BC Shipyard is bidding for an estimated $35bn contract from a federal ship building programme to build vessels for the Canadian Navy and coastguard.

Vancouver Shipyards has also been shortlisted as one of five shipyards that will share the work under the programme.

If the proposal is accepted, one yard will build combat vessels that include Arctic offshore patrollers, replacement ships for aging destroyers and frigates.

The other yard will build non-combat vessels such as support ships and icebreakers, according to the Metro News.

The contracts will be awarded under the federal government’s national shipbuilding strategy.