A Campbell River shipyard has landed a major federal contract to build the next generation of RCMP coastal patrol vessels.

The Government of Canada has awarded a contract worth about $74.7 million to a joint venture between Ocean Pacific Marine Supply Limited and Camarc Design Limited to construct three new patrol vessels.

The boats will be built at Ocean Pacific Marine's shipyard in Campbell River.

The new 24 -25 metre aluminum vessels are scheduled to enter service beginning in 2028, replacing aging boats used by the RCMP's West Coast Marine Services.

The unit patrols nearly 26 thousand kilometres of B.C. coastline, from the U.S. border to Alaska, including Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii, supporting marine safety and working alongside coastal and Indigenous communities.

The federal government says the project is part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, which is designed to renew Canada's federal fleets while supporting jobs in Canadian shipyards.

About 70 percent of the funding for the contract comes through British Columbia under the Provincial Police Service Agreement.