Heddle Shipyards changes name to better reflect company future

The largest ship repair and building service on the Great Lakes, Heddle Shipyards, has changed its name, marking the next step of growth in the company.

In a release on Wednesday, the company announced they will now identify as Ontario Shipyards to better reflect their future endeavors.

“The transition to Ontario Shipyards is both a signal and a commitment that we will harness the capacity of Ontario’s shipyards and the industrial capabilities of the province to become the most reliable provider of ship repair and shipbuilding services in Canada,” the release said.

The company has locations in Hamilton, St. Catharines and Thunder Bay and works to become a global leader in ship repair and shipbuilding services by modernizing and revolutionizing shipyard operations.

READ MORE: Heddle Shipyards invests $107 million to expand projects in St. Catharines

Just this past November, the Shipyards invested $107 million to expand projects at the company’s Port Weller Dry Docks, creating thirty new good-paying jobs in the region.

Ontario Shipyards says additional capacity will be needed in the coming years to support the Canadian government’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, and the Shipyards is prepared to provide that.

President and C.E.O. Shaun Padulo said the rebranding of the company to Ontario Shipyards marks a significant shift.

“It is a poignant signal that our company will activate and harness the capacity, capabilities and output of Canada’s industrial heartland to build and fix ships,” Padulo said.

“We must never forget where we have come from, but it is important to always be forward-thinking and strive for a better future.”