Irving Shipbuilding cuts steel on first Arctic patrol ships

Workers at the Irving-owned Halifax Shipyard have started building Canada's first Arctic offshore patrol ship.

Hundreds of employees gathered in the shipyard's new assembly hall yesterday as a huge sheet of steel was hoisted into place.

Irving Shipbuilding president Kevin McCoy says the ship will be the first of up to 21 vessels that will renew Canada's fleet of warships over next 30 years.

The building started on schedule, and the patrol ship is expected to be completed in 2018.