Seaspan will continue working under the Victoria In-Service Support Contract, known as VISSC, for which Babcock is the prime contractor. The work will be conducted at the Canadian government-owned Esquimalt Graving Dock in Victoria, British Columbia.
The award follows a six-year extension granted to Babcock by the Canadian government earlier this year. That agreement includes the possibility of extending VISSC through the end of the Victoria-class submarines’ service life.
The arrangement preserves the industry-led support structure responsible for maintaining the fleet during the transition period. It also retains the specialist workforce, engineering knowledge and domestic supply network developed around Canada’s submarine operations.
Babcock has served as Canada’s submarine sustainment partner for more than 18 years. The company said its work had generated more than $3.2 billion in Canadian GDP impact, supported over 1,500 jobs annually and established a network of more than 450 suppliers.
“Babcock is proud to be Canada’s submarine sustainment partner, entrusted to establish and deliver the key industrial component of Canada’s submarine sustainment enterprise,” said Tony March, CEO of Babcock Canada. “The submarine sustainment enterprise is an essential sovereign and collaborative capability that will ensure a smooth transition between fleets and the delivery of available, capable, and safe submarines to the Royal Canadian Navy for decades to come.”
Canada plans to introduce an expanded submarine fleet in the 2030s through the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project. Babcock said it was ready to provide a purpose-built domestic sustainment solution for the future fleet.
The proposed approach would prepare the existing specialist workforce and supply chain for the arrival of the new submarines. Babcock said the model would support Canada’s long-term defence and economic requirements.
