Fibreglass Solutions Inc. Joins the Team Vigilance Preferred Suppliers Programs

Fiberglass Piping Systems

Introduction

We are proud to announce that Fibreglass Solutions Inc. (FSI), a Canadian-owned and operated specialist in glass-reinforced epoxy (GRE) piping and structural solutions, has been selected as a preferred supplier by Vard Marine Inc. (VARD) as part of its Team Vigilance consortium. This partnership supports the development of the new “VIGILANCE” naval platform designed to meet the future fleet needs of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). With this strategic collaboration, FSI brings advanced GRE piping and structures, along with Canadian manufacturing expertise into the heart of naval shipbuilding.

1. Strategic Partnership & Canadian Industrial Strength

Team Vigilance’s mission is to deliver a world-class naval solution that is designed in Canada, built in Canada and equipped in Canada, utilizing leading Canadian industrial partners. The inclusion of FSI as a preferred supplier reinforces this national-industrial objective—bringing Canadian innovation and supply-chain strength to the forefront of the VIGILANCE program.

2. Why GRE Piping Matters for Naval Platforms

FSI has decades of experience providing GRE (glass-reinforced epoxy) piping systems for naval applications. GRE piping offers significant performance advantages over conventional metallic systems (e.g., galvanized steel, copper-nickel):

  • It weighs between half and one-fifth as much as corresponding metallic systems—allowing for reduced vessel displacement or increased payload, storage or fuel capacity.
  • Its internal surface remains smooth and unchanged over decades—including resistance to corrosion, erosion, scale build-up—eliminating the need for coatings, sacrificial anodes or anti-fouling treatments. This leads to enhanced pumping efficiency, allowing for smaller pumps, valves and other equipment to continue reducing vessel displacement.
  • It provides excellent thermal insulation and sound attenuation—leading to quieter, more energy-efficient vessels with lower lifecycle maintenance demands.
  • These attributes are especially important for a naval vessel such as VIGILANCE—where performance, durability, low maintenance and cost-efficiency are key design goals.

3. FSI’s Role in the VIGILANCE Platform

Based in Woodstock, Ontario and 100% Canadian-owned, FSI supplies GRE piping and structural solutions and is the Canadian distributor for NOV Fiber Glass Systems’ Bondstrand™ and MARRS™ naval products. FSI supports customers from early design and engineering (including finite-element analysis, hydraulic modelling, structural detailing) through fabrication, installation and in-service support. 
As a preferred supplier to Team Vigilance, FSI will work closely with naval architects and shipyards engaged in the VIGILANCE program—integrating GRE systems from the earliest stages of platform development and applying its expertise in naval environments. 

4. Why This Matters for the Naval Industry & Canada

This supplier relationship signals a few important trends:

  • A commitment to Canadian industrial capability within major defense/naval procurement programs—aligning with national policy and economic benefit objectives.
  • Adoption of advanced materials (GRE) in naval platforms—an important step toward lighter, more efficient, lower-maintenance vessels.
  • The supply-chain partnership model—where design-builders like VARD bring in specialists like FSI early in the process to optimise integration and performance.
    For FSI, the selection as a preferred supplier is a clear validation of its experience and technical capability in the naval domain. For Team Vigilance and VARD, it reflects a strategy of leveraging high-performance suppliers to deliver a next-generation platform.

5. Looking Ahead: What to Expect

With FSI onboard, the VIGILANCE program is better positioned to deliver a naval asset with enhanced capabilities, designed for cost efficiency and long-term service. As the program progresses (design, build, equip phases), we expect the following:

  • Continued collaboration between FSI, VARD, shipyards, and other Canadian partners to embed GRE systems within the vessel architecture.
  • Demonstration of lifecycle cost savings, performance gains, and the operational benefits of GRE for the RCN.
  • Further communications highlighting Canadian suppliers in the program—strengthening visibility of domestic industry and innovation.
  • Potential for spill-over benefits into civilian/specialised marine markets, given the technology transfer from naval to commercial applications.

Conclusion

The inclusion of Fibreglass Solutions Inc. as a preferred supplier under Team Vigilance marks a meaningful milestone. It brings proven GRE piping and structural expertise into a high-stakes naval procurement program and reinforces Canada’s industrial and technological capabilities in shipbuilding. For the RCN, this partnership supports the goal of a modern, efficient, capable fleet platform; for FSI, it underscores a growing role in defence applications; and for the broader marine sector, it highlights how material innovation and smart supply-chain partnerships are shaping the future of naval architecture. We look forward to following the progress of the VIGILANCE program and FSI's contributions as the project advances.

If you’d like to explore more about FSI’s GRE solutions or the Team Vigilance program, we’re happy to provide deeper dives into technical benefits, case studies or material-comparisons.