For Immediate Release 
April 15, 2025  

(Halifax, NS) – Today Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC) announced the new, $2.5 million ocean innovation project: Tech Companion AI Search and 3D Visualization Project. This new, collaborative OSC project will help position Canada as a leader in ocean technology, increasing global competitiveness in ocean AI and stimulating economic growth. 

The project is led by Modest Tree, a Nova Scotia company, in partnership with Babcock Canada (Babcock) who has operations in Halifax and is headquartered in Ottawa, ON. With a total project value of $2.5 million, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is investing approximately $1 million with the balance coming from project partners. 

Modest Tree’s Tech Companion software integrates data-driven maintenance manuals and workcards with immersive 3D models and training to provide an interactive platform to plan, execute, and track inspection and maintenance work. This project will enable Modest Tree to better tailor Tech Companion features to support ocean industry assets by working with Babcock to supply the necessary data, end-user insights, and operational testing. 

Through this project advancements will be made in: 

Heatmaps for Maintenance Optimization: 
3D Heatmap visualizations of work data enabling a clear view of current and planned work with the ability to quickly filter and review operations over time as well as predict future outcomes. 

Data Visualization & Interaction: 
Enhanced 3D visualization of ocean industry equipment aligned with work data, enabling users to visually engage and analyze that information. Interactive navigation, zoom, highlights, and clickable components provide intuitive access to technical details, improving comprehension and decision-making. 

Marine-Optimized AI Search and Data Connectivity: 
AI-powered search aligns queries with documentation, workcards, 3D Models, and training, delivering precise technical responses and easy access to information that otherwise would be challenging to search and reference. 

By integrating advanced AI technologies into maritime maintenance, the project will create and maintain more than 30 direct jobs in technology development, engineering, and related fields. Additionally, the project will enhance Canada’s global competitiveness in the maritime sector and stimulate economic growth in the ocean economy by showcasing cutting-edge technologies developed by Canadian companies. 

Through Ambition 2035 and together with Canada’s ocean community, we are bold in our ambition to grow Canada’s ocean economy 5X to $220 billion by 2035. Continued investment in the accelerated development and commercialization of globally relevant, made in Canada ocean solutions, including the projects announced today, will help us realize this ambition. Read more about recommendations to help achieve this transformational growth opportunity outlined in Charting the Course to 5X Growth in Canada’s Ocean Economy. 

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Media Contacts 
Nancy Andrews 
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster 
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca 

About Canada’s Ocean Supercluster 
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster accelerates the development and commercialization of made-in-Canada ocean solutions in energy transition, food security, future of transport, and climate change while also growing more companies, creating more jobs, and attracting ocean talent. As Canada’s national ocean cluster, the OSC is a convenor of members, partners, and networks and a catalyst for transformative growth that helps build the robust ecosystem needed to help realize Ambition 2035 – a 5X growth potential in ocean in Canada by 2035. To date, the OSC has approved more than 120 projects valued at more than $500 million, which will deliver more than 300 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world.

About Babcock Canada 
Operating in Canada since 2008, Babcock Canada (Babcock) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Babcock International Group, a global defence, aerospace, and security company. For over 16 years, Babcock has been proud to play a critical role in supporting Canada’s safety and security, delivering engineering and critical support services to defence and civil customers. 

Drawing on decades of global experience, Babcock delivers fully integrated solutions tailored specifically for Canada and its unique environment across the land, marine, and aviation sectors. 

In the marine industry, Babcock is proud to be a trusted partner of the Royal Canadian Navy and an undisputed leader in Canada’s submarine sustainment enterprise, leading the in-service support of the Victoria Class submarines throughout the course of the Victoria In-Service Support Contract. 

Babcock’s work has generated over $3 billion in GDP impact on the Canadian economy and has maintained a total of 2,472 jobs annually, 55% of which are highly skilled. Babcock is committed to establishing partnerships with local universities, colleges, Indigenous communities, and small and medium-sized businesses to support skills development, training, and innovation. 

At Babcock, we are proud to be a trusted partner of the Canadian Armed Forces and Armed Forces of allied nations around the world. Babcock’s mission is guided by the needs of our customers, we ensure their services and assets are equipped to fulfill their customers’ missions wherever, whenever, and however needed. 

Quotes 

“Advanced AI technologies are at the forefront of innovation in the ocean sector in Canada and globally. Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is excited to announce the $2.5M Tech Companion Project, which will tailor existing AI technologies to the ocean sector, ensuring the continued development of ocean AI, creating ocean industry jobs, and increasing Canada’s global competitiveness all while prioritizing environmental stewardship.” – Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster 

“We are pleased to announce this Ocean Supercluster project and to collaborate with Babcock Canada to advance how technical data is accessed and understood in the ocean industry by leveraging AI and immersive 3D technology. By integrating interactive visualization, intelligent search, and heatmap visualizations, we’re enabling faster decision-making, improved efficiency, and greater operational confidence that not only impacts the project partners but the ocean economy in Canada.” – Emily Smits, CEO Modest Tree 

“Babcock Canada is delighted to continue working with Modest Tree alongside the Ocean Supercluster. This partnership and investment demonstrate how the Industrial and Technological Benefits policy can enable small-medium technology enterprises to continue growing capability and capacity in key areas.” – Tony March, CEO, Babcock Canada 

For Immediate Release 
March 26, 2025 

(Vancouver, BC) – Today Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC) announced three new ocean innovation projects valued at more than $10 million, including the $6 million Digital Ship Predictive Intelligence Project led by Vancouver, BC-based Seaspan Shipyards. This new project will enhance the lifespan, efficiency, and safety of marine vessels through leading-edge AI solutions that provide predictive analytics of vessel performance and maintenance.  

The project is led by Seaspan in partnership with Maya Heat Transfer Technologies in Westmont, QC, and the CSL group in Montreal, QC. With a total value of $6 million, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster will invest $2.3 million, with the reminder of funding coming from project partners.  

Implementing predictive maintenance for vessels will reduce environmental impacts as well as operating costs, while enhancements using deep learning, reinforcement learning, and generative AI algorithms will improve the reliability and efficiency of ships and marine equipment. These enhancements ensure the long-term sustainability of the maritime sector, and advance Canada’s position as a leader in maritime technology innovation. 

The project’s adaptable and scalable data-centric and digital twin solutions will support private and public fleet management, providing support for legacy and advanced vessels. Project findings will be shared with the marine community to help other SMEs in the industry, building Canadian capabilities and talent. 

Canada’s ocean community has developed a bold, collective goal to grow the country’s ocean economy by 5X to $220B by 2035, and continued investment in the accelerated development and commercialization of globally relevant, made in Canada ocean solutions like this one will help us realize this transformative growth potential mapped out through Ambition 2035. 

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Media Contacts 
Nancy Andrews 
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster 
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca 

About Canada’s Ocean Supercluster 

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster accelerates the development and commercialization of made-in-Canada ocean solutions in energy transition, food security, future of transport, and climate change while also growing more companies, creating more jobs, and attracting ocean talent. As Canada’s national ocean cluster, the OSC is a convenor of members, partners, and networks and a catalyst for transformative growth that helps build the robust ecosystem needed to help realize Ambition 2035 – a 5X growth potential in ocean in Canada by 2035. To date, the OSC has approved more than 120 projects valued at more than $500 million, which will deliver more than 300 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world.

Quotes 

“The Digital Ship Predictive Intelligence Project is an exciting next step in the advancement of the Canadian maritime sector, enabling us to not only sustain this sector, but grow it,” said Kendra MacDonald, CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster. “By co-investing in this project, we are stimulating economic growth and accelerating innovation in Canada’s ocean sector through the expansion of deep learning and ocean technology more broadly.” 

Building reliable condition and predictive maintenance solutions requires expertise, cooperation, and commitment across Canada’s marine and digital industries. This project brings together an integrated team committed to innovative leadership and bringing together decades of experience in shipbuilding, maintenance and repair, software engineering team and data-driven analytics, and a globally operating fleet. Through this collaboration we strive to position Canada as a leader in maritime safety and sustainability.” – Jennifer Busler, Senior Manager, Innovation, Seaspan Shipyards 

For Immediate Release 
March 26, 2025  

(Vancouver, BC) – Today, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC) announced three new ocean innovation projects valued at more than $10 million, including the $3.8 million Air Sea Ocean Monitoring System (ASOMS) Project. This new, collaborative OSC project will help position Canada as a leader in ocean monitoring. 

The ASOMS project addresses essential gaps in observation capabilities vital for the long-term monitoring of marine protected areas, environmental surveillance for offshore energy installations, and maritime domain awareness. By integrating robotic ocean and aerial observing platforms with AI-enabled sensing technology and energy management solutions, the project delivers a hybrid observation system designed for long endurance and multi-domain ocean monitoring and surveillance. 

The ASOMS solution will yield new capabilities for Canadian end users such as the RCMP, DFO, and commercial companies working in Canadian waters. This potentially includes applications in the Arctic, where the new tools can create high wage jobs and strengthen Indigenous people’s stewardship of local environments through innovative technologies.  

The project will allow the development of new AI-enabled data services that optimize the utility of uncrewed systems in marine monitoring applications, presenting significant new capabilities for maritime environmental monitoring and security applications. This will enable exports of Canadian robotic solutions for the marine industry, stimulating economic growth. 

This project is led by Victoria, BC-based Open Ocean Robotics, in partnership with Seahawk Robotics in Vancouver, BC, ASL Environmental Science Inc. in Saanichton, BC, Rockland Scientific in Victoria, BC, and Glas Ocean Electric in Halifax, NS. With a total project value of $3.8M Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is investing $1.4M with the balance coming from project partners. 

Canada’s ocean community has developed a bold, collective goal to grow the country’s ocean economy by 5X to $220B by 2035. Continued investment in the accelerated development and commercialization of globally relevant, made in Canada ocean solutions, including the projects announced today, will help us realize this transformative growth potential mapped out through Ambition 2035. 

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Media Contacts 
Nancy Andrews 
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster 
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca 

About Canada’s Ocean Supercluster 

 
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster accelerates the development and commercialization of made-in-Canada ocean solutions in energy transition, food security, future of transport, and climate change while also growing more companies, creating more jobs, and attracting ocean talent. As Canada’s national ocean cluster, the OSC is a convenor of members, partners, and networks and a catalyst for transformative growth that helps build the robust ecosystem needed to help realize Ambition 2035 – a 5X growth potential in ocean in Canada by 2035. To date, the OSC has approved more than 120 projects valued at more than $500 million, which will deliver more than 300 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world.

Quotes 

“The development of sophisticated ocean robotics for maritime monitoring is crucial to the sustainability of our oceans. Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is excited to announce the $3.8M ASOMS Project, which will create new technologies that support ocean industry jobs and increase Canada’s global competitiveness, all while prioritizing environmental sustainability maritime security.” – Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster 

For Immediate Release 
March 26, 2025  

(Vancouver, BC) – Today Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC) announced three new ocean innovation projects valued at more than $10 million, including the $330,000 innovation ecosystem-building project called Blue AI: Readiness Assessment for the Blue Economy. This new OSC project will support up to 20 ocean economy companies as they become early adopters of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for ocean and marine businesses.  

The project will bring together AI Adoption Advisors in the field of AI integration to assess the feasibility of implementing AI into businesses in the ocean economy. After assessing the feasibility of AI adoption across various business sizes, geography, and ocean economy subsectors, a report and framework will be developed containing meaningful statistics and aggregate information.  

This project is led by Pacific Canada’s hub for the sustainable blue economy, COAST, and offered through their ocean workforce development and training initiative Blue Pathways. With a total project value of $330,000, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is investing $200,000, with the balance coming from various partners including the BC Government, Coast Capital Savings, and industry partners. 

AI in the ocean economy presents the opportunity to advance Canada’s global market competitiveness, help drive rapid growth potential and support the further scaling of existing and emerging ocean sectors. The project will benefit the ocean economy through the development of an assessment template that can be used to perform internal evaluations for ocean companies exploring early adoption of AI. Further, many of the lessons learned and best practices will be applicable and useful for industries outside the ocean economy, enabling avenues for growth across Canada’s broader economy. 

Through Ambition 2035 and together with Canada’s ocean community, we are bold in our ambition to grow Canada’s ocean economy 5X to $220 billion by 2035. Continued investment in the accelerated development and commercialization of globally relevant, made in Canada ocean solutions, including the projects announced today, will help us realize this ambition. Read more about recommendations to help achieve this transformational growth opportunity outlined in Charting the Course to 5X Growth in Canada’s Ocean Economy. 

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Media Contacts 
Nancy Andrews 
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster 
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca 

About Canada’s Ocean Supercluster 

 
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster accelerates the development and commercialization of made-in-Canada ocean solutions in energy transition, food security, future of transport, and climate change while also growing more companies, creating more jobs, and attracting ocean talent. As Canada’s national ocean cluster, the OSC is a convenor of members, partners, and networks and a catalyst for transformative growth that helps build the robust ecosystem needed to help realize Ambition 2035 – a 5X growth potential in ocean in Canada by 2035. To date, the OSC has approved more than 120 projects valued at more than $500 million, which will deliver more than 300 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world.

About COAST 

COAST is Pacific Canada’s hub for the sustainable blue economy. COAST’s mission is to build B.C. into a global leader in the world’s rapidly growing ocean economy, paving the way for new sustainable and export-driven jobs and enterprises. COAST has a membership of individuals, companies, and organizations involved in the region’s ocean economy, and opened British Columbia’s first ocean-focused coworking space, the 7,000 square foot COAST Ocean Innovation Hub, in October 2024. COAST is an initiative of South Island Prosperity Partnership (SIPP), Greater Victoria’s economic development alliance. Learn more at canadacoast.ca. 

Quotes 

“AI is an area of particular strength for Canada. The Blue AI: Readiness Assessment for the Blue Economy project will help us harness that strength, initially work with 20 companies towards AI adoption, providing data, and an approach and template that can be applied across the country to enable even more Canadian ocean companies to adopt and scale their AI capabilities.” – Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster 

“AI is poised to become a central enabler for competitiveness, resilience and growth in the blue economy. COAST’s Blue AI: Readiness Assessment for the Blue Economy project aims to explore the feasibility of infusing AI into ocean businesses and pinpoint opportunities for strategic investment and technological innovation. This project is offered through COAST’s Blue Pathways workforce development initiative and directly supports ocean entrepreneurs in their quest to differentiate themselves in an accelerating, global marketplace.” – Jason Goldsworthy, Executive Director, COAST 

For Immediate Release 
January 16, 2025  

(Halifax, NS) – Today Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC) announced three new ocean innovation projects valued at more than $9 million, including the $940K Amphibian UWILD Remote Robotic Platform Project. This new, collaborative OSC project will increase the speed and accuracy of ship hull inspections and reduce the risks associated with diving crews, benefiting the shipping industry in Canda, the UK, and globally. 

This project is led by Halifax, NS-based Marine Thinking, in partnership with Innvotek and Innovate UK, both in London, England. With a total project value of $942, 871 Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is investing $330, 560 with the balance of funding coming from project partners. 

The project will allow Marine Thinking to develop a Launch and Recovery System (LARS) for Innvotek’s Amphibian “Underwater Inspection in Lieu of Dry-docking” (UWILD) solution. The Amphibian UWILD offers a safe, technology-driven, and cost-effective robotic solution for underwater inspections, crucial for the thousands of vessels needing inspections. Due to its weight and various payload options, the Amphibian UWILD requires deployment from a LARS. Marine Thinking’s LARS will feature remote control capabilities and ensure efficient and safe deployment and retrieval of the Amphibian robot.   

Amphibian UWILD can offer hull cleaning and inspections that cover large areas without fatigue, operating above and below the waterline, and able to access confined spaces that are difficult for divers, allowing pinpoint location of defects and giving more data to perform accurate predictive maintenance analysis. 

Adoption of robotics in the ocean sector will lead to increased productivity and new, higher value job opportunities. Through the OSC and Innovate UK Collaborative Ocean Solutions Program, this project will create jobs in both countries and stimulate economic growth in the global sustainable ocean economy.  

The global ocean economy is expected to outpace the broader economy by 20 percent by 2030, and Canada’s ocean community has developed a bold, collective goal to grow the country’s ocean economy by 5X to $220B by 2035. Continued investment in the accelerated development and commercialization of globally relevant, made in Canada ocean solutions, including the projects announced today, will help us realize this transformative growth potential mapped out through Ambition 2035. 

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Media Contacts 
Nancy Andrews 
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster 
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca 

About Canada’s Ocean Supercluster 

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster accelerates the development and commercialization of made-in-Canada ocean solutions in energy transition, food security, future of transport, and climate change while also growing more companies, creating more jobs, and attracting ocean talent. As Canada’s national ocean cluster, the OSC is a convenor of members, partners, and networks and a catalyst for transformative growth that helps build the robust ecosystem needed to help realize Ambition 2035 – a 5X growth potential in ocean in Canada by 2035. To date, the OSC has approved more than 100 projects which will deliver more than 220 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world. For more information visit oceansupercluster.ca 

Quotes 

“Projects like these are helping to advance Canada’s ocean economy and materialize the growth potential of the sector. By integrating cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, these projects are improving operational efficiencies, driving innovation and unlocking the full potential of Canada’s vast ocean resources. They are pivotal in supporting the growth and sustainability of the marine, shipping and fisheries industries, among others, ensuring that the ocean economy remains a global leader in both economic growth and environmental responsibility.” – The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry 

“Working with international partners to develop robotics integration with vessel maintenance gives Canada the opportunity to grow our position as a global leader in ocean technology and as an ocean nation. Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is excited to announce the $940K Amphibian UWILD Project, which will provide a solution that benefits the global shipping industry, creates jobs, and increases sustainability practices in the ocean sector.”- Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster 

For Immediate Release 
January 16, 2025  

(Halifax, NS) – Today Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC) announced three new ocean innovation projects valued at more than $9 million, including the $4.5M Forecast AI Project led by Victoria, BC-based MarineLabs. This new, collaborative OSC project will support operational efficiencies, improve marine safety, and grow ocean AI technology. 

MarineLabs’ Forecast AI enables hyper-localized, highly accurate weather forecasts for the marine industry. Current publicly available forecasting models struggle to capture the precise topographic features influencing local wind and wave formation, hindering marine operations such as mariner working conditions and vessel port approaches. More accurate weather intelligence for port operations and vessel pilots will mean significant efficiency advantages, improved overall marine safety, and reduction to greenhouse gas creation. 

This project will leverage Artificial Intelligence capabilities to push Canada to the forefront of marine weather intelligence, further growing our competitive advantage and leadership in the sustainable ocean economy as well as in ocean AI. The use of AI combined with extensive observed data from MarineLabs’ expanding sensor network will provide access to high accuracy forecasts from numerous coastal locations around an area of interest, such as a port, offering actionable insights to optimize maritime operations and improve safety. 

This project is led by fast-growing Canadian coastal intelligence company MarineLabs, in partnership with Go Deep International in Saint John, NB, and LeeWay Marine in Dartmouth, NS. With a total value of $4.5 million, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is investing $1.8 million with the balance of funding coming from project partners. 

Job creation in data science, software engineering, marine operations, manufacturing, and engineering design, combined with international market sales, will support recurring revenue, boosting the ocean economy as well as Canada’s overall GDP. This project will directly support the creation and maintenance of more than 50 jobs and indirectly support the creation of 250 jobs.  

The global ocean economy is expected to outpace the broader economy by 20 percent by 2030, and Canada’s ocean community has developed a bold, collective goal to grow the country’s ocean economy by 5X to $220B by 2035. Continued investment in the accelerated development and commercialization of globally relevant, made in Canada ocean solutions, including the projects announced today, will help us realize this transformative growth potential mapped out through Ambition 2035. 

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Media Contacts 
Nancy Andrews 
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster 
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca 

About Canada’s Ocean Supercluster 

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster accelerates the development and commercialization of made-in-Canada ocean solutions in energy transition, food security, future of transport, and climate change while also growing more companies, creating more jobs, and attracting ocean talent. As Canada’s national ocean cluster, the OSC is a convenor of members, partners, and networks and a catalyst for transformative growth that helps build the robust ecosystem needed to help realize Ambition 2035 – a 5X growth potential in ocean in Canada by 2035. To date, the OSC has approved more than 100 projects which will deliver more than 220 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world. For more information visit oceansupercluster.ca 

About MarineLabs 

MarineLabs is a coastal intelligence company, whose data is transforming marine safety and helping to build climate-resilient coastlines. Founded in 2017, the B.C.-based company offers high-resolution real-time, historic, and forecast wind, wave, and weather intelligence as well as AI-driven insights from a North America-wide fleet of cloud-connected, rugged instruments. 

About GoDeep™ 

GoDeep™ is a Canadian customer-focused and innovative company located in Saint John, NB that creates reliable and durable marine products. For decades, the company has worked with experts from industry with intimate knowledge of its needs to develop creative and revolutionary solutions to navigation, aquaculture, and mooring challenges. 

About LeeWay Marine 
 
LeeWay Marine is a Dartmouth, Nova Scotia-based ship owner and operator, providing at-sea data acquisition, and vessel management services to their clients. Technologically forward-leaning, they are thought leaders in the maritime industry and lead the Royal Canadian Navy’s effort to test and evaluate novel maritime technology at sea. 

Quotes 

“Projects like these are helping to advance Canada’s ocean economy and materialize the growth potential of the sector. By integrating cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, these projects are improving operational efficiencies, driving innovation and unlocking the full potential of Canada’s vast ocean resources. They are pivotal in supporting the growth and sustainability of the marine, shipping and fisheries industries, among others, ensuring that the ocean economy remains a global leader in both economic growth and environmental responsibility.” – The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry 

“Canada has a competitive advantage in Artificial Intelligence in ocean where, world-wide, we are delivering solutions in areas such as marine weather intelligence that fundamentally change the way we do business in the ocean. Today Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is excited to announce the $4.5 million Forecast AI project, which will benefit marine operations, safety, and long-term sustainable growth in the ocean.” – Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster 

“This investment in Forecast AI is a testament to Canada’s leadership in ocean-related AI innovation,” said Dr. Scott Beatty, CEO of MarineLabs. “By leveraging our expanding sensor network, hundreds of new sensor nodes, and thousands of machine learning models trained on our unique coastal observations, we’re setting a new standard in coastal intelligence. This project is more than a step forward for maritime safety—it’s about empowering marine operators with the precise, actionable insights needed to ensure safer operations and support sustainable growth in coastal environments.” 

For Immediate Release 
January 16, 2025  

(Halifax, NS) – Today Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC) announced three new ocean innovation projects valued at more than $9 million, including the $3.8 million AI-Powered Vessel Automation Toolkit Project. This new, collaborative OSC project will improve fishing operations, increase competitiveness in ocean AI, and enhance existing infrastructure. 

The project aims to deliver an AI-powered vessel automation toolkit, which will transform existing vessels into smart vessels that have autopilot capabilities and improved operational efficiency. Smart vessel applications will include enhanced catch monitoring capabilities through autonomous navigation and fishing route planning, and autonomous location detection of ghost gear in deep water. 

The project is led by Halifax, NS-based Marine Thinking, in partnership with ACEL Power in Vancouver, BC. With a total project value of $3, 873, 528, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is investing $1, 548, 990 with the balance of funding coming from project partners. 

By developing this toolkit and cross-platform control software, Marine Thinking and its partners will improve data visualization and remote control on-board vessels. The solution will enhance maritime safety and support the health and prosperity of Canada’s oceans and coastal communities, while also contributing to the long-term viability of Canada’s fisheries. 

This project will support the growth of Canada’s ocean economy, including in the areas of sustainable fishery, offshore energy, and marine transportation. By lowering the barrier for end-users to access smart autonomous vessels and boosting the adoption of AI technologies in vessel operation, the project will position Canada as a leader in maritime automation technology. 

The global ocean economy is expected to outpace the broader economy by 20 percent by 2030, and Canada’s ocean community has developed a bold, collective goal to grow the country’s ocean economy by 5X to $220B by 2035. Continued investment in the accelerated development and commercialization of globally relevant, made in Canada ocean solutions, including the projects announced today, will help us realize this transformative growth potential mapped out through Ambition 2035. 

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Media Contacts 
Nancy Andrews 
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster 
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca 

About Canada’s Ocean Supercluster 

 
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster accelerates the development and commercialization of made-in-Canada ocean solutions in energy transition, food security, future of transport, and climate change while also growing more companies, creating more jobs, and attracting ocean talent. As Canada’s national ocean cluster, the OSC is a convenor of members, partners, and networks and a catalyst for transformative growth that helps build the robust ecosystem needed to help realize Ambition 2035 – a 5X growth potential in ocean in Canada by 2035. To date, the OSC has approved more than 100 projects which will deliver more than 220 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world. For more information visit oceansupercluster.ca 

Quotes 

“Projects like these are helping to advance Canada’s ocean economy and materialize the growth potential of the sector. By integrating cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, these projects are improving operational efficiencies, driving innovation and unlocking the full potential of Canada’s vast ocean resources. They are pivotal in supporting the growth and sustainability of the marine, shipping and fisheries industries, among others, ensuring that the ocean economy remains a global leader in both economic growth and environmental responsibility.” – The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry 
 

“With advancing solutions for Artificial Intelligence and automation in vessel operations, Canada has an opportunity to lead the way in the future of marine transport. Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is excited to announce the $3.8 million AI Powered Vessel Automation Toolkit project which will provide a practical, smart solution for existing vessels and increase critical monitoring capabilities.” – Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster 

For Immediate Release 
December 19, 2024 

(CANADA) – Today, together with their program partners, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announces Phase III of the Blue Futures Pathways Program (BFP). Phase III builds on the progress and engagement of Phases I and II, which saw 384 Canadian youth obtain internships in the sustainable blue economy and 367 youth complete training. 

Led by The Students on Ice Foundation, with project partners the University of British Columbia, Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, and Swim Drink Fish Canada, the program represents a total investment of more than $3.6M. Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is investing $2.4 million in the innovation ecosystem project, with $1.2 million coming from project partners. 

Blue Futures Pathways connects youth and early-career individuals across Canada with education, funding, and employment to develop successful careers in the sustainable blue economy. This is done through tailor-made educational materials, curated workshops, and a mentorship program.   

Phase II of the program saw the development and launch of the PORT – a digital space for young people, educators, and employers to find free educational resources, career opportunities, and ways to connect with others working within the ocean sector. Phase II also highlighted the need for adaptable delivery methods for different communities. Phase III will focus on: 

Attracting and increasing awareness of ocean careers to underrepresented youth. 
Continued collaboration to ensure Indigenous knowledge systems and two-eyed seeing are core to Blue Futures Pathways programming. 
Fostering a blue economy that is not only sustainable, but socially equitable and economically viable. 

Blue Futures Pathways is a global leader for youth engagement in the sustainable blue economy. Initial phases have demonstrated that an expansion and continuation of this work is highly desired and meets the huge need of building capabilities and the workforce to support the growth of Canada’s ocean economy. 

Visit Blue Futures Pathways—SOI Foundation to learn more about the program or to get involved. 

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Media Contacts   
Nancy Andrews   
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster   
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca   

About Canada’s Ocean Supercluster    

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster accelerates the development and commercialization of made-in-Canada ocean solutions in energy transition, food security, future of transport, and climate change while also growing more companies, creating more jobs, and attracting ocean talent. As Canada’s national ocean cluster, the OSC is a convenor of members, partners, and networks and a catalyst for transformative growth that helps build the robust ecosystem needed to help realize Ambition 2035 – a 5X growth potential in ocean in Canada by 2035. To date, the OSC has approved more than 100 projects which will deliver more than 220 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world. For more information visit oceansupercluster.ca  

Quotes 

“The global ocean economy is growing rapidly, and the Ocean Cluster is investing in Canadian talent to meet this future employment demand. Building off its success, the Blue Future Pathways (BFP) program will increase awareness of ocean careers and equip Canadian youth from coast to coast to coast with the skills and knowledge vital to strengthening Canada’s sustainable blue economy.” – The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry 

 
“The global ocean economy will outpace the growth of the broader economy by 2030, presenting significant opportunity for Canada’s ocean sector. However, we cannot realize this growth potential without a well-skilled, diverse workforce. Building awareness and equipping youth with the right skills at the right time, while also removing barriers to training and mentoring, is crucial to providing the pathways to ocean careers and to meet the needs of this thriving sector.” – Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster 
 

“The Sustainable Blue Economy represents one of the most exciting and impactful sectors for young people seeking meaningful careers. Phase III of Blue Futures Pathways is a critical step in creating equitable opportunities for youth, particularly underrepresented youth, contributing to a diverse workforce to drive the sector forward. By supporting educators and employers, and by connecting youth with mentorship, training, and employment, we are collectively building ocean and water sectors that are more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable – and that benefits us all.” – Tara Mascarenhas, Director of Programs, Blue Futures Pathways 

For Immediate Release
November 29, 2024

Today, together with their program partners, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC) announced the third iteration of the Indigenous Career Pivot Program (ICPP). ICPP 3.0 builds on the momentum and engagement achieved through the first two program instalments to facilitate and deliver meaningful work placements for up to 27 mid-career Indigenous people wishing to explore new career options in Canada’s ocean economy. 

Led by Workforce Warriors, with project partners Clear Seas and the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC), the program represents a total investment of more than $3.6 million, of which $2.6 is funded by Canada’s Ocean Supercluster. 

Spanning a three-year period, ICPP 3.0 will offer continuous intake for Indigenous participants to enter ocean sector jobs and will engage with OSC member organizations to identify and support employment opportunities for Indigenous job seekers. The goal of ICPP 3.0 is to offer multi- layered supports to both Indigenous participants and to employers to provide exceptional work placement programming and ultimately increase the participation of Indigenous peoples in Canada’s ocean economy. 

OSC member organizations will be engaged and will receive support and training while creating the space for Indigenous talent to grow and thrive within the ocean sector. This includes opportunities for both participants and employers to take part in career mentoring support, a peer network for Indigenous participants, and cultural awareness training provided to employers. 

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster recognizes that Indigenous peoples are natural collaborators in the ocean sector because of their lived experiences in coastal environments and their historic, cultural, and spiritual connection to the waters. With this understanding, the OSC is working to build mutually beneficial relationships with First Nation, Inuit, and Métis communities to sustainably address ocean challenges and create opportunities. 

To learn more about the program and how to get involved as an employer or participant, visit: Empowering Indigenous Careers | Workforce Warriors 

About Canada’s Ocean Supercluster    

Canada’s Ocean Supercluster accelerates the development and commercialization of made-in-Canada ocean solutions in energy transition, food security, future of transport, and climate change while also growing more companies, creating more jobs, and attracting ocean talent. As Canada’s national ocean cluster, the OSC is a convenor of members, partners, and networks and a catalyst for transformative growth that helps build the robust ecosystem needed to help realize Ambition 2035 – a 5X growth potential in ocean in Canada by 2035. To date, the OSC has approved more than 100 projects which will deliver more than 300 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world. For more information visit oceansupercluster.ca  

About Workforce Warriors 

Workforce Warriors Inc. is a National Indigenous non-profit organization established to increase capacity, wellness, resilience, leadership, and sustainable careers for Indigenous peoples.  Workforce Warriors uses a holistic approach to curate unique programming to fit specific needs – always with the goal to provide meaningful opportunities and creating space and place for Indigenous peoples to participate in the Canadian economy while maintaining Indigenous culture, language, family and community structures. 

Workforce Warriors also endeavors to fulfill the needs of Canadian industry and society at large, by providing sustainable solutions through innovative Indigenous-led projects. Workforce Warriors believes such Indigenous solutions – connecting Indigenous talent to valued and sustainable solutions – will help bridge the gap between Indigenous and mainstream mindsets, allowing Canadians to better understand the ongoing and valued contribution of Indigenous Peoples. 

Quotes 

“Our government is pleased to support the Ocean Cluster as it works to build this connected community of practice. The project is helping increase diversity within the ocean economy while addressing the under-representation of Indigenous people in the sector’s workforce.” – The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry 

“Canada’s ocean sector is an important driver of our economy, where new companies are forming and growing, and where the demand for a well-skilled, diverse workforce is critical to the sustainable development and the future of our ocean. Through our first two iterations of this program, we have helped create pathways to ocean careers for Indigenous workers wishing to pivot into the sector, and, today, most participants have continued their work in the ocean economy since having completed their placement. We look forward to building on this important program through ICPP 3.0 in collaboration with our partners and member organizations.”   – Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster 

“The ICPP 3.0 Program has the ability to propel Industry forward – a new way of working with Indigenous Peoples by creating Indigenized spaces and opportunities within the blue economy for Indigenous peoples, stewards of the lands and waters, to make valuable contributions.  Working together, Canada’s blue economy will grow and prosper with the inclusion of Indigenous talent – this is a strong step toward Reconciliation.” – Assembly of First Nation (Retired) Regional Chief for New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, Keptin Roger Augustine, President of Workforce Warriors Inc. 

“We believe that our partnerships with Workforce Warriors and Canada’s Ocean Supercluster are essential for creating opportunities for Indigenous Peoples within the marine industry. We are excited to anticipate a significant increase in Indigenous representation at all career levels in this sector over the coming years.” – Sarah Thomas, Director of Indigenous Programs, Clear Seas 

For Immediate Release
September 12, 2024

(Montreal, Quebec) – Today at the ALL IN Conference in Montreal, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC) announced the Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) for Seafood Project, led by Canadian seafood software company ThisFish based in Vancouver, British Columbia.

ThisFish previously developed a successful smart manufacturing and supply chain platform called Tally, which enables seafood processors to automate production, quality control, traceability and inventory workflows using digital devices in real-time on the factory floor. Building on their Tally software, ThisFish integrated ML algorithms into the platform, as well as a computer vision feature, enabling automated, continuous quality inspection in seafood processing plants. To continue building on its success, this new project will further advance the platform by integrating generative AI to improve insights and analytics. This next phase will make the software more scalable, especially for small seafood producers, and improve efficiency in seafood processing plants by automating tasks and enabling data-driven decision-making.

The project is led by ThisFish in partnership with Bitstrapped in Toronto, ON and Orca Specialty Foods in Surrey, BC. The project will also include collaboration from seafood companies in Canada, Singapore, South Africa, United States and Ecuador. With a total project value of $1,655,567, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is investing $661,500 to the project, with the balance of funding coming from project partners.

The Generative AI/ML for Seafood Project will be an integral step forward in improving the efficiency and productivity of the Canadian seafood processing sector, keeping more jobs and value-added revenue in the country. The project is also positioned to stimulate economic growth and foster innovation in Canada’s ocean economy through the expansion of generative AI and ultimately ocean technology.

Media Contacts
Nancy Andrews
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
nancy.andrews@oceansupercluster.ca

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About Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster accelerates the development and commercialization of made-in-Canada ocean solutions in energy transition, food security, future of transport, and climate change while also growing more companies, creating more jobs, and attracting ocean talent. As Canada’s national ocean cluster, the OSC is a convenor of members, partners, and networks and a catalyst for transformative growth that helps build the robust ecosystem needed to help realize Ambition 2035 – a 5X growth potential in ocean in Canada by 2035. To date, the OSC has approved more than 100 projects which will deliver more than 220 new made-in-Canada ocean products, processes, and services to sell to the world. For more information visit oceansupercluster.ca

Quotes
“Projects like this demonstrate how the Ocean Cluster is working with partners to advance competitiveness in the ocean industry through the use of innovative and responsible technologies in artificial intelligence (AI),” says the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. “AI is one of the greatest technological transformations of our age, and through advances like this, Canada is leading the way.”

“The Generative AI/ML for Seafood Project is an exciting next step in the advancement in productivity of the Canadian seafood processing sector, enabling us to keep more jobs and value-added revenue in the country,” said Kendra MacDonald, CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster. “By co-investing in this project, we are stimulating economic growth and accelerating innovation in Canada’s ocean sector through the expansion of generative AI and ocean technology more broadly.”

“The seafood processing sector is struggling with labour shortages in Canada and around the world, and we believe that AI can help to automate many labour-intensive activities such as quality inspection which will improve the productivity and economic viability of the sector,” says Eric Enno Tamm, Co-Founder and CEO of ThisFish Inc. “This investment from Canada’s Ocean Supercluster will help to establish ThisFish Inc. as the global market leader for AI in the seafood processing sector.” – Eric Enno Tamm, CEO/Co-Founder, ThisFish