Setting sail for growth means more jobs in B.C.’s marine industries (flickr.com)

Media Contacts

Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation

Media Relations
778 587-4521

Backgrounders

What people are saying about B.C.’s Maritime Industries Strategy

Riccardo Regerosa, general manager, Point Hope Maritime –

“We welcome the direction of the BC Marine Industries Strategy and the priority focus that the provincial government is placing on this important sector. Point Hope Maritime marks 150 years of marine industry on Victoria harbour this year and we are encouraged by the strategy’s comprehensive approach and look forward to its implementation.”

Emilie de Rosenroll, group chief executive officer, South Island Prosperity Partnership –

“The B.C. Maritime Industries Strategy will provide opportunities to make B.C.’s ocean and marine sector more climate-focused and globally competitive. This is a made-in-B.C. strategy to amplify our talent, technology and sustainability for the next generation maritime industry.” 

Kendra MacDonald, chief executive officer, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster –

“With the release of this strategy, the Province of B.C. has recognized the sustainable development of our ocean sectors as a key economic opportunity. Canada’s Ocean Supercluster has seen increasing participation in projects and programming in B.C., and looks forward to continued opportunities to work together to build an inclusive, sustainable and digital ocean economy.”

The Maritime Industries Strategy

British Columbia is a marine province, and communities along its coasts have long relied on vessels to move people, transport goods and support local economies.

The province is home to Canada’s largest port (Port of Vancouver), the Pacific coast naval base, and key infrastructure supporting vessel construction and robust ship refit, repair and maintenance services (Victoria’s Esquimalt Graving Dock, the federal Fleet Maintenance Facility and the B.C. Ferries Fleet Maintenance Unit). There is high demand for shipyard capacity for everything from providing ongoing services for the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Coast Guard and BC Ferries, to commercial, cruise and domestic vessels that require servicing.

In the past decade, the National Shipbuilding Strategy created long-term opportunities for the province’s maritime industries, revitalizing vessel-construction capabilities and generating strong demand for maintenance and repair services. To continue to remain competitive, the sector identified key industry challenges, including infrastructure shortages, labour shortages and the need for co-ordination support to meet green regulations.

The Province appointed an advisory body in September 2021, including industry, academia and government representatives, to identify the specific needs of the maritime sector. Through a survey and a series of roundtables and one-on-one discussions, an additional 45 organizations, including business and trade associations, industry and industry associations, federal government departments and agencies, local governments and First Nations, infrastructure stakeholders, and the academic and research community, provided input.

This announcement also builds on recent support provided to B.C. maritime industries through the provincial Innovative Clean Energy Fund, including:

  • $2 million for the Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies to serve as a “blue economy” catalyst connecting emerging technologies and early research to large industry players like shipping, shipbuilding and defence/aerospace;
  • $2 million to the University of Victoria Pacific Regional Institute for Marine Energy Discovery’s Blind Channel Test Centre to support research on renewable energy sources; and
  • $1.75 million for the Victoria-based Open Ocean Robotics to develop emission-free, un-crewed surface vehicles with sensors, cameras and communication devices.