Thank you, Madam Deputy Minister.
There was a study conducted by Fleetway consultants and Oceanex consultants. It was commissioned by either Transport Canada or Marine Atlantic. It gave specific technical requirements--best options for the fleet renewal. Other logistical issues were dealt with, and it provided specific recommendations.
Can you tell this committee if the conclusions of Fleetway and Oceanex consultants indicated that the best fleet configuration was three European-built, second-hand vessels that were 201 metres in length, or four made-in-Canada, 175-metre-long vessels? I'm considering the circumstances of Port aux Basques, the crossings in the gulf, and those technical issues.