Stores: Navel, Consumable, Ship, Bonded and Controlled Goods

Naval Stores

Canada's west coast naval fleet can require specialized equipment and materials such as medical supplies, foreign charts, maps, ready-use metals, ammunition, and military apparel. Some of the supplies will be left onboard in lockers during work periods, while things like ammunition will be landed ashore or locked up, particularly if welding is to be done onboard. The ships are "home" to the crew when they are deployed and there is an expectation that personal gear or specialized equipment will not be touched, removed or tampered with. If you are working onboard a naval vessel please respect that code of trust. Having access to supplies and materials is critical to naval personnel being able to properly perform their duties at sea.

Consumable Stores

In a shipyard the term 'consumables' refers to supplies that are used routinely, are relatively cheap, and can be charged against a job on a percentage basis, rather than being on a materials list. Consumables can be available in bulk through general stores or ordered by the shops, depending on budgets and managerial discretion. Consumables can include construction materials such as ordinary fasteners (nuts, bolts, and washers), rope, small lumber products (2X4's and plywood), plastic sheet, tarps, welding rods, gases, cutting discs, grinding discs, steel brushes, etc.

Some yards will include small inexpensive tool crib items, such as files, small drill bits and countersinks. It is not cost effective to have workers waste time searching for a two dollar item, especially when other trades are waiting on them. Having consumables within easy reach assists with a timely flow of work, and in some cases can improve quality be ensuring that items of a particular standard are purchased. Issues like inferior grade cutting oils or lubricants can degrade cutting tools, contaminate metals, and even be toxic when heated. Under WHMIS an employer is responsible for a safe workplace so it makes sense to purchase quality products that perform well and that will give consistent results.

Ships Stores

All ships will carry a selection of replacement parts and raw materials that can be used by the ship's staff to affect emergency repairs or planned maintenance: for example, valves, gaskets, fasteners, bearings, seals, lubricants, wood, pipes, strainer screen material and fasteners. Ship's spares can also be important if the machinery onboard is not always readily supported, depending what country or port they are in. Fuel injectors for a Cummins or Detroit diesel can probably be found in most major Canadian and American port cities, but if the ship is in Europe or South America these specialized pieces may not be in stock. The same is true for radars and other electronic equipment. Specialized high performance shielded cabling can be difficult to acquire if the manufacturer is several continents away. Warships being deployed around the world will take a very large range of "stuff" to remain self-sufficient, while a ship sailing in local waters will only need a small amount because spares are readily available. It's a call an owner must make: what kit to buy and then what spares are needed to support it. After sailing for some time, all department heads on a ship will get a feel for what their equipment will need in the way of support. Promotions can even be based on the crew's ability to keep their machinery serviced and running properly.

Bonded Stores

Shipyards work on all manner of vessels and many of them are international. When a ship such as a cruise liner is brought in for repairs, it may be necessary to empty out compartments or holds to clean, repaint, or repair. These areas can contain material and equipment that is not subject to import liens or tariffs in Canada and therefore never meant to be brought into the country and distributed to the public. Additionally, when ships are in harbour they may unload equipment that has failed and is scheduled to be shipped to another country or destination for repair. In these two scenarios, the equipment is put into what is known as a Bonded Area and it becomes the responsibility of the yard to keep it locked up and secure until it can be shipped to its final destination. On occasion the equipment may need to be worked on or environmentally checked, but the Bonded Area is intended as a zone to exclude parts and equipment from being taxed as they are only in the country by circumstance.

Controlled Goods

Controlled goods are something that shipyard workers can come into contact with, primarily if they are working on naval or research vessels. Under the Controlled Goods Program there are restrictions on such things as weapons, ammunition, lasers, satellites, and guidance systems (including the manuals, paperwork, drawings, and intellectual property). In the course of repairing ships, workers may need to access spaces or compartments where these types of items are held, or they may need to view the manuals and schematics associated with the controlled goods themselves. The Controlled Goods Program is in place to prevent certain technologies from leaving Canada or getting into the wrong hands. Due diligence and a professional approach on the part of the worker, the shipyard, and the customer is an expectation.