Point Hope Maritime shipyard is seeking federal approval to build a $50-million graving dock to allow the VicWest business to service larger ships, and increase the workforce.
Port Hope Maritime has applied to build a 173-metre long graving dock to service bigger ships, and double the workforce.
There are currently 90 employees and as many as 40 contractors working at the shipyard.
Point Hope Maritime is part of the Ralmax Group -- and President Ian Maxwell the dock is needed as the facility operates at capacity now, and frequently gets requests to service larger ships.
The company currently handles ships as long as 54 metres (180 feet) from the Coast Guard, navy, and BC Ferries as well as fishing and private vessels. The graving dock would allow the shipyard to handle ships over 3 times that length.
Maxwell says the graving dock has been a goal for many years and financing is already lined up.
The federal application involves adding 77-hundred square metres to the current federal water-lot lease, and assessing impacts on fisheries and navigable waters.