Canadian Shipyard Criticizes Ferry Company for Purchasing from China: We Don't Have the Ability to Compete with China
In an email sent this month by James Davies, CEO of Canada's largest and oldest Davie Shipyard, to Xavier Barbeau-Duval, a member of the Quebec Party, it was stated that it had no chance to bid against a Chinese company to build four new ships for BC Ferries, which is the latest criticism following the ferry company's decision to purchase four ferries from the Weihai Shipyard in China, calling for the cancellation of the contract.
The email stated, "Unfortunately, the procurement criteria are heavily biased towards the lowest price, which actually benefits the Chinese shipyard. Due to the price disadvantage, we have no choice but to withdraw."
However, BC Ferries issued a statement saying, "Price is only a secondary factor, accounting for less than a third of the score, while technical considerations of the shipyards account for more than half of the evaluation. Each bidder must meet high safety and environmental standards regardless of the location or nationality of the shipyard."
Canadian federal Minister of Transport Chrystia Freeland also expressed frustration over the matter, especially now facing unreasonable tariffs imposed by China on Canadian goods, including canola products, seafood, and pork. She also raised concerns about potential threats to security (including cybersecurity) to British Columbia's Minister of Transportation Mike Farnworth.
The Canadian federal Conservative Party and the BC Conservative Party have repeatedly called on the federal or provincial government to intervene and force BC Ferries to cancel the contract.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1840469000018121/
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