Seaspan Shipyards has awarded a $1.5 million contract to Confined Space Robotics (CSR) to develop and integrate semiautonomous robotic systems for blast and paint operations at its shipyards.
The work is intended to improve efficiency, safety and quality in surface preparation and coating across Seaspan’s newbuild and repair programs, including work on Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Coast Guard vessels.
Under the contract, CSR will develop collaborative robotic systems equipped with tools including needle scalers, laser ablation systems, grinders, grit blasters and spray-coating equipment. The systems will be mounted on mobile platforms designed for manual maneuvering and supported by custom software for path planning and operator control.
According to Seaspan, automating repetitive surface-preparation and coating tasks is expected to reduce worker exposure to hazardous environments, including toxic fumes and airborne particulates generated during coating removal and application. The company said the systems are designed to reduce long-term strain and injury risks while improving overall workplace conditions.
The robotics package will also incorporate intelligent path-planning software intended to optimize material use and improve coating consistency. Seaspan said the technology is expected to contribute to reduced waste and lower environmental impact as part of its broader sustainability initiatives.
The investment forms part of Seaspan’s Value Proposition commitment under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS). Seaspan has delivered four vessels under the NSS to date and has three more under construction. In total, the company is contracted to design and build up to 23 ships for the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard.
“The National Shipbuilding Strategy is about more than building ships; it is about building a sustainable, high-functioning shipbuilding ecosystem which contributes to Canada’s economy,” said Dave Hargreaves, senior vice president of strategy, business development and communications at Seaspan, in a statement. “Seaspan is excited to be announcing this new partnership with Confined Space Robotics which will grow our shipbuilding supply chain in Alberta while further strengthening two of Seaspan’s key workplace initiatives, sustainability and employee health and safety.”
Ahmed Kawar, director of engineering and projects at CSR, said the collaboration will integrate the company’s robotic systems into shipbuilding workflows to address repetitive and hazardous tasks.
Government officials also cited the project as an example of domestic industrial collaboration under the NSS framework, pointing to supply chain development and workforce impacts.
Through the NSS, Seaspan reports it has invested more than $35 million in education, training and skills development initiatives in the marine sector, including programs aimed at increasing participation among women, Indigenous communities and youth entering the trades.
