December 4, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(HALIFAX, NS) – Today Canada’s Ocean Supercluster announced five new ocean innovation projects valued at $34.5 million, including the $2.8 million Arca Cybersecurity Platform Project led by consortium VMG Strategic Technology, Horizon Maritime, and Allswater Marine.
This project will deliver a cybersecurity platform tailored to the marine industry, addressing growing cyber threats and evolving security regulations. The solution provides practical, easily deployable tools for vessel operators, focusing on monitoring, vulnerability scanning, and secure log collection to ensure visibility, compliance, and operational safety.
The project is led by Halifax, NS-based VMG Strategic Technology in partnership with Halifax, NS-based Allswater Marine and St. John’s, NL-based Horizon Maritime. With a total project value of $2.8 million, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster is investing $1 million, with the balance of funding coming from project partners.
The Arca platform fills a critical gap in maritime cybersecurity for SMEs, helping vessels comply with tightening global regulations and lower operational risk by reducing downtime and cybersecurity-related incidents. Ultimately, it provides cost-effective cybersecurity solutions for vessel operators, strengthens Canadian supply chains, and establishes new intellectual property assets that position Canada as a leader in marine cybersecurity innovation.
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 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 and the projected benefits to Canada here.
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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 about 150 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. Every dollar invested in Ocean Supercluster projects generates more than five times its value in GDP contribution, with the following economic benefits to Canada as of March 2025:
- $1.7 billion in total economic output
- $1 billion in GDP contribution
- Nearly $748 million in total labour income
- Close to 10,000 jobs created
- $286 million in total tax revenues generated
- $295 million in follow-on investment raised
Quotes
“The innovation and collaboration fostered by Canada’s Ocean Supercluster demonstrate our government’s commitment to building a stronger and more resilient ocean economy. These projects in clean energy, digital and AI adoption, and marine sustainability will drive economic opportunities across the country and help strengthen Canada’s position as a world leader in the blue economy.” – The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
“Canada’s new government is driving economic growth through ocean innovation. Clean technologies, advanced marine solutions, and cutting-edge research are creating opportunities that strengthen coastal communities and position Canada as a global leader in the sustainable ocean economy.” – The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and Member of Parliament for Central Nova
“In an increasingly digital ocean economy, cybersecurity is essential to Canada’s marine operations. By developing practical, cost-effective solutions for vessel operators, Arca is not only improving safety and compliance, but also creating high-value jobs and driving economic growth.” – Kendra MacDonald, CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
“Our team relies on data to make quick and effective decisions to manage risks and capitalize on opportunities. We need technology to help streamline these processes so we can continuously improve and grow as a Company. This partnership brings practical, operator-tested innovation to the deck—tools built from experience, not theory.” – Lonita Judge, Horizon Maritime
“Each of us has seen the same problem from a different angle; operations, engineering, cybersecurity. By putting those perspectives together, we’re delivering something the industry has been asking for but could never get from one player alone.” – Rob Crutcher, Allswater Marine
“After years of stepping onto vessels and seeing crews rely on outdated reports, missing documentation, and hours of manual work just to prove they’re compliant, it became clear the industry had a viability problem. This project turns that burden into a streamlined, automated workflow, giving operators real-time truth instead of yesterday’s paperwork.” – Adam Benson, VMG Strategic Technology