It was quite a significant thing to witness in person.
It is a massive production line that extends 4 football fields – with several ships in various stages of production. Plates of steel are mark the beginning of the ship as you enter the Assembly Hall. Laser cutters make precision cuts for the steel to be welded and formed. As you move down the hall the mega blocks (there are 3) are taking shape. At the end of the Assembly Hall, the awesome mega block is in front of the massive blue hangar door, ready to be moved 27 metres high, 2600 tonnes of ship!
Caption: Stern and Centre Mega Blocks for the third Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship, the future HMCS Max Bernays move from the Assembly Hall at Halifax Shipyard to be joined at land level, January 2021.
Stern megablock (1) being moved alongside centre megablock (2)
A lot has changed since that first tour of the Halifax Shipyard. Those steel plates I was initially surrounded by at the entrance of the building are now pictured above in the form of the recently moved Mega Blocks for the third of six Artic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) being built for the Royal Canadian Navy. This move was a major milestone for the program.
In addition, during my 2020 co-op term, HCMS Harry DeWolf (AOPS 1) was being prepared for test and trials – it has since been delivered to Canada’s Navy and is in active service. At the same time, the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) program has been progressing quickly! The team is working on the Preliminary Design Phase right now to ensure the CSC design is meets the requirements set out by Canada for the various missions the Royal Canadian Navy will undertake with this new class of ship. Everyone is working hard to have everything ready in time for when the fast-paced build of AOPS ships has concluded.
It is an exciting place to be as a Naval Architect – part of a new era of sophisticated ships. There is always something new –and interesting— to be observed or learned. Adapting quickly and using every opportunity to take in something new has meant some really rewarding assignments!
Blog 3: Some Day on Clothes
November 5, 2021
Some day on clothes - a nice warm breezy day, perfect for drying clothes on the clothesline. Also, a perfect day to explore! As a way to recharge during the evenings and weekends, here are a few of the things I’ve tried out since I got here in September.
Hopewell Rocks
40 minutes from Moncton - $12 for students
Although closed now (a seasonal attraction), I was lucky enough to see the wonder that is Hopewell Rocks at the beginning of my stay. Located along the Bay of Fundy, Hopewell Rocks are natural rock formations caused by tidal erosion. You’ll find more than twenty rock formations or “sea stacks” along the shoreline. When the tide is out, you can walk the ocean floor and get a closeup view of the sea stacks. If you wait around (or come back) after about 6 hours, you’ll be able to see the tide all the way in, an incredible change you must check out for yourself. You’ll also find great seafood and hiking in the area!
St. Martins
50 minutes from Saint John
Can you tell I like rock formations? St. Martins houses the St. Martins Sea Caves (free), which surround the same idea as before. Tides in and out and trottin’ on the ocean floor. It is also a beautiful site to see but is closer in proximity to Saint John, NB. While there, you can also walk the Fundy trail ($10), which will take you to waterfalls and even across the 275ft suspension footbridge.
Verger Belliveau Orchard
30 minutes from Moncton
I also love a good crisp apple. At the Verger Belliveau Orchard, I was able to head to their U-Pick just the other weekend in Memramcook, NB. When you arrive, a tractor brings you from the cabin to the orchard block for picking. They also have a market and a café for your visit. On certain weekends, they host events such as live music and food trucks to keep you at the orchard even longer!
There is so much to do around here! A few other places to see that are just as amazing include St. Andrews (whale watching), Waterville (Covered Bridge Potato Chips Factory), and Nackawic (World’s Largest Axe). Many awesome New Brunswick attractions are easy to find online and others are known well to those who are from around here. Ask your coworkers where they enjoy spending their time out of the office, and from experience, they’ll have more than enough to keep you busy during your days off!
Some of you may be reading my blog posts and thinking “Okay what you’re telling us is great but is what you’re learning really something you’ll use forever?”. My answer to that question is the same as what your high school teachers said when you used to ask them if you’d ever really use what they’re teaching you in the real world: YES!
To reassure you, here are 4 things I think everyone will learn when they do a co-op term with JDI:
How you work
Working in a professional environment is a lot different than managing coursework at school. During a work term you’ll learn a lot about yourself, especially what it takes for you to be motivated and excited about your work. You’ll also be able to learn how best to prioritize your work and what helps you stay organized to get things done.
It’s good to take risks
To clarify, I’m not saying you should run wild and try to do everything yourself. What I mean is that after you’re comfortable with your role, sometimes it’s good to take a chance with something or make an independent decision. You might end up being wrong or making a mistake, but that’s just another chance for you to learn.
The work culture you want
School is way different than a professional work environment because most of the people around you are the same age and dealing with the same problems. Working in a “real” work environment for a co-op term can help you figure out the culture you’ll be looking for when you start your career. Luckily for me, the culture at Lake Utopia is a definite example of what I’d like to be a part of. Everyone is friendly, welcoming and approachable – which is great for a student who has a lot of questions.
What your future career will be
My supervisor told me that there are three “L’s” that will help you decide what your full-time job will look like: Love, Location and Lifestyle. One of the things your co-op term will help you figure out is if you love that industry, job, or company. You can adjust your future job searches accordingly when you know what you love from an actual experience. Location and lifestyle might not be as easy to figure out as a student, but you have to wake up every day and do your job, so loving what you do is really important.
I will never forget my first day of my first term at Irving Shipbuilding, as I walked through Halifax Shipyard for the first time. At the end of orientation, all the new hires, (several of which were co-op students from my own university!) were brought on a tour of the yard to see shipbuilding in action. It was quite a significant thing to witness in person.
It is a massive production line that extends 4 football fields – with several ships in various stages of production. Plates of steel are mark the beginning of the ship as you enter the Assembly Hall. Laser cutters make precision cuts for the steel to be welded and formed. As you move down the hall the mega blocks (there are 3) are taking shape. At the end of the Assembly Hall, the awesome mega block is in front of the massive blue hangar door, ready to be moved 27 metres high, 2600 tonnes of ship!
Caption: Stern and Centre Mega Blocks for the third Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship, the future HMCS Max Bernays move from the Assembly Hall at Halifax Shipyard to be joined at land level, January 2021.
Stern megablock (1) being moved alongside centre megablock (2)
A lot has changed since that first tour of the Halifax Shipyard. Those steel plates I was initially surrounded by at the entrance of the building are now pictured above in the form of the recently moved Mega Blocks for the third of six Artic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) being built for the Royal Canadian Navy. This move was a major milestone for the program.
In addition, during my 2020 co-op term, HCMS Harry DeWolf (AOPS 1) was being prepared for test and trials – it has since been delivered to Canada’s Navy and is in active service. At the same time, the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) program has been progressing quickly! The team is working on the Preliminary Design Phase right now to ensure the CSC design is meets the requirements set out by Canada for the various missions the Royal Canadian Navy will undertake with this new class of ship. Everyone is working hard to have everything ready in time for when the fast-paced build of AOPS ships has concluded.
It is an exciting place to be as a Naval Architect – part of a new era of sophisticated ships. There is always something new –and interesting— to be observed or learned. Adapting quickly and using every opportunity to take in something new has meant some really rewarding assignments!
Blog 4: A day in the life
November 30, 2021
My days don’t always look the same, day-in and day-out but here’s what a normal day might entail for me at Irving Tissue as a Quality Engineering Student.
We start off our day with a few meetings to get everyone on track for a productive and safe day. I start by meeting with my department to speak on any urgent and important tasks that need to be accomplished, and then a team of us meet for a rundown of our production from the previous day and the plan for the current day.
I generally follow my morning meetings with some work on my daily tasks. This includes collecting samples of any raw material rejects from the previous shift, organizing customer sample requests and determining if any production runs at the plant require a hold. I also spend this time getting any shipments ready for an afternoon pickup.
Some days, we will run a trial for product development – essentially testing new configurations, sizes, or paper recipes to be used for future product. These take me a few days to plan and communicate across all the stakeholders, and then I lead the trials in the plant with the operators to ensure we gather good quality samples.
The rest of my time is usually spent working on my term projects. This term, I am in the process of developing and implementing a training program for our operators that will follow our quality policy and values. It will introduce standardization and documentation across our quality audit training and skills. I have had to learn, in depth, how we ensure quality products are being produced at our site and align with different departments and stakeholders to ensure the deliverables of the project are being used long after I have left my post. I am also working on the development of a mathematical model or equation to be used alongside product specifications. For this, I have come up with a hypothesis and am currently in the testing stage.
Despite this looking like a very straightforward day at the plant, I often have many other meetings for planning and communication purposes that get thrown into my day. We need to always be fast and flexible for when a new task or important project is brought forward! No day is ever the same, and I am certainly never twiddling my thumbs in this position. 😊
Some of you may be reading my blog posts and thinking “Okay what you’re telling us is great but is what you’re learning really something you’ll use forever?”. My answer to that question is the same as what your high school teachers said when you used to ask them if you’d ever really use what they’re teaching you in the real world: YES!
To reassure you, here are 4 things I think everyone will learn when they do a co-op term with JDI:
How you work
Working in a professional environment is a lot different than managing coursework at school. During a work term you’ll learn a lot about yourself, especially what it takes for you to be motivated and excited about your work. You’ll also be able to learn how best to prioritize your work and what helps you stay organized to get things done.
It’s good to take risks
To clarify, I’m not saying you should run wild and try to do everything yourself. What I mean is that after you’re comfortable with your role, sometimes it’s good to take a chance with something or make an independent decision. You might end up being wrong or making a mistake, but that’s just another chance for you to learn.
The work culture you want
School is way different than a professional work environment because most of the people around you are the same age and dealing with the same problems. Working in a “real” work environment for a co-op term can help you figure out the culture you’ll be looking for when you start your career. Luckily for me, the culture at Lake Utopia is a definite example of what I’d like to be a part of. Everyone is friendly, welcoming and approachable – which is great for a student who has a lot of questions.
What your future career will be
My supervisor told me that there are three “L’s” that will help you decide what your full-time job will look like: Love, Location and Lifestyle. One of the things your co-op term will help you figure out is if you love that industry, job, or company. You can adjust your future job searches accordingly when you know what you love from an actual experience. Location and lifestyle might not be as easy to figure out as a student, but you have to wake up every day and do your job, so loving what you do is really important.
I will never forget my first day of my first term at Irving Shipbuilding, as I walked through Halifax Shipyard for the first time. At the end of orientation, all the new hires, (several of which were co-op students from my own university!) were brought on a tour of the yard to see shipbuilding in action. It was quite a significant thing to witness in person.
It is a massive production line that extends 4 football fields – with several ships in various stages of production. Plates of steel are mark the beginning of the ship as you enter the Assembly Hall. Laser cutters make precision cuts for the steel to be welded and formed. As you move down the hall the mega blocks (there are 3) are taking shape. At the end of the Assembly Hall, the awesome mega block is in front of the massive blue hangar door, ready to be moved 27 metres high, 2600 tonnes of ship!
Caption: Stern and Centre Mega Blocks for the third Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship, the future HMCS Max Bernays move from the Assembly Hall at Halifax Shipyard to be joined at land level, January 2021.
Stern megablock (1) being moved alongside centre megablock (2)
A lot has changed since that first tour of the Halifax Shipyard. Those steel plates I was initially surrounded by at the entrance of the building are now pictured above in the form of the recently moved Mega Blocks for the third of six Artic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) being built for the Royal Canadian Navy. This move was a major milestone for the program.
In addition, during my 2020 co-op term, HCMS Harry DeWolf (AOPS 1) was being prepared for test and trials – it has since been delivered to Canada’s Navy and is in active service. At the same time, the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) program has been progressing quickly! The team is working on the Preliminary Design Phase right now to ensure the CSC design is meets the requirements set out by Canada for the various missions the Royal Canadian Navy will undertake with this new class of ship. Everyone is working hard to have everything ready in time for when the fast-paced build of AOPS ships has concluded.
It is an exciting place to be as a Naval Architect – part of a new era of sophisticated ships. There is always something new –and interesting— to be observed or learned. Adapting quickly and using every opportunity to take in something new has meant some really rewarding assignments!
Blog 5: Final thoughts and thank yous
I cannot believe that my second work term here at Irving Tissue is already coming to an end. It feels like just yesterday that I was walking in for my first time… how was that in January 2021?
If you are given the opportunity to complete a work term, or accept a position with J.D. Irving, take it! To say that my experience here was incredible is an understatement. Despite still not having my future all figured out, I know whole-heartedly that I made the right decision to pursue engineering. In this position, I have said goodbye to the feeling that I don’t belong in the industry and gained the confidence that is driving me to reach my goals.
I have so many people to thank for making my experience at Irving Tissue as amazing as it has been. The Quality team of course, has provided me with so much of my knowledge and success here, having learned so much from my current manager, who ensured I had meaningful projects and constant feedback throughout the term. Thanks for letting me come back this time around! All other departments deserve so much thanking as well – production and operations for always assisting with my trials and projects, logistics for always getting my requests scheduled and materials delivered whenever necessary (and for being my cubicle mates!), all the engineers for their constant support and guidance, and every single other person I have crossed paths with – thank you for always being so kind and answering my millions of questions where you could.
Thanks also to those who have followed along and listened to my ramblings over the course of the last 4 months. Is it cheesy to say this blog wouldn’t have been possible without you and your interest?
As the holiday season quickly approaches and I make my way out, I hope my projects continue to be implemented and improved behind me. I hope the impact I left on the company was even half as great as the impact it’s left on me. Maybe one day, I’ll be so lucky to come back to J.D. Irving!
Happy Holidays!
Yours truly,
Alexandra
Some of you may be reading my blog posts and thinking “Okay what you’re telling us is great but is what you’re learning really something you’ll use forever?”. My answer to that question is the same as what your high school teachers said when you used to ask them if you’d ever really use what they’re teaching you in the real world: YES!
To reassure you, here are 4 things I think everyone will learn when they do a co-op term with JDI:
How you work
Working in a professional environment is a lot different than managing coursework at school. During a work term you’ll learn a lot about yourself, especially what it takes for you to be motivated and excited about your work. You’ll also be able to learn how best to prioritize your work and what helps you stay organized to get things done.
It’s good to take risks
To clarify, I’m not saying you should run wild and try to do everything yourself. What I mean is that after you’re comfortable with your role, sometimes it’s good to take a chance with something or make an independent decision. You might end up being wrong or making a mistake, but that’s just another chance for you to learn.
The work culture you want
School is way different than a professional work environment because most of the people around you are the same age and dealing with the same problems. Working in a “real” work environment for a co-op term can help you figure out the culture you’ll be looking for when you start your career. Luckily for me, the culture at Lake Utopia is a definite example of what I’d like to be a part of. Everyone is friendly, welcoming and approachable – which is great for a student who has a lot of questions.
What your future career will be
My supervisor told me that there are three “L’s” that will help you decide what your full-time job will look like: Love, Location and Lifestyle. One of the things your co-op term will help you figure out is if you love that industry, job, or company. You can adjust your future job searches accordingly when you know what you love from an actual experience. Location and lifestyle might not be as easy to figure out as a student, but you have to wake up every day and do your job, so loving what you do is really important.
I will never forget my first day of my first term at Irving Shipbuilding, as I walked through Halifax Shipyard for the first time. At the end of orientation, all the new hires, (several of which were co-op students from my own university!) were brought on a tour of the yard to see shipbuilding in action. It was quite a significant thing to witness in person.
It is a massive production line that extends 4 football fields – with several ships in various stages of production. Plates of steel are mark the beginning of the ship as you enter the Assembly Hall. Laser cutters make precision cuts for the steel to be welded and formed. As you move down the hall the mega blocks (there are 3) are taking shape. At the end of the Assembly Hall, the awesome mega block is in front of the massive blue hangar door, ready to be moved 27 metres high, 2600 tonnes of ship!
Caption: Stern and Centre Mega Blocks for the third Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship, the future HMCS Max Bernays move from the Assembly Hall at Halifax Shipyard to be joined at land level, January 2021.
Stern megablock (1) being moved alongside centre megablock (2)
A lot has changed since that first tour of the Halifax Shipyard. Those steel plates I was initially surrounded by at the entrance of the building are now pictured above in the form of the recently moved Mega Blocks for the third of six Artic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) being built for the Royal Canadian Navy. This move was a major milestone for the program.
In addition, during my 2020 co-op term, HCMS Harry DeWolf (AOPS 1) was being prepared for test and trials – it has since been delivered to Canada’s Navy and is in active service. At the same time, the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) program has been progressing quickly! The team is working on the Preliminary Design Phase right now to ensure the CSC design is meets the requirements set out by Canada for the various missions the Royal Canadian Navy will undertake with this new class of ship. Everyone is working hard to have everything ready in time for when the fast-paced build of AOPS ships has concluded.
It is an exciting place to be as a Naval Architect – part of a new era of sophisticated ships. There is always something new –and interesting— to be observed or learned. Adapting quickly and using every opportunity to take in something new has meant some really rewarding assignments!
