Seaspan Victoria Shipyards will continue supporting Babcock Canada (Babcock) as the shipyard under the Victoria In-Service Support Contract (VISSC)
Victoria, B.C. — Sept. 9, 2026 — Seaspan Victoria Shipyards today confirmed a six-year extension of their subcontract from Babcock Canada under the Victoria In-Service Support Contract (VISSC) to continue maintaining the Royal Canadian Navy’s Victoria-class submarine fleet. Babcock is the Prime Contractor for the VISSC program and leads Canada’s only industry-led submarine in-service support solution.
Both Seaspan and Babcock operate within the Esquimalt Graving Dock on Canada’s West Coast, which serves as the focal point for the nation’s industry-led submarine sustainment operations. Seaspan’s Victoria Shipyards is the shipyard for the VISSC program. With more than 300 highly skilled workers dedicated to submarine sustainment and a direct supply chain of more than 480 Canadian companies, Seaspan has been maintaining submarines in Canada since 2005. The VISSC submarine maintenance enterprise is a collaborative effort spanning the Royal Canadian Navy, DND’s materiel organization, and several industry parters, including Babcock, BMT and Seaspan.
The VISSC extension reinforces Seaspan’s position as the best placed Canadian industry shipyard to perform the critical maintenance work for the Navy’s submarine fleet — and ensures continuity of that critical work as Canada transitions to its next generation of submarines.
“This extension reflects the depth of expertise Seaspan brings to the most specialized work in Canada’s defence sector,” Marty Drews, Vice President and General Manager of Seaspan Victoria Shipyards, said. “We are proud to have played a major role in building the Canadian sovereign sustainment capability.”
Quick facts
- Seaspan’s Victoria Shipyards is an important contributor to Canada’s economy. According to an economic analysis conducted by Deloitte, since 2012, Victoria Shipyards has contributed more than $1.7 billion to Canada’s GDP, while creating or sustaining nearly 1,800 jobs annually.
- Throughout the past 30 years, Victoria Shipyards has performed repairs and maintenance on nearly 500 vessels, including Royal Canadian Navy frigates, submarines, cruise ships, ferries and foreign navy vessels.
- Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, Seaspan has invested more than $35 million to support education, learning, research and skills development in the marine industry, with a special focus on reducing barriers for underrepresented groups, bringing a range of new talent into the industry and the trades, including more women and Indigenous people, and creating opportunities for youth through internships and apprenticeships.
About Seaspan Shipyards
Seaspan Shipyards is Canada’s largest ship design, engineering, building, sustainment and repair company. As the only Canadian shipyard company with deep submarine experience, expertise, workforce and supply chain, the West Coast submarine sustainment facilities, provide mission-critical maintenance and support to Canada’s naval fleet including Canada’s current submarines through a highly specialized workforce, exceptional quality and deep Canadian supply chain. With modern facilities and a dedicated workforce of more than 5,000 in North Vancouver and Victoria, Seaspan is a trusted and strategic partner on a range of complex projects for both the government and the private sector.
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