Genoa Design International of Newfoundland continues to make strides toward Canadas National Shipbuilding Strategy with recent contract awards and milestones in Arctic vessel design and digital ship technologies.
Seaspan and Genoa Expand Partnership on Heavy Polar Icebreaker
On October 1st 2025, Seaspan Shipyards of North Vancouver in British Columbia inked an agreement with Genoa Design International for technical design services on Canada Coast Guard's new heavy polar icebreaker. This partnership builds upon 15 years of collaboration under National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS), supporting vessel design and build phases at Vancouver Shipyards.
Genoa will provide design guidance and technical leadership, increasing its local workforce to over 100 naval architecture and marine systems designers. It will build and operate the Polar Class 2 icebreaker which will cover over 162,000 km of Arctic coastline while supporting sovereignty, scientific research including climate change studies, indigenous communities and maritime emergency response, accommodating up to 100 personnel at once.
This vessel marks the first heavy polar icebreaker built in Canada in over 60 years, and marks Seaspan's seventh ship designed and built under their National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS), part of a total fleet of 21 for Coast Guard use. Genoa team have been involved since 2022 ensuring continuity during build phase now underway.
Gina Pecore, CEO of Genoa, stated: This contract with Vancouver Shipyards marks an exciting new phase in an enduring partnership that began under Canadas National Shipbuilding Strategy and continues today. Laurie Balan, COO at Genoa added: Vancouver Shipyards clearly trust us and have confidence in us providing reliable expertise - this agreement not only solidifies Genoas role within Canadas Polar Icebreaker program, but it also affirms Vancouvers confidence.
Kate Morton, Vice President of Supply Chain at Seaspan commented: The new heavy polar icebreaker represents more than just an object; it represents national capability for future generations. Genoa continues to play an integral part of Canada's design partnership process.
Digital Ship In-Service Support Project with Ocean Supercluster Funding
Genoa Design International and Seaspan Shipyards have joined forces on Canadas Ocean Supercluster's $3 Million Digital Ship In-Service Support Project announced by Canadas Ocean Supercluster. Seaspan leads this initiative while Genoa serves as its key partner, receiving $2M from both parties as well as matching funds from participants - marking this project's inaugural execution from Canada's west coast.
This project seeks to provide integrated vessel management and maintenance capabilities through an advanced technology platform utilizing digital twins powered by AI and machine learning, aligning with the Royal Canadian Navys Digital Strategy of optimizing operations and maintenance for future naval systems. Seaspan-Genoa collaborated on this effort as part of their Naval Systems Strategy program before expanding it further with Polar Icebreaker program support.
Laurie Balan, Chief Technical Officer at Genoa, spoke of how this project represents an exciting partnership among industry-leading companies from both sides of Canada that will open new export opportunities, increase global competitiveness and create jobs.
Genoa employs over 200 staff across Mount Pearl, Newfoundland; Vancouver, British Columbia; Halifax and New Orleans in Nova Scotia and Louisiana and holds ISO 9001:2015 certification, participating in National Security System programs as well as US Coast Guard Icebreaker projects as well as commercial projects.
Corporate Milestones: 30 Years and Top Employer Recognition
On November 4, 2025, Genoa Design International marked 30 years of digital ship expertise since establishing itself in 1995. Since then, the firm has become a sought-after provider for production design and 3D modeling for shipbuilding and offshore industries across North America specializing in Navy vessels such as those built for Coast Guard service, Arctic vessels and more.
Genoa was also honored with being selected one of Canada's Top Employers for 2025, acknowledging its workplace excellence despite expansion in major programs.
Genoa has nearly three decades of experience as Digital Ship Experts, offering support from vessel design to in-service vessel lifecycle, strengthening Canadas shipbuilding capacity and sovereignty.