Vanguard Magazine

www.vanguardcanada.com APRIL/MAY 2024 35 S H I P T E C H F O R U M The morning ended with another tech- nical showcase by Datifex, on engagement systems to combine engineering and opera- tional data to plan work periods by integrat- ing processes. Following a luncheon break, the afternoon continued with a third panel discussion and five technical showcases on: • Fibreglass Solutions Inc. on piping and structural refits in a maritime and naval environment to resolve corrosion and weight issues. • LRDG on language training technology. • Valcom on understanding what the cus- tomer wants. • OVA on "virtually knowing your ship" by combining training with shipboard scenarios in a mixed reality/real environ- ment. • Light Structures on fibre optic condition monitoring of the hull by using sensors built into the ship to identify hull stresses and monitor fatigue management. The afternoon panel discussion was mod- erated by Mark Sheppard, the DND Direc- tor of Naval Platforms Systems, on the use of drones and AI for ship maintenance. The panel representing Deep Trekker Inc, Cel- lula Robotics and Qii.AI, spoke extensively on the use of drones for cost-effective and timely vessel inspections, both above and below water, to monitor and assess corro- sion as well as both acoustic and magnetic signature ranging. The technology is con- tinuing to evolve and while it is fairly intui- tive for the drone operators, interpretation of the imaging is different depending on the application. The final event of the forum was a fire- side chat with Sean Willy, CEO Des Ned- he Group and David Acco, Executive VP Acosys Consulting Services, on the chal- lenges and opportunities facing Indig- enous participation in the maritime sector. They underscored the strong desire of the Indigenous community to participate as part of a long-term investment with indus- try by creating relationships, as opposed to simply engaging project to project, thereby adding an Indigenous value proposition. Summary ShipTech 2024 was nimbly managed by the MC, retired Rear Admiral Craig Dono- van, who neatly summed up a rather jam- packed day that successfully tackled what he termed to be a "wicked problem": how to extend fleets beyond their designed life. Emphasizing that people are necessarily a very big part of the solution and that, while technology can be leveraged for im- pressive results, in the end change will be required and change is always hard. Finally, with specific regards to the Indig- enous community, the mantra was "stop thinking about five percent of projects" and "start thinking about nation building". It was indeed, a very rewarding day. Capt(N) Norman Jolin, RCN (Ret'd), is an Associate Consultant with CFN Consultants specializing in naval and maritime issues. Prior to joining CFN, he provided advice on Canadian defence procurement in the private sector, following a 37-year career in the Royal Canadian Navy. Networking with Erik Martin from PSPC Alexis Young speaking with an attendee at the IDEaS booth

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