March 25, 2024
From sea to shore, we’re proud of the skill and dedication that Seaspan engineers bring to work every day. In honour of National Engineering Month, we took the opportunity to get to know a few of our talented engineering team members across Seaspan:
Bianka Labelle-Robert, EIT (Outfitting Engineer at Vancouver Shipyards)
How long have you worked at Seaspan and what is your role?
I did an internship with the Joint Support Ship (JSS) Requirements & Acceptance team in 2017 and then with the Welding Engineering team in 2018 before graduating and starting full time in 2019 with the Requirements & Acceptance team for the delivery of the OFSV’s. I am currently working on the MPV and Polar projects with the Outfitting Engineering department.
What do you love about your job?
My team is very diverse, so I am able to learn from people who have worked in shipyards all over the world. The knowledge and experience I have gained from their mentorship is unique and has really improved my confidence and skills working in shipbuilding.
Is there a project you’ve worked on recently that makes you feel a sense of pride?
I am proud of the designs I worked on for the Multi-Purpose Vessels for the Canadian Coast Guard. This is our first time owning the design effort and I really enjoyed the challenges that came with that. There is a big push to modernize the interior to improve the quality of life while at sea for the crew. I enjoy having a creative aspect to my technical design work.
What inspired you to pursue engineering?
As a kid I liked to build things, but I also loved arts and sports, so I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. Once I got into high school, I had a great physics teacher who made learning fun and encouraged me to investigate engineering. I like to understand systems and think of ways to improve them.
What is unique about engineering in a marine environment?
It can be challenging to balance form, fit and function in our design. It is a working vessel but also a home for the crew. We want to create nice looking living spaces, but the design must withstand rough conditions at sea, meet marine and fire safety standards, be lightweight and long lasting.
What is one piece of advice you would share with someone that is interested in pursuing engineering as a career?
Apply for internships in different industries to find out what you like and where you fit in. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, there are so many kind people who want to help you out and see you succeed.
Matt Boivin-Villeneuve, Vessel Maintenance & Engineering Superintendent, Seaspan Ferries
How long have you worked at Seaspan and what is your role?
I have been with Seaspan Ferries for 7 years now. I started with the company as a Chief Engineer on the Dual-Fuel Hybrid vessels and I moved to the position of Port Engineer in 2020. I became the Engineering Superintendent position in October 2022.
What do you love about your job?
My position allows me to define the outlook of the fleet in the future. The marine industry is evolving, and I have the chance to make Seaspan Ferries a leader when it comes to electrifying our vessels and implementing renewable energies to replace fossil fuels.
Is there a project you’ve worked on recently that makes you feel a sense of pride?
Recently I have had the chance to work on a project to potentially electrify a vessel that would have been decommissioned last year. Retrofitting older vessels so that they are fully electric might become a trend in the near future.
What inspired you to pursue engineering?
I have always liked sailing on the water. Over 15 years ago, when I saw that the demand in the marine industry was very high, I decided to apply to the marine academy. I was also always interested in learning about how a vessel operates.
What is unique about engineering in a marine environment?
I always compare a vessel to a floating building! There is a lot of different equipment that a marine engineer needs to understand and maintain. It can be challenging at times since there is only the crew onboard able to assist in case of a breakdown when the vessel is underway.
Niloufar Nasseri, MSc, EIT (Assistant Project Manager at Vancouver Shipyards)
How long have you worked at Seaspan and what is your role?
I started at Seaspan two years ago now, initially as a project planning engineer, where I worked closely with production on both the Joint Support Ship (JSS) and Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel (OOSV) projects. More recently I joined the project management office team where I’m primarily involved with JSS.
What do you love about your job?
I appreciate the dynamic nature of my role. Collaborating with diverse teams and overseeing various aspects of ship construction allows me to contribute to the construction of impressive vessels. Witnessing the transformation of conceptual designs into tangible, seaworthy ships is immensely fulfilling, and solving complex challenges makes the job both exciting and rewarding.
Is there a project you’ve worked on recently that makes you feel a sense of pride?
Absolutely, I’m immensely proud of my involvement in the JSS1 project, one of the largest Navy ships ever built in Canada. Playing pivotal roles in both aspects of my position has been a rewarding experience.
What inspired you to pursue engineering?
I was inspired to pursue engineering by my fascination with optimizing processes and finding efficient solutions. The interdisciplinary nature of industrial engineering, combining aspects of engineering, business, and mathematics, appealed to my interest in solving complex problems.
What is one piece of advice you would share with someone that is interested in pursuing engineering as a career?
My advice is to seek hands-on experience. Going beyond classroom learning and finding internships, working on projects, and participating in workshops provides invaluable insights. Practical experience not only reinforces theoretical knowledge but also helps you discover your specific interests within the vast field of engineering.
Walker Lunsford, Chief Engineer, HaiSea Marine
How long have you worked at Seaspan and what is your role?
I have worked at Seaspan for four years. I first started as a Second Engineer in the tug and barge division and transitioned to HaiSea Marine last August when we received the first electric tug for the Kitimat LNG project, the HaiSea Wamis. I started as a Second Engineer in the tug and barge division when I joined and am now a Chief Engineer.
What do you love about your job?
I love the variability, and the changing priorities. It also doesn’t hurt that I get to see some of BC’s most beautiful marine environments and wildlife while at work. I’ll never forget having the chance to witness a southern resident orca play in the bow wave of the Seaspan Rogue on a trip down to Seattle.
Is there a project you’ve worked on recently that makes you feel a sense of pride?
I am proud to be working for HaiSea Marine, which is a First Nations, specifically Haisla and Gitxaala, partnership. The entire project to deliver some of the lowest-impact vessels to an important part of BC’s economy is forward-thinking in a way that will hopefully revitalize other parts of the marine industry on the BC coast.
What is unique about engineering in a marine environment?
What isn’t unique about engineering in a marine environment? From the days of sail to the unusual human resource models, it’s a new challenge every day. I think that the diversity of fields which marine operating engineers need to be familiar with is probably one of the most unique parts of the job.
What is one piece of advice you would share with someone that is interested in pursuing engineering as a career?
See if you can take a supernumerary trip for a few weeks on vessel before entering a marine engineering program. While rewarding, the lifestyle is not for everyone. Job expectations for mariners are very different from jobs on shore.