Photo credit: Seaspan
VICTORIA – Seaspan Shipyards continue to make waves in the shipbuilding industry by launching new vessels and continuing a flurry of activity at its Victoria Shipyards, Vancouver Shipyards in North Vancouver, and Vancouver Drydock, where they design, build, repair and maintain vessels.
Steady work continues at Victoria Shipyards on the Royal Canadian Navy’s HMCS Winnipeg, the latest frigate to be undergoing its Vessel-Life Extension following the delivery of HMCS Calgary earlier this year. Work also continues on HMCS Victoria under the Victoria-Class In-Service Support Contract (VISSC).
Under VISSC, Seaspan has been providing maintenance, repair and sustainment support for the RCN’s current fleet of submarines for more than 15 years. Through this work, Seaspan has built a large, highly skilled and experienced Canadian submarine workforce and a dedicated Canadian supply chain for servicing and outfitting naval submarines.
Seaspan welcomes the announcement from the Government of Canada that they have selected TKMS and Hanwha as the two qualified suppliers for the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP). Seaspan has been proactively working with potential CPSP submarine builders and the Government of Canada on a plan for leveraging the extensive, established experience and capabilities to ensure a smooth transition between the existing and the new class of submarines upon their arrival in Canada.
They look forward to working with the successful bidder and the RCN to support Canada’s future submarine fleet for decades to come.
Additional updates from Victoria Shipyards are happening in-land as well, with the official opening of the shipyard’s new 40,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility at Ark Road near Shawinigan Lake. Thanks to this new facility, Seaspan’s team in Victoria has the space needed to focus on producing pipe spools and other items to be installed on the new polar icebreaker being constructed in North Vancouver.
Planning and discussions are underway with a number of cruise operators for visits to the shipyard in 2026.
From North Vancouver, Seaspan recently sent the Canadian Coast Guard vessel Naalak Nappaaluk out for testing, and it now ready for its mission and preparations are underway for the vessel’s delivery ceremony.
Work on building ships for Canada continues, with steady progress on block construction for the Cocast Guard’s new heavy polar icebreaker since they first cut steel in April.
Seaspan recently signed a number of agreements with Canadian companies for design and engineering work on the Polar program, including with Genoa Design, Algoma Steel & Stigterstaal Canada, Elomatic, Tri-Metal Fabricators and, last but not least, Ideal Welders, who will construct 30 of the ship’s blocks at their facility in Delta.
Some of the most noticeable changes at Vancouver Shipyards can be seen on the future HMCS Preserver. The ship’s hull has grown considerably over the course of 2025, with the ship now consolidated from the bow to the engine room along the main deck.
Other noticeable changes at the shipyard are to infrastructure, with the new outfitting pier reaching final completion following the erection of two new cranes.
On the Multi-Purpose Icebreaker (MPI) program, Seaspan was pleased to share that their Functional Design Review Meeting with Canada for the first flight of six MPIs was successfully completed. Their MPI design was also selected by the U.S Coast Guard for the majority of their new Arctic Security Cutters, illustrating the maturity of Seaspan’s design and engineering expertise.
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