THE IRVINGS LOVES TO RUB IT IN!!!!

ship, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

NB Telegraph-Journal | Saint John
As published on page B9 on May 9, 2006

Pieces of shipyard headed to India

Click to zoom (Cindy Wilson/Telegraph-Journal)
Pieces of equipment from the old Saint John Ship Building are being loaded onto the BBC Russia.
Telegraph-Journal

As the trucks rolled across the causeway from the Saint John shipyard this week, it marked the end of an era. Some of the last remnants of the shipyard are being loaded onto a ship at the Pugsley wharf and shipped to Mumbai, India.

The Irving-owned shipyard has been idle since 2000. During the construction of the Canadian navy's 12 patrol frigates, the yard employed 3,700 workers. Irving spokeswoman Mary Keith says watching the dozens of trucks roll out of the yard with the remaining pieces of the shipyard is bittersweet.

"For me it was April 2000 when the last ship left the yard," said Ms. Keith. "We saw an end to shipbuilding unfortunately, but this marks what will be hopefully a new beginning for the site and new employment."

Some 100 trucks and two barges are transporting the machinery to Pugsley wharf where it will be loaded onto the ship for its long journey to India.