Seaspan Begins OSFV Construction

By Mark Edward Nero

British Columbia-based Seaspan Shipyards said March 29 that it has begun construction on an Offshore Fisheries Science Vessel (OSFV) for the Canadian Coast Guard.

The vessel is the second ship built by Seaspan as part of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy, a federal plan to renew the fleets of the Canadian Navy and Coast Guard via Canadian shipyards.

With production of the second OFSV now underway, significant progress continues on the first OFSV with 35 of 37 blocks currently under construction. The two Canadian Coast Guard ships are part of a three vessel, incentive-based build contract for the construction of three OFSVs, which are scheduled to be delivered under a ceiling price contract before the end of 2017.

Work on the third OFSV is set to begin later this year.

“Seaspan is now full-steam ahead on the production and delivery of its first two National Shipbuilding Strategy vessels, and we are re-writing shipbuilding history in Canada in the process for generations to come,” Seaspan Shipyards President Brian Carter said.

The cutting of steel on the second OFSV follows the March 14 announcement of two new contracts valued at over $65 million to help pave the way for future construction of the CCG’s Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel (OOSV) and the Royal Canadian Navy’s Joint Support Ships (JSS) at Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards.

It’s estimated that Seaspan’s NSS work will create more than 2,300 direct, indirect and induced jobs annually, produce almost $290 million per year in gross domestic product for Canada’s economy, and provide thousands of people the opportunity for a shipbuilding career.

Seaspan Appoints Three VPs

By Mark Edward Nero

Seaspan, a Vancouver, British Columbia-based association of companies specializing in coastal marine transportation, shipdocking/ship escort, ship repair and shipbuilding services, has named three new vice presidents to its senior leadership team, the company announced March 17.

The association has announced Linda Wortman as Vice President, Finance & Accounting; Catherine Chick as Vice President, Business Services & Technology; and Shawn Chylinski as Vice President, Health, Safety, Environment & Quality.

Chylinski joined Seaspan in June 2013 as Director, Safety & Environment and held that role until being appointed Vice President, Health, Safety, Environment & Quality (HSEQ) earlier this month.

As part of both the Seaspan Marine and Seaspan Shipyards Senior Leadership Teams, Chylinski will be expected to provide strategic leadership and direction for all HSEQ management systems throughout Seaspan.

He’s also expected to be, according to Seaspan, “the driving force behind a culture of safety, environmental stewardship, quality and efficiency throughout the company.”

Wortman joined Seaspan in 2008 as Controller, Marine. In her new role as Vice President, Finance & Accounting, she’s responsible for strategic financial oversight of the marine division and corporate services.

She will also advise Seaspan’s CFO and executive leadership team.

As Business Services & Technology VP, Chick’s role will be to provide vision and leadership for developing and implementing information technology initiatives in support of the company’s short and long term business strategies.

She joined Seaspan in 2012 to establish internal project management capabilities and system improvement projects. In 2013, her role expanded to include the management of IT Operations.

Seaspan Investing $2 Million in Marine Programs

By Mark Edward Nero

The University of British Columbia is to receive a $2 million investment from Seaspan Shipyards over the next seven years to support teaching and research in the naval architecture and marine engineering programs at the UBC faculty of applied science.

The two parties revealed the agreement Feb. 18.

“Seaspan is developing and growing a shipbuilding and ship repair center of excellence in British Columbia, and helping drive Canada’s marine industrial base in the process,” said Brian Carter, president of Seaspan Shipyards. “We are thrilled to partner with UBC and take one giant step closer to realizing this goal by creating rewarding new careers and investing in a brighter future for thousands of British Columbians and their families.”

Seaspan Shipyards is expected to be an integral part of the new master of engineering leadership in naval architecture and marine engineering program, which UBC launched in early 2016. The one-year program combines graduate engineering courses at the faculty of applied science with business courses at the UBC Sauder School of Business.

“UBC is western North America’s only academic institution offering graduate programs in naval architecture and marine engineering,” interim university President Martha Piper said in a statement. “Seaspan’s investment supports our leadership in these areas and also advances BC’s shipbuilding and marine solutions.”

As a result of the agreement, two new chair positions are to be created at the university: one in naval architecture and one in marine systems engineering, both of which are expected to be recruited this summer.

“Master of engineering leadership graduates will be primed for careers overseeing shipbuilding operations, procurement, and ship design,” said Marc Parlange, dean of the UBC faculty of applied science.

More information about the naval architecture and marine engineering master’s programs is available at http://name.engineering.ubc.ca

Canadian Companies Unveil Shipbuilding Industry Strategy

By Mark Edward Nero

On Feb. 12, the British Columbia Shipbuilding and Ship Repair Board (SSRB), a group representing various Canadian private sector companies, released a workforce development strategy document for the B.C. shipbuilding and ship repair industry.

The document, titled “Towards 2020: A BC Shipbuilding & Ship Repair Industry Workforce Strategy,” is intended by the SSRB to inform and guide public and private investments in labor market development initiatives over the next decade.

It forecasts that throughout the next ten years, British Columbia employers will need over 4,000 skilled workers and trades people to meet existing and future job openings in both the shipbuilding and ship repair sector, as well as the directly affiliated metal plate and fabrication sector in professions such as welders, marine fitters, electricians, pipefitters/sprinkler installers, trades supervisors, machine fitters and marine engine mechanic occupations.

“The release of this strategy is timely for our industry as public and private institutions begin making critical decisions that will impact BC’s shipbuilding and ship repair industry for many years,” John Shaw, Vice President, Government Relations and Business Development for Seaspan Shipyards, and Vice-Chair of the SSRB, said.

Chuck Ko, President of Allied Shipbuilders, said the document was developed in consultation with many stakeholders, with the goal of “illuminating the way forward” toward building a more effective and efficient labor market for British Columbia’s growing shipbuilding and ship repair industry. “It will guide and inform decision making in both public and private sectors as to the best way forward as this industry develops rapidly over the next few years,” he said.

A digital version of the Workforce Strategy is available at http://issuu.com/gocrocodile/docs/towards_2020_digital