Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy: A Saga of Teamwork, Resilience, and Transformation

Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy: A Saga of Teamwork, Resilience, and Transformation

This presentation delves into the transformative journey of Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS), a landmark initiative launched in 2010 to revitalise the nation’s maritime capabilities, bolster national security, and drive economic growth. Now in its 16th year, the NSS has evolved into a cornerstone of Canadian industrial policy, partnering with three shipyards – Seaspan Shipyards in British Columbia, Irving Shipbuilding in Nova Scotia, and Chantier Davie in Quebec – to renew the fleets of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and Canadian Coast Guard (CCG). Through strategic investments exceeding $100 billion, the strategy has overcome initial challenges to design and build vessels, revitalise the supply chain, and create jobs across the country.

The session will explore the rich histories and pedigrees of these shipyards, highlighting their pivotal roles under the NSS. We will examine Seaspan’s evolution from a small player in British Columbia to a national leader in non-combat vessels, including the delivery of Science Vessels, Joint Support Ships, and construction of a PC2 Polar Icebreaker. Similarly, Irving Shipbuilding, with a legacy of constructing over 80% of Canada’s current naval fleet, has become a center of excellence for combatant vessels under the NSS. Irving is building Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships for the RCN and CCG and up to 15 River-class Destroyers (based on the British Type 26 design), while providing ongoing maintenance for the Halifax-class frigates. Chantier Davie, Canada’s oldest and largest shipbuilder, joined as the third strategic partner in 2023 after a decade-long comeback from restructuring in 2011. Davie is now integral to Arctic sovereignty efforts, with projects including a Polar Icebreaker, medium icebreakers, and two large passenger ferries to enhance regional connectivity.

Attendees will gain insights into the challenges of engineering large surface ships, designed to move and navigate through ice-covered waters, up to 2.5 meters thick. The presentation will showcase how continuous improvement, workforce development, and knowledge transfer have built resilient teams capable of delivering socioeconomic impacts.

Biography

Russell Davison is an accomplished senior executive with over 20 years of leadership in the defence and shipbuilding sectors, overseeing complex programmes with substantial P&L accountability and delivering transformative results across international markets.

At Harland & Wolff, he navigated a high-stakes M&A process, steering the organisation through strategic restructuring. As a member of the senior leadership team at Seaspan Shipyards, he forged an enduring strategic partnership with the Canadian Coast Guard, building a resilient order book to help end decades of boom and bust. Earlier, his professional experience at BAE Systems spanned air, land, and maritime domains.

A Fellow of the IET and passionate advocate for technology and innovation, Russell holds an MEng in Systems Engineering from Loughborough University.