St. John’s Dockyard is looking at expansion and upgrades to its marine vessel repair and maintenance facility in St. John’s Harbour.

The aim is to expand the facility to accommodate increasingly larger vessels, including those working in the offshore oil and gas industry.

The company says the changes are also needed in anticipation of billions of dollars in federal investment for Arctic vessels as part of Ottawa’s National Shipbuilding Strategy.

The dockyard project would include the demolition of existing piers, to be replaced with a steel-pile reinforced concrete deck.

The work will include dredging of the harbour and the construction of a new, and larger marine lift as well as additional berths.

The existing marine lift and berthing are will remain in place and will complement the larger marine lift and berthing area.