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Speaking in the Senate Wednesday, Sajjan stressed that speeding delivery is a key objective. That is most pressing in the case of the planned ships, not only for strategic reasons — the Canadian Navy is rusted out and in dire need of new capacity — but because of inflation.

Early in December, James Cudmore, then a CBC correspondent and now working in Sajjan’s office, reported the projected cost of just one portion of Irving’s build — 15 new warships to replace the Navy’s Halifax-class frigates and retired Iroquois-class destroyers — had doubled to $30 billion. The longer construction is delayed, the more costs escalate.

Tuesday, The Ottawa Citizen’s David Pugliese reported the government has merged previously separate tenders for vessel design and combat system integration for the warships into single bids. In theory, this will reduce the time and cost to delivery. Last September, the Irving yard began work on the first of up to six Harry DeWolf-class Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships, scheduled for delivery in 2018. Irving, named prime contactor for the surface combatants in 2015, has been re-affirmed in that role by the new government.

The thornier problem, both in real and political terms, is the “non-combat” portion of the NSPS, now in Seaspan’s hands.

Its North Vancouver yard has begun work on the first of three small Coast Guard science vessels. But costs are rising quickly. The company has approached the new government for a funding increase for its planned Coast Guard oceanographic research vessel, now projected to cost $440 million, up from $144 million, according to the senior industry source. The status of that request remains unclear.