Called Point Hope since 1938, it’s the last surviving shipyard in a harbour that once housed a thriving maritime industry. Open house on Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., 345 Harbour Rd.
One hundred and fifty years ago, the Daily British Colonist marvelled at a new shipyard with first-class facilities for repair and construction of large ships, calling it an example of what “energy and perseverance can accomplish.”
These days, business is brisk, with steady work for as many as 200 workers on any given day and contracts with 600 local firms for supplies and services. Building on the foundation established by previous general manager Hank Bekkering, who Ralmax founder Ian Maxwell hired to rebuild the shipyard in 2006, the shipyard is “thriving,” he said.
The shipyard now counts among its clients the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Coast Guard, B.C. Ferries and area tug and fishing vessels. He recalls combing through the books with his accountant and determining that if the “shipyard stuck to its knitting,” it would do well in the ship-repair business. “If you looked at it as an asset, you’d believe all that s**t that B.C. Assessment says about what you could sell the land for,” said Maxwell, referring to one of his biggest headaches — B.C. Assessment valued the shipyard at $38 million this year, an $8 million increase over last year, resulting in a massive increase in his taxes.
Jennifer Henry, a labourer who has been at the shipyard for three years, said she found another family at Point Hope, one that’s been helping her learn the tools and tricks on the site as well as job training.Henry said the shipyard has made big strides in ensuring women in trades are more comfortable, which has translated into more women working on the site over the last few years.
“If we don’t have a steady supply of work, then we have our workforce going up and down. If we can’t put together that quality workforce, then we can’t say: ‘You can rely on us.’ ” While the ship-repair business is booked solid, it still feels pressure from developers who see the site as ideal waterfront space for mixed-use and residential projects, from new residents in the area concerned about noise, and from politicians who often see commercial and industrial land as a chance to cash in.
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