Seaspan’s Vancouver Shipyards has set a new industry benchmark by becoming the only shipyard in Canada to house an ISO-accredited laboratory. This milestone solidifies the company’s commitment to excellence in welding and materials testing.
Seaspan recently announced that its Welding Centre of Excellence (COE) lab has successfully secured ISO 17025 accreditation, a globally recognized standard for testing and calibration laboratories. This certification validates the lab’s technical proficiency in mechanical testing, further enhancing its credibility alongside its existing Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) certification.
With this accreditation, Seaspan is poised to make a significant impact in the competitive testing lab market. The company now has the capability to offer external clients precise and verifiable testing services, ensuring accuracy and traceability in results.
The COE lab is a versatile facility outfitted with state-of-the-art scientific equipment. It plays a critical role in advancing welding technology by qualifying Seaspan’s welding procedures, researching cutting-edge techniques, and analyzing different types of steel. On any given day, lab technicians may be performing tensile strength tests, hardness assessments, Charpy impact tests, or chemical analyses on steel samples, including those up to 60mm thick—essential for the Polar Icebreaker project.
Originally certified by CWB in January 2023, the lab reached its ISO accreditation milestone in December 2024. This recognition is a testament to the dedication and expertise of Seaspan’s in-house team, reinforcing its leadership in shipbuilding innovation.
“Our internal customers already know they can rely on us, and we’ve been supporting welding procedures testing for the Polar Icebreaker, as well as material testing for Victoria Shipyards with witnesses from the appropriate governing bodies ensuring the validity of our results.” said Dr. Hassan Saghafifar, Supervisor, Welding and Material Testing Lab, Seaspan Shipyards.
“Now, we can extend our support to external customers too, as ISO accreditation shows that they can depend on us for accurate, timely testing and valid results.”
Looking ahead, Seaspan continues to expand its capabilities through initiatives like the Land Based Test Site, an ambitious project designed to explore emerging shipbuilding opportunities. As the company pushes the boundaries of marine engineering, this latest accreditation marks just one of many steps toward strengthening its industry leadership.