Oct.8, 2026
This spring, a custom-built osprey nesting pole and platform was installed at Vancouver Shipyards, not far from the MacKay creek estuary adjacent to our North Vancouver shipbuilding operations.
Standing tall at over 14 metres high, the new nesting platform is located on the south-east side of the facility, part of our habitat restoration and enhancement area. This is just east from where the Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel (OOSV) is currently docked as our team completes the final stages of work prior to delivery to the Canadian Coast Guard.
The structure provides a safe alternative nesting site for a pair of ospreys who had built their nest in a spot that was a little too close to operations.
The project came together smoothly thanks to careful planning by Seaspan’s Environment and Operations teams, despite a tight deadline. The installation was completed in April of this year, just in time for the osprey pair’s return from the tropics. Prior to installation, our teams consulted with biologists from the BC Ministry of Environment as well as local wildlife experts to ensure the new structure and its location would fit the needs of the nesting birds of prey.
“It was quite an effort to get the nest installed, which we did just before the nesting season,” said Mark Condon, Senior Environmental Specialist at Vancouver Shipyards. “We had to remove a nest that had been used for many years because we wanted to ensure our shipbuilding operations would not impact them. Thankfully, the osprey pair quickly adopted the new nest and raised two juveniles there this season. We’re looking forward to seeing them again when they return next spring.”
Ospreys are remarkable birds of prey known for their keen eyesight and skill at diving, often submerging themselves underwater to catch fish. They are also known for their migratory habits, capable of logging more than 160,000 miles during their 15–20-year lifespan.
On the North Shore and throughout British Columbia, ospreys are often seen, especially around the shoreline and in areas like the Maplewood Flats conservation area. William (Bill) Scott, a longtime Seaspan employee, recalls first noticing the birds at the shipyard in the early 2000s:
“I was working around the east side of the yard when I noticed a bird I had never seen before. Fast forward to 2024, I saw that the old pole the ospreys used to nest on was taken down and a new one was installed nearby. The birds took to it right away, and it reminded me that even in a heavy industrial setting the beauty of nature still shines through.”
Living side by side with wildlife
The successful installation of the new nesting pole is just one example of how Seaspan integrates environmental stewardship into daily operations. Across all shipyards, teams work to ensure that industry and nature can coexist:
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Habitat Restoration: At Vancouver shipyards, we have invested significantly toenhance a 120-metre stretch of subtidal, intertidal and riparian habitat adjacent to the Mackay Creek estuary. This supports the marine ecosystem including the salmon population who travel up Mackay Creek every year.
- Supporting Western Purple Martins: Seaspan have funded conservation projects for this at-risk species in the Squamish estuary. This includes recent install of an interpretive sign at the Squamish Estuary to raise awareness of the western purple martin vulnerability and habitat protection.
- Wildlife Protection Measures: At Victoria Shipyards, netting has been installed to help manage bird activity and protect both wildlife and workers.
The success of the new osprey nest platform highlights how thoughtful planning and a commitment to environmental responsibility can make a lasting difference.
In September, the birds migrated south for the winter, and Seaspan employees look forward to welcoming them back in the spring — a reminder of the thriving wildlife that shares the shoreline alongside our operations.
Learn more about Seaspan’s commitment to the environment by watching the Sustainability at Seaspan video and check out more photos of our resident ospreys in the gallery below:
Photos captured for Seaspan by wildlife photographer Brett Brown.