Robotics Below Deck: Seaspan Taps Alberta Innovation to Transform Blast and Paint Operations

On Canada’s West Coast, inside the cavernous facilities of Seaspan Shipyards, a new generation of shipbuilding technology is taking shape — one that reaches beyond steel and welds into the realm of advanced robotics, sustainability, and workplace safety.

On February 12, 2026, Seaspan announced it has awarded a contract to Alberta-based Confined Space Robotics (CSR) to develop and integrate semi-autonomous robotic systems designed to enhance blast and paint operations across its shipbuilding and submarine programs.

At first glance, blast and paint work may not capture headlines the way new vessel launches do. Yet these operations are fundamental to both new ship construction and complex submarine repair and overhaul projects. They ensure structural integrity, corrosion resistance, and long-term durability — and they often take place in some of the most demanding environments inside a shipyard.

Now, Seaspan is investing $1.5 million to bring Canadian-built robotics directly into those confined, hazardous spaces.

Safer Work in the Toughest Conditions

Blast and paint operations involve highly repetitive tasks in environments where workers may be exposed to toxic fumes, particles, and physically strenuous conditions. By deploying semi-autonomous robotic systems, Seaspan aims to shift that burden from people to machines.

Under the contract, CSR will leverage Canadian expertise and components to develop multiple products designed for collaborative robot systems. These robots will be equipped with specialized tools including needle scalers, laser ablation systems, grinders, grit-blasters, and spray-coating tools. Mounted on mobility platforms for manual manoeuvring, the systems will incorporate custom-developed software to manage path planning and user operations.

The result: robotic systems that can handle repetitive and hazardous surface preparation and coating tasks, reducing worker exposure to harmful materials, lowering long-term injury and strain, and improving the overall work environment.

As Dave Hargreaves, Senior Vice President – Strategy, Business Development and Communications at Seaspan Shipyards, explains:

“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. 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.”

A Broader Industrial Strategy in Motion

The partnership is not simply a technology upgrade — it reflects a larger shift in Canada’s industrial policy and defence procurement ecosystem under the National Shipbuilding Strategy.

The $1.5 million investment forms part of Seaspan’s Value Proposition commitment under the National Shipbuilding Strategy, reinforcing how federal procurement programs are designed to generate innovation and industrial growth across provinces.

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, framed the collaboration within that national context:

“Expanding the domestic use of cutting-edge Canadian technology is central to our government’s new industrial policy. This partnership between Seaspan Shipyards and Alberta’s Confined Space Robotics shows how Canadian industry continues to push the boundaries of advanced manufacturing. This investment strengthens our domestic supply chain, accelerates the adoption of pioneering industrial technologies, and positions Canadian companies to compete and lead in a rapidly evolving global market.”

Similarly, the Honourable Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement and Quebec Lieutenant, emphasized the tangible results flowing from public investment:

“This is exactly what the National Shipbuilding Strategy is delivering: Canadian innovation, good jobs, and safer workplaces. By backing robotics developed in Alberta and putting them to work in B.C. shipyards, we’re strengthening Canada’s industrial capacity, protecting workers, and building ships more efficiently and sustainably here at home. That’s how public investment delivers real results for Canadians.”

Intelligent Path Planning and Sustainable Shipbuilding

Beyond safety, the robotic systems are expected to elevate quality and consistency in the manufacturing process. Through intelligent path planning systems, the robots will optimize material usage, reduce waste, and lower the environmental footprint of shipbuilding operations.

By automating precision-intensive tasks, Seaspan aims to ensure coatings are applied consistently while minimizing excess material and environmental impact — a critical step in aligning shipbuilding with sustainability goals.

Ahmed Kawar, Director of Engineering and Projects at Confined Space Robotics, underscored the transformative potential of the partnership:

“We are incredibly excited to partner with Seaspan to redefine what is possible in shipbuilding through world-leading robotic technology. This collaboration allows us to integrate our specialized robotic systems into the shipbuilding process, directly improving personal safety and reducing operational risk. By automating highly repetitive and dangerous tasks, we enable skilled teams to focus on higher-value activities while fostering a shared culture of care and incident prevention. We are proud to see our home-grown innovation setting a new global standard for the maritime sector.”

From Alberta Innovation to B.C. Shipyards

The collaboration also reflects a growing pan-Canadian industrial integration model: Alberta-developed robotics deployed in British Columbia shipyards, all within a federally supported strategy designed to strengthen domestic capacity.

It demonstrates how the National Shipbuilding Strategy extends beyond vessel construction — shaping supply chains, supporting innovation clusters, and creating a safer, more technologically advanced manufacturing base.

In the confined spaces below deck, where grit and coatings meet steel hulls, Canadian robotics is quietly redefining what modern shipbuilding looks like — safer, smarter, and built at home.