Seaspan’s Vancouver drydock hosted four cruise ship projects in 2022, said Barry Kas, Vancouver drydock repair manager.

Lindblad’s National Geographic Resolution stopped by in August for a quick refresh, including an inspection after transiting the Northwest Passage, as stated in the 2023 Drydock and Refurbishment Report by Cruise Industry News.

“Our repair team conducted a quick touch-up of the black anti-fouling paint on the hull,” he added.

Other cruise ships drydocking in Vancouver included the Oceania Regatta, for a general refit and maintenance, as well as the Seven Seas Mariner and Roald Amundsen.

“At our Vancouver drydock we see anything from unplanned dockings and regulatory inspections to full refits,” Kas said. “It’s also important to have a good solution for cruise line contractors, and our team takes care of all immigration requirements and work permits.”

It all comes down to planning, he said, and scheduling resources.

“During the projects, we have daily meetings and adjust resources as needed. These steps are critically important during our busy summer season and especially when we have multiple vessels docked simultaneously. We also focus on ensuring the yard work is coordinated with the customer’s contractor work to support the project’s overall success.

“Planning makes all the difference. We do a significant amount of preplanning long before the ship visits the drydock,” he continued. “We assign a project manager to ensure all elements are captured well before the project starts, and we do multiple visits to the ship to make sure we have an accurate idea of the scope of the work.”

Seaspan has submitted an application to Vancouver authorities to extend its water lot west by 40 meters.

“This extension would support the installation and operation of two additional floating drydocks and a floating work pontoon,” Kas explained.