The Maintenance & Engineering Superintendent is responsible for the day-to-day management of vessel maintenance and engineering requirements for the Seaspan Ferries fleet. The role supports safe, reliable, and cost-effective ferry operations by ensuring vessel maintenance, repairs, technical support, drydock planning, and engineering resources are effectively planned and executed. The Superintendent works closely with Operations, Engineering, Commercial, Purchasing, shipboard personnel, contractors, class, flag, and other stakeholders to ensure vessels remain available to meet operating schedules and customer commitments. The role is responsible for maintaining strong technical oversight of vessel hull, machinery, equipment, and systems, while supporting continuous improvement in maintenance practices, reliability, cost control, and regulatory compliance.
Note: Due to business needs, this position is required to be fully on-site based at 7700 Hopcott Road, Delta.
What you'll do
- Ensuring the vessel maintenance program is managed in accordance with company policy, the Safety Management System, statutory requirements, class requirements, and regulations.
- Managing and supporting the shore-based maintenance and engineering team.
- Responding to and coordinating unscheduled maintenances, breakdowns, defects, and operational technical issues across the fleet.
- Coordinating maintenance, preventative maintenance, inspections, overhauls, and repairs.
- Preparing, managing, and controlling maintenance, engineering, and drydock budgets.
- Working with Operations and leadership to support budget planning and cost forecasting.
- Managing capital projects, alterations, and vessel improvement projects for the existing fleet.
- Managing drydock planning, specification development, shipyard coordination, and execution.
- Supporting planning and coordination of engineering crewing requirements with Operations.
- Supporting fleet reliability, operational readiness, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Develops and implements class approved maintenance program as well as policy and procedure manual for all new vessels brought into the fleet. Manages docking planning, repair and maintenance planning for vessels and engine room departments.
- Manages port engineering team and ensures that vessel maintenance program is running in accordance to company policy. Coordinates responses to unscheduled vessel maintenance activities and scheduled maintenance activities for assigned vessels.
- Liaises with the Operations Manager and Commercial Managers to ensure that all crews and stakeholders have sufficient training.
- Provides leadership to the team, with emphasis on safe operation with lost time injuries kept to the minimum. This involves providing guidance and training to the team in order to maintain appropriate standards, implementing succession plans and taking disciplinary action, and ensuring that union agreement, WCB regulations, and health and safety procedures are always followed.
- Ensures that all machinery and equipment failures are investigated to determine the cause of failure. Makes recommendations to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Consults with internal and external specialists to determine the cause of and remedy for unusual events involving vessel hull, machinery and equipment.
- Assists in composing and monitoring of the annual budget for maintenance and repair of vessel hull, machinery and equipment as well as capital spending related to the new vessels during the integration and operating phases.
- Keeps up to date with new construction and building techniques, propulsion technology and legislative changes that may have an impact on the operations.
- Represents Seaspan Ferries at maritime related conferences.
- When approved, to attend shipyard and manufacturer’s facilities during FAT testing as well as Commissioning and trials.
- Provide technical assistance for Seaspan Ferries Corporation (SFC) projects as needed, through planning, workforce requirements, material quantities, equipment needs, and work schedule. Provides contract negotiation support for collective agreements covering shipboard personnel.
- Ensures familiarity with Company policies and all applicable legislation and statutory requirements in the areas of employment and workplace protections.
- Assists with hands-on maintenance activities when needed.
- Performs additional duties as required.
What you'll bring
- Post-secondary degree in relevant discipline or successful completion of an apprenticeship program which qualifies the individual as a Power, Stationary or Marine Engineer.
- Marine Certificate of Competency preferred.
- Minimum 5 years of supervisory experience in progressively senior positions in mechanical repair environment; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Supervisory or management training is desirable.
- Technical skills, ability to read and interpret complex technical specifications and drawings.
- Knowledge of vessel hull, machinery and equipment repair.
- Understanding of all applicable Legislations, Acts and Regulations for marine operations.
- Ability to diagnose, troubleshoot and exercise sound judgement under time pressure.
- Communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Project and program management skills.
- Ability to lead and motivate people through work and gain their respect and trust.
- Ability to mentor, train and transfer knowledge to other team members.
Why you'll love working here
- This is a full-time, permanent position.
- In addition to an annual bonus and pension plan matching, this role provides you a very competitive salary in line with the successful candidate’s experience.
- We also provide the best-in-class health and wellness benefits package for this position, including things such as extended health care (i.e. paramedical services for massage therapy, speech therapy, mental health coverage, physiotherapy, and more), dental care, vision care, life insurance, medical leave coverage, parental leave coverage, $500 personal spending account, and an Employee Family Assistance Program (EFAP).
- Access to Pemberton campus gym.
- Parking is included.
The estimated salary for this position is $144,000 - $176,000. In determining final salary, Seaspan considers many factors including the successful Candidate’s skillset and experience as well as position location and internal equity. The final base salary offer will be at the Company’s sole discretion and presented as part of a competitive total compensation package.
With over 130 years of experience navigating in some of the world’s most complex and difficult waters, Seaspan Marine is the largest and most diverse tug & barge company on Canada’s West Coast, providing more than 2,500 ship assist & escort services annually. Our fleet of energy and specialty barges fuels international trade and is integral to building a stronger British Columbia. Seaspan Ferries serves the Vancouver Island supply chain with the most reliable, daily commercial ferry service between our terminals on the Mainland and Vancouver Island. Seaspan Energy operates a fleet of LNG powered vessels with established, long-term relationships for the procurement and bunkering of LNG.
Seaspan is committed to Employment Equity, supports diversity in the workplace, and encourages applications from all qualified individuals including, women, members of visible minorities, Indigenous persons, and persons with disabilities. If you require any accommodations at any stage of the recruitment process, please reach out to our Talent Acquisition team at recruit@seaspan.com for confidential support. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible environment.
