Irving Shipyard hires 50 people for Arctic patrol ship project

Irving Shipbuilding says it has hired50skilled tradespeopleas a result ofjob fairs the company held recently in Dartmouth, Sydney and Fort McMurray, but it needs more.

The company islooking to recruit200 workers in total and is still seekingironworkers with their Red Seal certification, which is the Canadian standard of excellence for skilled trades.

• Irving Shipbuilding eyes Fort McMurray in effort to recruit workers

• Halifax Shipyard posts jobs in prep for first ships

Irving spokesperson Mary Keith says five of the new people started work this month.

"We're continuing to work through another 45 that are in process and then we are continuing to review the remaining applications."

She said the companystarts production on theArctic offshore patrol ship project on Sept. 1and "all is on track."

Keith says the shipyard also has openings for 80 staff positions in operations and management.

About800 people are employed at the Halifax Shipyard. That number is expected to stay at 1,000 employeesonce the project is underway.