- Compensation and benefits that provide an excellent standard of living on Canada’s beautiful West Coast
- Training, mentorship and broad opportunities for advancement and skills development
- A progressive work environment that supports health, fitness, safety and diversity
- Support for families, including child care, scholarships, and summer job placements for your children
- Job stability—with multiple operations, a wide range of satisfied clients and our federal shipbuilding contract, we will be building ships for decades to come
- A fitness membership for all full-time employees
- A generous relocation package for eligible positions, to ensure a smooth transition to Vancouver
Why Work at Seaspan?
Be part of the winning team.
Working at Seaspan
Seaspan has been named one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for 2025 and one of BC’s Top Employers for 2025—prestigious distinctions that recognize organizations leading their industries in creating exceptional workplaces. Now in its 25th year, Canada’s Top 100 Employers competition celebrates companies that set the standard for forward-thinking human resource policies.
We are honoured to be recognized as an industry leader at both the national and provincial levels. We are proud to join the other 2025 winners who are raising the bar for better workplaces across the country.
A Comprehensive Benefits Package
At Seaspan, we provide employees with a comprehensive benefits package that meets the needs of you and your family.
Our workforce includes both unionized and non-unionized employees, and benefits may vary depending on role affiliation and employment type. Below is a snapshot of some of the benefits offered to Seaspan employees.
Explore the information related to Seaspan’s benefits in the dropdowns below
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Access to our Employee & Family Assistance Program | |
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| Wellness reimbursement for eligible employees toward fitness-related memberships |  |
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On Site gym access at our Pemberton Campus | |
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| Employee discount program for a variety of items from clothes to food and entertainment including Perkopolis discounts |  |
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Access to our library of online learning resources to develop your skill sets, including LinkedIn Learning | |
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| Employee recognition through our long service award program |  |
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Seaspan scholarships program providing employees’ children with bursaries to pursue their post-secondary education goals | |
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| Youth sports team contributions for employees coaching or supporting youth sports teams |  |
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Seaspan’s own shuttle system to provide employees commuting within North Vancouver, or from Metro Vancouver using the Translink Seabus, easy access to our Pemberton Campus | |
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| Employee events & volunteer opportunities to give employees the opportunity to that support their community or meet new people within Seaspan |  |
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Access to the Courage to Care Program: Seaspan’s addiction and mental health benefit program encourages employees and eligible dependents to seek help and provides financial support towards treatment costs. | |
Seaspan provides a Defined Contribution (DC) Pension Plan to help eligible employees save for retirement. Seaspan contributes 6% of your annual salary, in addition to your minimum 5% personal contribution, to support your long-term financial goals.
| $500 Personal Spending Account to support physical and mental well-being for you and your family | |
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Medical, Dental & Vision coverage: 100% company paid premiums | |
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| Fertility Drug Coverage: Up to $10,000 to support diverse paths to parenthood | |
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Combined maximum of $1,500 per person per calendar year for all paramedical services combined. Eligible paramedical practitioners: massage therapist, speech therapist, acupuncturist, podiatrist, naturopath, chiropractor, dietitian and audiologist | |
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| Mental Health coverage: up to a maximum of $5,000 per person per year for services of psychologist, social worker, clinical counsellor, marriage & family therapist and psychotherapist combined | |
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Physiotherapy coverage: up to a maximum of $5,000 per person per year | |
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| Basic Life, Dependent Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance. Employees have the opportunity to enhance their coverage with optional insurance, conveniently paid through payroll deductions. They can choose to add Critical Illness Insurance or extend their current coverage for greater financial protection and peace of mind. |  |
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Seaspan Childcare benefit: Seaspan offers a childcare benefit to provide financial support and make childcare more affordable for our employees. | |
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| Long Term Disability insurance |  |
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Paid medical leave: 100% of salary up to a maximum of 105 consecutive days per eligible medical issue | |
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| Paid vacation days |  |
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Employee Recognition Program through Guusto to celebrate employees who exemplify our values and competencies while contributing to key initiatives and milestones. | |
Core Purpose and Values
Leading our organization forward
From shipbuilding and ship repair to our marine transportation and daily ferry operations – we are all striving to deliver the best marine solutions on Canada’s West Coast. Seaspan’s core values of Safety, Care, Efficiency, and Accountability are reflected in everything we do. Whether outside at one of our shipyards, out on the water in one of our marine vessels, or working in one of Seaspan’s offices across British Columbia, our core values bring us all together as Seaspan employees.
Diversity
For more than 100 years, Seaspan has been an important part of the development of British Columbia and its industries—and, in return, we strive to make sure that our organization is always evolving and progressing alongside our home province. We want to be a role model for business, and we have the vision and courage to make change.
Seaspan values diversity, and we work to foster a culture that is respectful, inclusive, and reflective of all the people who live in our region. We are committed to employment equity, and to the elimination of barriers to the successful employment of women, Indigenous people, members of visible minority groups, and persons with disabilities.
To this end, we have established an Employment Equity & Diversity Committee across the organization. The Committee will act as an advisory to Seaspan employees and leadership to help us achieve and maintain a workforce that represents the communities in which we operate. If you have a passion for the sea, for ships and for building a legacy, we invite you to join our diverse team.
Career Directions
Seaspan is looking for skilled people to fill roles in all of our work environments:
Our Corporate Services group works out of our head offices in the thriving city of North Vancouver. Our head office team makes sure our entire corporate culture is one of responsibility, progressive strategy, and continuous improvement. We are looking for the best people from across Canada and beyond to join our Corporate Services Group and help maintain our ongoing practices in accountability, corporate responsibility, and the delivery of quality marine services. From our head offices on the West Coast of beautiful British Columbia, our Corporate Services team oversees our operations in the following areas:
- Accounting & Finance
- Communications
- Health, Safety, Environment and Quality
- Human Resources
- Information Services
- Procurement and Supply Chain Management
- Risk Management
Our marine transport operations require capable and dedicated people to work at sea on our tugs, barges, ferries, and towed vessels. These seagoing positions are exciting careers that offer travel, professional advancement, access to up-to-date equipment, a great team of shipmates, and a unique working life that takes you to all the corners of British Columbia’s breathtaking West Coast and beyond.
As leaders in the marine transportation industry, we make sure we meet the highest standards in safety, healthy worksites, and environmental practices. We have more than a century of experience in the West Coast marine transport industry.
- Master
- Mate
- Engineer
- Deckhand
- Cook
All of our seagoing staff members must be members in good standing of their relevant union, and all positions are filled through the applicable union dispatch hall.
Master, Mate, and Engineer positions
Canadian Merchant Service Guild Western Branch
#130-815 First Street
New Westminster BC V3L 2H7
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 604-939-8990
Fax: 604-939-8950
www.cmsg-gmmc.ca
Deckhand and Cook positions
Working at Seaspan Ferries:
Seafarers’ International Union of Canada (SIU)
Unit 201 – 267 West Esplanade
North Vancouver BC V7M 1A5
Ph: 604-687-6699
Fax: 604-687-6897
www.seafarers.ca
Working at Seaspan Marine:
International Longshore & Warehouse Union Canada
Local 400
120 – 111 Victoria Drive
Vancouver, BC
Tel: 604-251-7174
www.ilwu.ca
If you have the dedication and talent and want to be a part of West Coast marine history, join the Seaspan team and begin your adventurous seagoing career.
For more than a century, we have relied on skilled tradespeople to help us lead the marine industry on Canada’s West Coast. Now, we must expand our workforce even further to build new icebreakers, Coast Guard vessels, and support ships for the next 30 years and beyond.
Now is the time to come to Seaspan and apply your skills to making something important, and something that lasts. We need people from all trades to join our team and work with us to build, repair, and refit vessels of all sizes at our Vancouver Shipyards, Victoria Shipyards, and Vancouver Drydock.
Our shipbuilding trades workforce includes:
- Welders
- Shipfitters
- Mechanics/Engine Fitters
- Painters
- Labourers
- Machinists
- Electricians
- Pipefitters
- Riggers
- Crane Operators
- Joiners
- Stagers
- Sandblasters
Careers in the Shipyards can begin with an apprenticeship for Red Seal trades, or with a job directly in the yard. Working in the trades brings opportunities for you to develop specialized leadership, technical and computer skills.
Red Seal Shipyard Trades
Apprenticeship is the first step to working in the Red Seal Trades. Details on Seaspan Shipyard trades and how to obtain Red Seal certification for Seaspan Shipyards trades are available in the Apprenticeship Program section of this site. Be aware that most apprenticeships need you complete a Foundations Certificate as a prerequisite (your local college can help with this).
Getting your Red Seal means you are a Ticketed Journeyperson. To be considered for, or progress along the career path, a combination of being Red Seal Certified, meeting all job requirements and training expectations, and having the required number of years of experience, will help you on your way into various Shipyard Operational and Corporate Roles.
Once you have your Red Seal, you can help yourself succeed by developing Leadership, Technical and Computer Skills for Shipyard Operational Roles in your trade:
- Electrician
- Joiners
- Mechanic/Engine Fitters
- Painter
- Sheet Metal
- Shipfitter/Metal Fabricator
- Steamfitter/Pipefitter
- Welder
Non-Red Seal Seaspan Trades and Occupations
Some roles in the Seaspan Shipyards are not Red Seal Trades however, they are also very skilled and specialized.
- Labourer
- Riggers
- Sandblaster
- Crane Operator
All of our employees in skilled trades positions must be members in good standing of their relevant union.
Vancouver Shipyards Co. Ltd. – Poly Party Unions
Marine & Shipbuilders – Local 506
Mr. Shawn Sly
Unit 211 – 3823 Henning Dr
Burnaby, BC V5C 6P3
Phone: (604) 558-1506
Fax: (604) 558-3506
email: [email protected]
Trade Classifications
- Welders
- Shipfitters
- Painters/Sandblasters
- Riggers
- Crane Operators
- General Labour
International Association of Machinists – Lodge 692
Mr. Walter Gerlach
201–19005 94th Avenue
Surrey BC V4N 3S4
Phone: (604) 513-3883
Fax: (604) 513-3853
email: [email protected]
Trade Classifications
- Mechanics (Engine Fitters)
- Machinists
United Association of Plumbers & Pipefitters – Local 170
Mr. Mark Glazier
201–1658 Foster’s Way
Annacis Island, Delta BC V3M 6S6
Phone: (604) 526-0441
Fax: (604) 526-6261
email: [email protected]
Trade Classifications
- Pipefitters
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers – Local 213
Mr. Mandeep Saggu
1424 Broadway Street
Port Coquitlam BC V3C 5W2
Phone: (604) 571-6500
Fax: (604) 571-6502
email: [email protected]
Trade Classifications
- Electricians
Vancouver Drydock Co. Ltd. – Poly-Party Unions
Marine Workers & Boilermakers Industrial Union – Local 1
Mr. Fred Simmons
#136 – 4299 Canada Way
Burnaby BC V5G 1H3
Phone: (604) 254-8204
Fax: (604) 608-2925
email: [email protected]
Trade Classifications
- Welders
- Shipfitters
- Painters/Sandblasters
- General Labour
Marine & Shipbuilders – Local 506
Mr. Shawn Sly
Unit 211 – 3823 Henning Dr
Burnaby, BC V5C 6P3
Phone: (604) 558-1506
Fax: (604) 558-3506
email: [email protected]
International Association of Machinists – Lodge 692
Mr. Walter Gerlach
201–19005 94th Avenue
Surrey BC V4N 3S4
Phone: (604) 513-3883
Fax: (604) 513-3853
email: [email protected]
United Association of Plumbers & Pipefitters – Local 170
Mr. Mark Glazier
201–1658 Foster’s Way
Annacis Island, Delta BC V3M 6S6
Phone: (604) 526-0441
Fax: (604) 526-6261
email: [email protected]
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers – Local 213
Mr. Mandeep Saggu
1424 Broadway Street
Port Coquitlam BC V3C 5W2
Phone: (604) 571-6500
Fax: (604) 571-6502
email: [email protected]
Victoria Shipyards
International Brotherhood of Boilermakers – Local 191
Mr. Robert Taylor
802 Esquimalt Road
Victoria BC V9A 3M4
Phone: (250) 383-4196
Fax: (250) 383-4688
email: [email protected]
Trade Classifications
- Welders
- Shipfitters
On behalf of the following Labour Supply Unions
- Labourers 1161 – Brady Carter – email: [email protected]
- Machinists 3 – Ron Wickett – email: [email protected]
- Painters 1163 – Orfeo Pagliacci – email: [email protected]
- IBEW 230 – Phil Venoit – email: [email protected]
- Pipefitters 324 – Stefan Plusa – email: [email protected]
- Sheet Metal 276 – Jason Pedersen – email: [email protected]
- Carpenters 1598 – Tim Bolderson – email: [email protected]
- Riggers 643 – Ken Weaver – email: [email protected]
Vancouver Drydock Company Ltd. – Core Group
Marine Workers & Boilermakers Industrial Union – Local 1
Mr. Fred Simmons
#136 – 4299 Canada Way
Burnaby BC V5G 1H3
Phone: (604) 254-8204
Fax: (604) 608-2925
email: [email protected]
On behalf of:
- Marine & Shipbuilders 506
- Machinists 692
- Pipefitters 170
- IBEW 213
- Operating Engineers 115
All trade apprentices working at Seaspan share a common goal of achieving their Red Seal endorsement and becoming a certified Journeyperson. This endorsement promotes excellence to employers, instills pride in skilled workers, and facilitates labour mobility within Canada. Most apprenticeship opportunities at Seaspan require candidates to have successfully completed their foundations or level 1 of training at a recognized training institution.
Sponsorships
Seaspan Shipyard apprentices must be sponsored by either the company or an affiliated union partner. The sponsor is responsible for training the apprentice under a certified tradesperson, tracking and reporting work-based training hours, allowing time to attend school, evaluating their performance, and recommending for certification.
Seaspan Sponsored Apprentices
Type of trade, shipyard location, and staffing requirements determine the need for Seaspan sponsored apprentices. All current opportunities can be found on our Job Openings page and candidates are selected through a recruitment process.
Seaspan sponsored apprentice benefits:
- Tuition Coverage
- Reimbursement of required textbooks
- Earning wages in addition to Employment Insurance (EI) while attending school through the Federal Government Supplemental Unemployment Benefit Plan
- Scheduled wage increases
- Additional training opportunities outside of the apprenticeship program
- Career advancement opportunities
Union Sponsored Apprentices
Union sponsored apprentices are selected and sponsored by a Seaspan affiliated union partner and can be dispatched to a shipyard location. See the Shipyard section directly above for union contacts.
Our three shipyards and our Marine division have been centres of high-quality transport, shipbuilding, and repair for decades—and now we are entering a 30-year period of even higher production and growth. We are looking for skilled people to join our Operation and Technical teams across the organization.
Seaspan Shipyards, Seaspan Marine and Seaspan Ferries
- At Vancouver Shipyards, Vancouver Drydock and Victoria Shipyards, you’ll find a fast-paced and project-oriented environment that is focused on efficiency, safety, and quality. Our philosophy of continuous improvement means our workforce enjoys the benefit of constant investment in training, infrastructure and technology.
- At our busy Seaspan Marine and Seaspan Ferries offices, we have been providing sea transport services to the West Coast since 1898. In Vancouver, Delta, Nanaimo and at outports all along the southern coast we operate commercial roll-on/roll-off ferry services, shipdocking, and marine transportation services such as container, railcar and commercial truck transport via self-propelled ferries and tug-barge. Our staff at these ports and outports enjoy a busy, high-energy work environment and our same commitment to safety, training, and infrastructure.
- Marine Services is responsible for the commercial management and traffic coordination of all commodity barge products (petro, chemical, forest products, etc.) They also coordinate and transport occasional marine module traffic around Vancouver Island.
- Marine Operations coordinates vessel docking assists, vessel escort duties, and general barge towing in the Vancouver Harbour, Fraser River and BC coastline.
Some positions include:
- Project Managers
- Naval Architects
- Engineers in various disciplines
- Trade Supervisors
- Quality Assurance Representatives
- Port Captains
- Traffic Coordinators
- Dispatchers
- Customer Service Representatives
- Commercial Managers