On Watch March 16, 2022

• CMISA Updates
• Event Spotlight
• Marine Sector News
• Upcoming Events
• Procurement Opportunities
• Marine Careers

From Colin's Desk

Hello all,

With the grim news of the attacks against the people in Ukraine and their way of life, as well as the global disruptions we are all facing, it is more important than ever to band together and to support each other. And while we continue our business in light of all the challenges, our thoughts are with all those who are fleeing to other countries and to those who are standing up for their right to determine their own future in Ukraine.

In this edition you will find our first Event Spotlight in lieu of our regular Member Spotlight, featuring an interview with 2022 Mari-Tech Conference keynote speaker Gina Pecore, CEO of Genoa Design, and CMISA member. Gina discusses the challenges of building teams and fostering talent in a very tight job market in shipbuilding, which I am sure will resonate with many of you. There is a lot going on in our sector right now, as you can see from the new and government opportunities, and to echo Gina, shipbuilding is booming in Canada right now.

Please note that we will have our very first face-to-face CMISA event to be held the night before Mari-Tech gets underway. We will get a note out to members with all the details very soon.

Should you wish to become a member of CMISA and enjoy attractive benefits like these event and member spotlights, please reach out to us at support@cmisa.ca. We are pleased to welcome new members Imtra Corporation, Wurth Industry of Canada Limited and BFL Canada Risk & Insurance Services Inc. And we are very pleased to announce that we have joined with the team at Green Marine to work together going forward. We look forward to seeing everyone at the Green Marine event in Montreal this June!

Finally, as always, please take note of our new Job Board and a) take advantage of it if your company has an opening and b) send links to friends and family so that we can attract new people into our sector. We all need the help!

Stay safe and I am looking forward to seeing you soon,

Colin Cooke

President and CEO

Event Spotlight:  Mari-Tech 2022

Photo of Gina Pecore, CEO of Genoa Design International

The 2022 Mari-Tech Conference will be held in Niagara Falls from May 17^th through 19^th and it’s safe to say that everyone is excited to be able to attend such a great event live and IN PERSON! And this year, on top of the valuable engineering and technical information and the opportunity to reconnect with industry colleagues, the opening keynote presentation by Gina Pecore, CEO of Genoa Design, is a not-to-be-missed part of the show. Colin recently had the pleasure of speaking with Gina to get a quick overview of the theme she will be exploring.

CC: We were very excited to hear that you will be the keynote speaker at the upcoming Mari-Tech conference. What has drawn you to the event this year in particular?

GP: Thanks Colin. The team at Genoa Design has long appreciated the technical focus of the Mari-Tech event as well as the opportunity to meet, connect and learn from each other. It has always provided excellent food for thought! Personally, I’ve especially welcomed the attention that the organizers from CIMarE and SNAME have given to the young people who are new to the industry. The inclusion, the mentorship, the young professional focused events – Mari-Tech has always been good for that. But these young people, these leaders of tomorrow, they are facing very different challenges today. They have so much more on their plate than how to be a good engineer, so it’s wonderful to see the attention and support this cohort receives at the show. This also reflects some of the broader challenges for our sector which leads me to the theme of my talk: “The Talent Crunch – Canada’s Opportunity.”

CC: Which is an issue that is so incredibly relevant for so many of our marine industry companies. How did this topic come about?

GP: The idea stems from a conversation at a MIAC session last year. Genoa Design is a Canadian company that has grown from a one-person shop into an international operation, and we have always been especially mindful of how we build talent.. This has made for some interesting challenges over the years and so it’s from this base that I will be sharing some thoughts. But Genoa is merely an example to draw upon; when the organizers stated their desire to ‘talk about people’, I wanted to be a part of it. I have a very optimistic view of our sector and the potential that Canada has around the talent crunch and I plan to explore some of the issues and the opportunities that we all face.

CC: Our sector certainly was in the doldrums back around the turn of the century but with the National Shipbuilding Strategy turbo-charging HR needs, our demands for personnel often outstrip the supply. Is that the main impetus for a look at the HR situation in Canada?

GP: No, NSS has certainly accelerated the talent crunch but it’s more than that. We are all tripping over each other in our search for new people but so is the rest of the world. And all this is on top of the effects of Covid and the ripples of redefining ‘job satisfaction’ throughout the workforce. Add the pace of technological change and you have quite a handful of talent considerations to juggle. This is an exciting time to be in the business of building North American ships and working in the ocean sector overall but we have a lot of work to do together to help to make sure that we have an industry that remains strong and vibrant long after this current cohort has passed the reins to the next generation.

CC: There is so much to explore on this subject isn’t there? I suspect that it will be a frequent topic around the water cooler during the event. Thank you for the overview and we are really looking forward to hearing your thoughts and comments at Mari-Tech come May.

GP: Thanks Colin. I’m looking forward to meeting many of our fellow CMISA members as well as all the attendees of the conference in just two short months!

Recent News

Coming Soon

Maritime Security Challenges 2022

The MSC proceedings are intended to foster dialogue addressing maritime affairs in the Pacific region and around the world. What follows is a description of the topics to be discussed, along with short thematic descriptions designed to spur discussion amongst our panelists and delegates.

Date: March 22-24, 2022  Now postponed to November

View Online

Corrosion Detection in Ships (CDIS)-Sandbox

Due to delays caused by the COVID pandemic, this is the third Call For Applications for this sandbox and it is open to all innovators, including those that did not previously apply.  All previous applications are not being reconsidered under this new call.  If you previously applied you must submit a new application form as described in this call, emphasizing that there are several changes to the application form and selection process.

Date: April 25-May 20, 2022

View Online

Spring 2022 National CMAC Meeting

Preparations are underway for the Spring 2022 National CMAC meeting that will take place.

Date: April 26-May 5, 2022

View Online

Mari-Tech 2022 Conference and Exhibition

Mari-Tech was created by the Canadian Institute of Marine Engineering (CIMarE) in 1976 and is the premier event for the marine engineering community in Canada.

Date: May 17-19, 2022

View Online

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Current Procurement Opportunities

Notice of Proposed Procurement for the Canadian Coast Guard Enterprise Maximo Support Services

The NPP closes on March 3, 2022

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Notice of Proposed Procurement for the CCGS Sir Wilfred Grenfill – Alongside Repairs

The NPP closes on March 18, 2022

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Notice of Proposed Procurement for Ice Breaking Chaleur Bay, Amphibious Craft

The NPP closes on March 18, 2022

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Notice of Proposed Procurement for Purchasing of Mooring Lines for the Canadian Coast Guard

The NPP closes on March 22, 2022

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Advance Contract Award Notice for the CCGS S. W. Laurier – VLE Phase 2

The ACAN closes on March 23, 2022

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Notice of Proposed Procurement for the Refloating, Removal and Dismantling of the D.R. Rogers Barge Wreck, Ottawa River

The NPP closes on March 24, 2022

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Notice of Proposed Procurement for Customized Landing Craft Vessel

The NPP closes on March 25, 2022

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Notice of Proposed Procurement for an Anchor Windlass

The NPP closes on March 29, 2022

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Notice of Proposed Procurement for Floating Wharves – Multiple Locations

The NPP closes on March 29, 2022

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Notice of Proposed Procurement for Pleasant Bay Ramp/Breakwater

The NPP closes on March 29, 2022

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Notice of Proposed Procurement for Bay Class SAR Lifeboat Marine Infrastructure

The NPP closes on March 31, 2022

View Online

Notice of Proposed Procurement for a Marine Navigation System

The NPP closes on April 6, 2022

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Request for Proposal for Multiple VICTORIA Class Spares – Hose Assembly

The RFP closes on April 6, 2022

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Notice of Proposed Procurement for the CCGS Jacques Cartier Drydocking

The NPP closes on April 7, 2022

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Request for Proposal for VICTORIA Class Battery Cooling System Spares

The RFP closes on April 8, 2022

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Notice of Proposed Procurement for Arctic Bay, Nunavut, Harbour Development

The NPP closes on April 19, 2022

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Notice of Proposed Procurement for SA-Marine Planning & Conservation Program in Newfoundland

The NPP closes on April 20, 2022

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Notice of Proposed Procurement for In Water Vessel Cleaning

The NPP closes on April 26, 2022

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Current Jobs

Looking for a great way to promote career opportunities at your company? Please contact support@cmisa.ca to post your jobs.

See here for current opportunities. 

View All Jobs

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