Seaspan Shipyards: Building Canada’s fleet and long-term careers

January 30, 2026

This article originally appeared in the North Shore News. 

When Richard Thomasson joined Seaspan Shipyards in November, his first day was unforgettable. The Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel (OOSV) had just been delivered to the Canadian Coast Guard and the workforce, gathered in front of Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly, was beaming with pride. The state-of-the-art ship they spent the last four years building was finally complete — ready to serve as Canada’s newest and most advanced ocean science research vessel.

Right away, Thomasson saw what happens every day at Seaspan: Skilled tradespeople working hard to rebuild the Canadian shipbuilding industry.

“I was in awe,” he says. “There’s something to be proud of here.”

Although Thomasson has only been a trades supervisor at Seaspan for a few months, he already envisions a long-term future with the organization. After working years of remote jobs in northern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Kitimat, Seaspan’s location in North Vancouver was a gamechanger for Thomasson. Instead of exhausting 12-hour shifts (or more), he clocks out at 3 p.m., returning home to his family and spending evenings and weekends with them.

“I want to be home with my wife and young children every night, not live out of a suitcase,” he said. “I want to retire at Seaspan.”

That combination of a high salary and work-life balance is one of the many reasons why Dalyce Temple, another trades supervisor, has been with Seaspan for more than a decade. During that time, she has witnessed the construction and delivery of four Coast Guard vessels, including the OOSV.

Her father, who worked in diamond mines, encouraged her to become a welder. After a few years working elsewhere, Temple joined Seaspan, becoming the first person in her family to enter the shipbuilding industry. Over time, she worked her way up from a welder to a supervisor.

“I never wanted to go out of town because I have a lot of commitments down here. Leaving wasn’t the easiest thing for me, so finding a job that was in town and pays well and has a lot of opportunities to grow was awesome,” she says.

And those opportunities continue to grow. Seaspan has steady work lined up for the next 25 years as it builds ships for Canada. This includes two Joint Support Ships (JSS) for the Royal Canadian Navy, the longest naval vessels ever to be built in Canada. JSS 1 and 2 will resupply fuel, food, ammunition and other supplies for Canadian and allied ships at sea.

At the same time, Seaspan is also constructing a Heavy Polar Icebreaker for the Canadian Coast Guard to support year-round operations in Canada’s Arctic waters and strengthen national defence. Once complete, it will be among the most capable icebreakers in the world.

These are more than vessels — they are monumental projects: Interesting, rewarding and truly second to none.

To support this work, Seaspan Shipyards is hiring for trade supervisors and hundreds of skilled tradespeople in the Lower Mainland, including welders, electricians, pipefitters and more. The scale of the work, combined with the strength of the workforce, offers an incredible opportunity to build a meaningful career within a world-industrial environment.

“I’ve had two different crews now as a supervisor at Seaspan and I’ve had great working relationships with both. I have respect for them and they have equal respect for me,” Temple says. “I never imagined I would move through this company with the amount of support I’ve had. It’s been the best experience I’ve had working in my entire career.”

By day, the workforce helps rebuild Canada’s shipbuilding industry. By night, families reunite at home. On the North Shore, long-term careers, community roots and national courage converge — and for Thomasson, that future is clear.

“The more I learn and the better I can be, the better Seaspan will be,” he says. “I’m happy right now.”

Join the workforce shaping Canada’s maritime future and learn more about trades careers at Seaspan here.