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Newfoundland-based Score awarded an $89 million contract to support the construction of River-class destroyers for Canada’s Navy
Contract will add to the over $174.5 million in economic benefits delivered to Newfoundland through the National Shipbuilding Strategy
St. John’s, Newfoundland, May 12, 2025 – Newfoundland-based engineering firm Score has been awarded a $89 million contract by Irving Shipbuilding to support the construction of Canada’s future River-class destroyer (RCD) fleet.
The new RCD ships are slated to replace the current Halifax-class frigates and will form the backbone of Canada’s naval combat capability. Full rate construction on the RCD started in April, with these ships equipped with state-of-the-art technology to support and protect the sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy as they fulfil their missions.
The RCD program is the largest and most complex shipbuilding project in Canada, poised to revitalize the capabilities of Canada’s navy, while also rebuilding a domestic shipbuilding industry. In March 2025, Irving Shipbuilding received the implementation contract from the Government of Canada to build the first three destroyers for the Royal Canadian Navy.
The contract with Score is for a significant piece of work: Score will provide all the valves for the first three RCD ships. The valves will be used in piping systems transporting hydraulic oil, high pressure air, water and other fluids throughout the ships, with critical operating requirements pivotal to each ship’s performance.
Score’s roots trace back to Peterhead, Scotland, where the company was founded in 1982. Today, Score is a global leader of advanced engineering technology services in the fields of valve and emissions management, gas turbines, surface technologies, energy, defence, aerospace and beyond. In Canada, Score has two facilities: one in Edmonton, Alberta, and the larger facility in Paradise, Newfoundland, where Score currently employs approximately 60 local workers.
Importantly, the valves contract with Irving Shipbuilding has already created 10 new positions, with potential for even more positions in the future as the project matures.
The work taking place at Score’s Paradise location under the RCD project is highly-skilled and technical work—ranging from project management, integration, testing, inspection and auxiliary manufacturing activities. This new contract also supports Score’s plans to expand its operations into Nova Scotia.
Score was selected for this project as a result of the company’s strong Canadian operations and its previous involvement in the Global Combat Shipbuilding Program, supporting the construction of the Type 26 and Hunter Class frigates, manufactured in the UK and Australia, respectively. Canada’s RCD ships are based off the same design as the Type 26 and Hunter Class vessels.
“Score is proud to join this significant project revitalizing Canada’s marine capability alongside Irving Shipbuilding,” says Andrew Stephen, Business Unit Director of Score’s Canadian operations. “Through our contribution to the Global Combat Shipbuilding Program, the Score team will bring invaluable experience and lessons to the River-class destroyer project to support an efficient construction process while stretching a domestic supply chain.”
With this contract, Score is joining the nearly 700 Canadian organizations who are receiving investments from the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). This latest contract contributes to the $174,500,000 in contracts and awards coming to Newfoundland alone under the NSS.
“Throughout Score’s 20-year operation in Canada, we have supported development initiatives with local educational institutions through apprenticeships and trainee programs,” Stephen says. “We are planning to further increase our investment in training and employment opportunities across Eastern Canada.”
The latest Conference Board of Canada Report expects that between 2013 and 2026, the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships and RCD program will contribute over $14.2 billion to Canada’s GDP, with almost $9.5 billion in labour income coming to Canadians.
“This contract with Score is yet another testament to Canada’s impressive shipbuilding capabilities,” says Lee Fromson, Vice President, Supply Chain and Quality, Irving Shipbuilding. “We’re proud to welcome Score to the River-class destroyer project and support them in creating highly skilled and rewarding Canadian jobs.”