Canada has identified the establishment of a sovereign sustainment capability as a critical priority for the CPSP, covering both the west and east coasts. This approach integrates the Royal Canadian Navy, the Maritime Equipment Program, Fleet Maintenance Facilities and Canadian industry.
Under the agreement, TKMS and Seaspan will work with Canada as an integrated team to develop and deliver effective sustainment and lifecycle support capabilities for future submarine platforms. The collaboration places emphasis on maintaining operational readiness and meeting the Royal Canadian Navy’s long-term requirements.
Thomas Keupp, Chief Sales Officer at TKMS, said: “We are pleased to join forces with Seaspan, a company with deep experience in ship sustainment and a strong Canadian industrial footprint.” He added: “This teaming agreement reflects our shared commitment to long-term support excellence and aligns with the objectives of the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project, ensuring that Canadian naval platforms are supported by robust, reliable, and sovereign sustainment capabilities throughout their life cycle.”
The agreement is intended to combine TKMS’s global submarine engineering and sustainment expertise with Seaspan’s workforce, facilities and established Canadian submarine supply chain. It also considers potential export support opportunities based on TKMS’s broad international customer base.
John McCarthy, Chief Executive Officer of Seaspan Shipyards, said: “The CPSP is one of the highest priorities for the long-term defence and security of Canada’s sovereignty.” He stated: “As the only shipyard in Canada with submarine maintenance expertise, Seaspan is well-positioned to deliver on the decades-long sustainment of this new fleet and to contribute meaningfully to this country’s maritime defence industrial base.”
