The transformation of the Marystown Shipyard into an aquaculture hub is one step closer to completion with money from government. Premier Dwight Ball made the announcement this morning at the Delta.
Marbase, the company owned by St. John’s businessman Paul Antle, will put up $7.5-million over the next three years while the province contributes $1.5-million. Government’s money will allow for complete site remediation from an environmental perspective.
The Marystown Shipyard has officially been sold to Marbase Marystown Inc. owned by Paul Antle.
The sale is from Peter Kiewit Sons Co Limited, who purchased the shipyard in March 2002.@VOCMNEWS #nlpoli pic.twitter.com/PuEfg0Djta
— Ben Murphy VOCM (@BenMurphyVOCM) September 26, 2019
Marbase bought the shipyard, which has been idle for the past few years, from Kiewit for $1-million.
The company and the union have signed a four-year contract. Unifor Local 20 president Rick Farrell says the first offer was rejected by the membership, but they got a better deal in the second offer.
Labourers start off at $17 an hour while tradespeople get $28 an hour.
The aquaculture industry accounts for about 2,500 direct and indirect jobs in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Sale Good News, says Town
Meanwhile, the Mayor of Marystown says the sale of the shipyard is a sigh of relief.
Mayor Sam Synard says the town was very close to buying the shipyard before things went sideways—but as a municipality, they didn’t really want to own it.
Marystown Mayor, Sam Synard says the sale of the Shipyard was for $1-million.
Synard says it’s worth more but has been vacant for years. He calls it a great day for the Burin Peninsula and visualizes it becoming a hub for aquaculture. @VOCMNEWS #nlpoli pic.twitter.com/mlaz0F91UO
— Ben Murphy VOCM (@BenMurphyVOCM) September 26, 2019
The shipyard was sold to Marbase for just $1-million. Synard says the shipyard is clearly worth a lot more, but is worth nothing sitting there vacant—which it has for a number of years.
He says it has the potential to employ hundreds of people with interesting work. Synard envisions Marystown becoming the service centre of aquaculture for the province and even the country. Synard is confident that the industry is here to stay.
Paul Antle says although the purchase was for just $1-million, now they will invest tens-of-millions more to stabilize infrastructure and develop what they want, to make it worth much more.
