Babcock has over 22 years of Submarine design experience
by Newell Durnbrooke
FOR MORE THAN 14 years, TeamVictoria-Class, a team comprised of Babcock Canada, Seaspan Victoria Shipyards, and BMT, has been along-standing partner to Canada in delivering submarine maintenance and sustainment support, under theVictoria In-Service Support Contract(VISSC).
VISSC is one of the largest naval in-service support contracts in Canada and includes project management, technology integration, logistics, configuration, and safety records management, engineering support, capability upgrades, and refit to support Canada’s fleet of four Victoria-Class submarines (VCS).
We spoke with Team Victoria-Class leaders about the future of the submarine enterprise and the evolution of the team.
EVOLUTION OF TEAM VICTORIA-CLASS
The team is comprised of global industry leaders, who all have unique knowledge and expertise to support Canada’s Submarine Sustainment Enterprise. Seaspan Victoria Ship yards has more than 15 years of experience providing submarine refit production management, expertise, and labour. Babcock Canada has been leading TeamVictoria-Class for over a decade as Canada’s partner in theVCS Sustainment Enterprise.
BMT has over 25 years of experience delivering submarine design and engineering services and is one of Canada’s largest teams of submarine engineers, technologists, and program managers.
“It has been a privilege for BMT to be a part of the team sup-porting the sustainment of Canada’s Victoria class submarine capability for the last 14 years. The relationships we have established and the lessons the team have learned has allowed TeamVictoria-Class to adapt to changes in the program and develop a strategic partnership with the expertise and experience required to maintain the operational capability of this key strategic asset for the Royal Canadian Navy. BMT Canada, Babcock Canada,and Seaspan Victoria Shipyards continue as allies with Canada, in our commitment to the Victoria-Class Submarine sustainment enterprise supporting the Royal Canadian Navy,” says Darcy Byrtus, President, BMT.
Together, over the life of the VISSC, Team Victoria-Class has leveraged both its Canadian expertise and global experience in submarine sustainment to develop distinct Victoria-Class Sub-marine platform knowledge and a strong Canadian supply chain.
In 2022, the Government of Canada announced that theVISSC would be extended to 2025 with a further two one-year extension options.
COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHEN CANADA’SSUBMARINE ENTERPRISE
Team Victoria-Class continues to invest in Canada’s strategic submarine capability, and through the VISSC, has helped generate more than 2 billion dollars in GDP impact. Since 2008, TeamVictoria-Class has helped to create and maintain upwards of 2,000 jobs, both directly and through the establishment of a supply chain of 450 Canadian businesses across the country.
“The submarine refit activities conducted at the Esquimalt Graving Dock in Victoria, British Columbia employs upwards of 500 trades personnel, engineers, program managers, and support specialists. This work is helping to build a broad industrial marine complex repair and overhaul capability, which not only benefits Canada’s submarine program, but all of theRoyal Canadian Navy and commercial projects undertaken at Seaspan’s Victoria Shipyards,” says Chris Earl, Vice President,Project Delivery, Seaspan Victoria Shipyards.
THE FUTURE OF CANADA’S SUBMARINES
VISSC is central in supporting Canada’s strategic submarine capability, including the enhancements necessary to ensure Canada’s submarines are equipped to deal with the constantly changing environment. Required upgrades identified by theVictoria-Class Modernization program will be developed, planned, and executed by Team Victoria-Class as prioritized and approved by the Royal Canadian Navy.
“Babcock and our Team Victoria-Class partners are looking forward to continuing to build expertise and advance relationships to support Canada in the delivery of safe, reliable, and highly capable Royal Canadian Navy submarines,” says Keith Cunnane, VP Marine, Babcock.
The team is proud to be a partner of the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian government, industry, and they look forward to continuing to support Canada now and into the future
