Membertou turns a problem into a boat-building business

Membertou First Nation tooka problem it faced while buying a fishing vessel and turned it into a business opportunity.

On Friday, the band announced it's opening a $1.5M boat-building facility at the harbour in Sydney, N.S.

"We found out ourselves when we ordered our own fishing boat and it was at least a three-year wait," said Membertou Chief Terry Paul, "so we felt there could be a niche here."

In short order, Membertou started talking toCanadian Maritime Engineering (CME) about a partnership.

"They felt the same way," said Paul, "and they've been in the business for quite awhile. They have the expertise and with that endorsement we went aheadand put plans together to do this."

CMEis a national company that hasa facility in North Sydney. It was already working with the the band to provide its members with employment opportunities.

Plant can produce a dozen boats per year

Tony Kennedy, CME's president and co-owner, said he expects the plant to turn out a dozen vessels a year. He said the facility isdesigned to buildthree boats at the same time.

"Primarily fishing-type vessels," he said, "but again, commercial, you know, work boats, fibreglass hull, up to 40-feet, maybe even beyond the 40-foot. That is a niche market that we see with the three-to-four year backlog."

Indigenous groups get slice of surf clam fishery

The plant will buyfibreglass hulls from Samson Enterprises in Arichat. "It helps them expand their business," said Paul, "and we hope to be able to build boats in Cape Breton that are second to none."

Paul said Membertoucrews are fishinglobster, crab, shrimp and ground fish, but the plant is not building vessels solely for Indigenous fisheries.

"The market is large, much larger than the Indigenous community," he said."Of course there is an [Indigenous] market there but we're open to all the market and we hope to be very competitive."

Membertou's economic success might help

The plant is is expected to employ at least 10 people full time. Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency has contributed $750,000.

Kennedy said design, pre-construction and engineering work have been completed and the plant should be operational by early fall.