The Proof is in the Water.

When the Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel launched in August, it became the most advanced research vessel ever built in Canada. A truly breakthrough vessel capable of Search & Rescue as well as scientific exploration, the OOSV will be inspiring advancements and furthering our understanding of climate change for years to come. Itʼs all part of driving improvement every single day with every ship we build.

OOSV in water

Building Canada's Newest Polar Icebreaker

Canadaʼs High Arctic doesnʼt play games. With punishing cold, shifting conditions, and supremely difficult navigation, it’s a constant challenge. It’s why the Polar Icebreaker is one of the most complex polar vessels ever designed, capable of operating down to a bone chilling -50°C, happily withstanding year-round Arctic extremes. The ship’s mission is just as complex: Search & Rescue, Environmental Response, Marine Navigation, Security, Icebreaking, Arctic Science—the Polar Icebreaker will handle it all. Expectations are high, so weʼve set the bar even higher. And we know we can deliver an icebreaker that will be truly breakthrough.

Polar

Driving Improvement

With every ship we build, we’re evolving by leaps and bounds — from supply chain to training, from automating to outfitting, we’re finding more ways to build smarter and faster.  Lessons learned means problems are pre-solved. Experience gained means skilled people are in place and ready to roll.

Driving Efficiency

We’re getting ahead of issues before they become ‘an issue’. Like building parallel construction lines to ensure far fewer slowdowns. As we like to say — to avoid a bottleneck, build a better bottle.
Ships in Parallel Construction

Driving Value

It’s evolution—people get smarter, machines get faster, ships ship sooner.  We’ve invested $30 Million in automation and robotics to significantly reduce labour costs, improve efficiency and raise quality. This means even more millions saved over the next decade for Canada’s shipbuilding endeavours.

Automatic Welder

Driving Legacies

Canada needs more shipbuilders. So we built them too. We’ve doubled the size of our apprenticeship program and launched initiatives to recruit, grow and train the next wave of Canadian talent. 
Welders behind porthole

Driving Innovation

We believe in training right, right here. With state-of-the-art, in-yard facilities and programs like our Welding Centre of Excellence we’re setting the standard for others to follow. By imparting skills and integrating expertise from around the world, we ensure Canada’s future is in very skilled hands indeed. 

 

Welding Centre of Excellence

Driving Solutions

Sometimes to overcome a challenge, you have to flip it on its head. Like outfitting the ship with piping and systems while inverted and before assembly allows for better access and efficiency. Experience and road-tested knowledge like this is all part of the smart systems and skilled people in place, ready to take Canada’s shipbuilding industry into the next generation and beyond.

Ship getting outfitted upside down

Delivered

Seaspan Shipyards has built and delivered three Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels, the first full class of large vessels under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, for the Canadian Coast Guard. The missions of these vessels include monitoring the health of fish stocks, understanding the impacts of climate change, and supporting research that allows us to better understand our oceans. Delivery of these vessels was completed in 2020.

OFSV John Cabot

The Future

Seaspan Shipyards is currently designing one Heavy Polar Icebreaker for the Canadian Coast Guard. This vessel will be the largest ship and flagship of the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaking fleet, with a critical role in protecting Canada’s Arctic sovereignty. 

Seaspan Shipyards is also currently designing the first fleet of what will be a total of 16 Multi-Purpose Vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard, which will support a variety of missions, including aids to navigation, icebreaking, and offshore search and rescue.

Seaspan's Recent Highlights Under the National Shipbuilding Strategy

 

CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk

Seaspan Launches Fourth Ship Under the NSS, the Canadian Coast Guard’s State-of-the-Art Science Vessel

 

Polar Design

Seaspan Shipyards Unveils Digital Model of Canada’s Heavy Polar Icebreaker

 

Seaspan Shipyards Progresses to Next Phase of Designing and Building Multi-Purpose Vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard

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