UK-headquartered Score has been awarded an $89million contract for the delivery of valve solutions to support the construction of River-Class Destroyers for the Royal Canadian Navy.
The River-Class Destroyers (RCD) program is the largest and most complex shipbuilding project in Canada, poised to revitalise the capabilities of Canada’s Navy, while also rebuilding a domestic shipbuilding industry.
In March 2025, the Government of Canada awarded Irving Shipbuilding the implementation contract to build the first three RCD’s for the Royal Canadian Navy.
Under this contract, Irving Shipbuilding appointed Score to provide all of the valves. These valves will be integral to the vessels’ piping systems, which transport hydraulic oil, high pressure air, water and other fluids critical to each ship’s performance.
A render image of a River-Class Destroyer for the Royal Canadian Navy. Image courtesy of Irving Shipbuilding.
The work, carried out at Score’s Paradise, Newfoundland location involves project management, integration, testing, inspection, and auxiliary manufacturing activities.
Score was selected for its established Canadian operations and prior expertise in the Global Combat Shipbuilding
Program.
This latest contract builds on decades of experience supporting the UK Ministry of Defence, particularly the Royal Navy, and delivering critical valve solutions to Australia’s Hunter Class frigates.
With a solid track record across the UK, Australia, and now Canada, Score is uniquely positioned to support Canada’s most ambitious naval programme.
The new RCD ships are scheduled to replace the current Halifax-Class frigates and will form the backbone of Canada’s naval combat capability. These new ships are equipped with state-of-the-art technology to support and protect the sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy as they fulfil their missions.
Andrew Stephen (right), Business Unit Director of Score’s Canadian operations with Lee Fromson (left), Vice President of Supply Chain and Quality, Irving Shipbuilding.
“This contract marks another important step in Score’s ongoing global growth and diversification,” said Nick Dunn, CEO of Score.
“With recent strategic acquisitions in Australia and Houston, we’re enhancing our capabilities across a wide range of industries while deepening our commitment to the defence sector worldwide.
“We’re proud that our Canadian team is contributing to the revitalisation of Canada’s naval fleet and supporting the National Shipbuilding Strategy through this landmark project. It’s a strong example of how our global expertise and local delivery model bring value to major defence programmes.”
Through this contract, Score becomes one of 700 Canadian organisations operating in region contributing to the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) which is bringing $174,500,000 in contracts and awards to the province of Newfoundland & Labrador alone.
The latest Conference Board of Canada Report expects that between 2013 and 2026, the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) and RCD program will contribute over $14.2billion to Canada’s GDP, with almost $9.5billion in labour income for 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.”