McLaren brothers step away from Allied Shipbuilders

Left to right: Malcolm McLaren, Chuck Ko, Jim McLaren. The McLaren brothers have sold their majority share of Allied Shipbuilders Ltd. to Chuck Ko, the company's longtime VP of operations.

Lucas Morgan photo

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After more than six decades of owning and managing North Vancouver's Allied Shipbuilders, two members of the McLaren family have sold majority ownership of the shipyard to longtime Allied executive Chuck Ko.

Malcolm McLaren, former president of Allied Shipbuilders, told The Outlook he and his older brother Jim, the shipyard's former manager, had been working for a few years on the the transition in ownership.

Part of his decision to sell, said Malcolm, was his diagnosis of Parkinson's disease seven years ago.

"If I didn't have that [Parkinson's] I'd be here. I'm a young 58," said Malcolm.

"You don't always have choices in life though."

Malcolm said he is still involved with the company in an limited advisory capacity. Jim will be spending time with his family. A third McLaren brother, Douglas, will continue to work at the shipyard as part-owner and electrical superintendent.

All three brothers, added Malcolm, owned equal parts of the company prior to the sale.

The change in ownership comes at a busy time for shipbuilding on the North Shore. Seaspan being awarded the oft-discussed $8 billion federal shipbuilding contract likely means more work for all shipbuilders in North Vancouver. For Malcolm, who's endured both the ups and downs of the industry over the years, the future appears promising for the often boom-and-bust business.

"Seaspan has courageously taken on that contract. How the world will turn or how opportunities will move to us remains to be seen," he said.

"There may be some contract opportunities but just bringing the demand here has got to be a good thing."

As for life away from the shipyard, Malcolm said he'll miss the day-to-day. Shipbuilding, he said, is a fun gig.

"I like the chase. It's fun putting it all together, from the welding to all the other services," he said.

"It's a fascinating business."

skolenko@northshoreoutlook.com

twitter.com/seankolenko