Vanguard Magazine

46 APRIL/MAY 2025 www.vanguardcanada.com S H I P T E C H F O R U M in the current system was the major reason for cost increase. Industry supported this with the question of the risk of not deliv- ering on time – hence the need for rapid capability insertion. PSPC highlighted the need for agile procurement (are we agile enough?) which is complicated, if industry does not know how to do business with government. All of this underscored the need for adequate and sustainable funding. The final event of the forum was a "fire- side chat" with Rear-Admiral Steve Mc- Carthy, Director Ships Operations and Capability Integration – UK Defence Equipment and Support, Richard Gravel, Director Business Development (Naval Programs) Thales Canada and David St. Cyr, Director of Surface Vessel Program, Seaspan on how the maritime industry deals with insertion of updated capabili- ties for rapidly evolving technology. The chat, conducted virtually, discussed some of the inherent realities, including decon- fliction in plans and scheduling when fac- ing last-minute adjustments. They noted that in ships and submarines, only so many people can be on the job at any one time. Moreover, reducing the time in dry dock has a dramatic impact on costs, therefore, the ability to conduct the technical inser- tion without docking is critical. The major point with rapidly evolving technology is the ability to upgrade on the go – the new adage is "you will win the war by up- grades, not with what you started with." Recent events in the Red Sea emphasize the necessity to upgrade, particularly soft- ware, as the conflict goes on. But these up- grades must be tested and fit for purpose, thus the need for dedicated land-based test facilities, similar to that which is being built as part of the River-class Destroyer project. Finally, the overriding takeaway is the need to avoid the boom-or-bust cycle of the past as our fleets are reaching obso- lescence/end of life at the same time. Summary A full and productive session, ShipTech 2025, was eloquently managed by the Mas- ter of Ceremonies, Greg MacNeil, Princi- pal at NorthStar Public Affairs, who neatly summed the day with the need for Canada's marine industry to continue with the work of the National Shipbuilding Strategy that is now showing results and to avoid future legacy obsolescence issues by maintaining a continuous build cycle. Capt(N) Norman Jolin (Ret'd) is an As- sociate Consultant with CFN Consultants specializing in naval and maritime issues. Prior to joining CFN, he provided advice on Canadian defence procurement in the pri- vate sector, following a 37-year career in the Royal Canadian Navy. Le to right: Richard Gravel, Director, Business Development (Naval Programs) Thales Canada; RAdm Steve McCarthy, Director Ships Operations and Capability Integration - UK Defence Equipment and Support; David St. Cyr, Director of Surface Vessel Programs, Seaspan Le to right: Capt(N) Nicholas Manley, Deputy Project Manager Transition, River Class Destroyer Project; Glenn Walters, Functional VP Membership, SNAME; Terri Pavelic, Editor in Chief; Capt(N) Johnathan Plows, Director Maritime Equipment Program Management (Major Surface Combatants), DND; and several SNAME co-op students and graduates Master of Ceremonies: Greg MacNeil, Principal, NorthStar Public Affairs

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