Seaspan has always placed its community, people and commitment to the marine environment at the forefront of its mission. This year, the organization deepened its connections on the North Shore and beyond by partnering with local Indigenous businesses to support environmental restoration, celebrating the achievements of its workforce and bringing in its largest group of interns.
As a company integral to the Canadian maritime industry, Seaspan’s initiatives in 2024 reflect not only its growth, but also its ongoing dedication to fostering sustainability, collaboration and care towards the communities they serve.
From celebrating employee achievements to forging meaningful partnerships, here are some of Seaspan’s proudest initiatives from 2024.
Collaborating with Seaspan sandblaster and painter Dylan Humphreys
Seaspan shined a spotlight on Dylan Humphreys, an inspiring Seaspan team member who joined in 2022 as a painter and sandblaster at Vancouver Shipyards.
A painter by trade and an artist in his free-time, Humphreys rose to the challenge of freehand painting the iconic Canada logo on the CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk, along with the other emblems on the Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel (OOSV).
Beyond his work on ships, Humphreys draws inspiration for his artwork from the hidden beauty in the often-harsh industrial environment to create art that uniquely blends painting and sculpture.
Working with community partners to protect the habitat in Mackay Creek
Over the past several years, Seaspan has been collaborating with community partners to restore and protect the habitat near its Vancouver Shipyards at the mouth of the MacKay Creek estuary, which connects to Burrard Inlet.
This year, Seaspan partnered with Inlailawatash, a local Indigenous-owned environmental resource management business, to monitor and maintain this valuable habitat. Together, the groups are committed to fostering biodiversity and improving environmental sustainability, underscoring Seaspan’s dedication to the ecosystems around the shipyards.
Rising to the challenge with Barrier Marine Services
Seaspan recently featured North Vancouver company Barrier Marine Services, as part of its ongoing National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) Supplier Spotlight series.
After winning a contract with Seaspan under the NSS, Barrier expanded from the UK to Canada in 2020, marking a significant milestone in their growth. This expansion led to a new marine products division in North Vancouver, where they produce essential shipbuilding materials, which creates long-term employment opportunities for local residents. Barrier provides outfitting, HVAC, and manufacturing services for vessels like the aforementioned OOSV, and Polar Icebreaker, which will soon be under construction at Seaspan.
With decades of work ahead, Seaspan is committed to revitalizing Canada’s marine industry and collaborating with local suppliers to foster economic growth and specialized employment opportunities.
Welcoming Seaspan’s newest cohort of interns
Seaspan’s InternSHIP program offers students invaluable hands-on experience, a supportive learning environment, and insights into the shipbuilding and marine industry.
During the fall 2024 semester, Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards welcomed its biggest cohort to date—43 interns from an array of diverse fields including engineering, business and computer science. While at Seaspan, interns gain practical experience by working on innovative projects, from software development for radar systems to designing vessels using virtual reality. This program aims to create a pipeline of talent ready to contribute to Canada’s growing shipbuilding industry.
Seaspan remains a proud leader in driving forward both industry innovation and local stewardship. As the company moves ahead, its deep-rooted connections and forward-thinking approach continue to pave the way for a vibrant marine sector in Canada.
Visit www.seaspan.com/stories to read more about these and other initiatives happening at Seaspan.
