Past Webinars & Events

As supply chains transform around the world in response to everything from the global push towards decarbonization to energy security and resilience, the need for innovative initiatives to help facilitate this transformation is more important than ever.  There are particular opportunities to be seized in key trading gateways, such as the one connecting Canada and the Indo-Pacific.  Please join us to hear more from Teck Resources regarding its North Pacific Green Corridor, which is generating significant interest from both industry and government alike.

Ian Anderson Presentation Slides: HERE

The video can be viewed on our YouTube Channel (Coming Soon).

Canada has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Join us to learn how HaiSea Marine and Harbour Air Group are helping to make that a realization through green tugboat fleets and electrically-powered aircraft.

Vince Percy, Director of Operations – HaiSea Marine will discuss how HaiSea Marine LP., majority owned by the Haisla Nation, Kitimat in partnership with Seaspan, ULC has a major contract with LNG Canada to build and operate escort and harbour tugs for their new export facility at Kitimat. Designed by Vancouver-based naval architect Robert Allan Ltd, and built by Sanmar Shipyards based in Turkiye, 5 new tugs were named, following a naming contest, by Haisla Chief Councillor Crystal Smith in North Vancouver in May, 2023.

The new fleet will be among the greenest tugboat fleets in the world. The three harbour tugs will be first of class battery electric tugs, designed to perform berthing and unberthing missions using battery electric power. With an ample supply of hydroelectric power in Kitimat, the tugs will be able to recharge from shore-charging stations, resulting in near zero emissions.

The two escort tugs will be powered by dual fuel (LNG and diesel), the west coast’s most powerful escort tugs. They will feature an exhaust after-treatment system, meeting the most stringent IMO standards.

Erika Holtz, Engineering and Quality Manager, Harbour Air Group will discuss how in August, 2022, Canadian seaplane operator Harbour Air for the first time flew its electrically-powered De Havilland Beaver prototype aircraft on a point-to-point test flight. The eBeaver flew 45 miles in 24 minutes between Vancouver and Victoria, BC.

In its April 21 Earth Day update on its “electric journey” the airline stated that there had been many “twists and turns” as it conducted tests on its eplane. It had hoped to be carrying passengers in the next couple of years. However, supply chain issues and changes to the types of electric engines have led to several delays.

Indeed the approval process for the magni650 with its novel engine and battery technology has caused issues. Harbour Air said, “certifying the installation of components into an aircraft where no certification path exists has been difficult” and that the new technology had been “outpacing the regulators”. It is hoped that the certification of the magni650 will be granted in mid-2025, with fare-paying passengers shortly thereafter.

About the presenters: 

Vince Percy, Director of Operations – HaiSea Marine

Having grown up in a small fishing town and subsequently entering the field of marine engineering, Vince has been involved in the maritime industry for his whole life. Over the years, he sailed on many different types of ships, progressing from a cadet to a chief engineer. More recently, he has been fortunate to oversee the construction of two dual-fuel LNG battery hybrid ferries. Following the vessels’ successful entry into service, Vince joined HaiSea Marine as Director of Operations. In his current role, he is responsible for operational readiness, including business startup activities, integration of shared services, contractual compliance, and the steerage of the company’s start-up plans.

What he finds most interesting about the industry is the variety of challenges and opportunities. Originally, Vince decided to become a marine engineer because it is such a multi-dimensional job. At a minimum, sailing engineers must have some level proficiency in welding, firefighting, first aid, technical writing, and analytical analysis. In moving to a management position, he has discovered a new and exciting level of job diversity within the industry. Vince enjoys the many aspects of leadership and business decision making, especially when they can be linked to the experience he has accumulated over his entire life.

Erika Holtz, Engineering and Quality Manager, Harbour Air Group

Erika has been involved in aviation all her life, beginning her professional career in 2003 as an EIT with International AeroProducts where she later became General Manager and Person Responsible for Quality to Transport Canada. In 2007 Erika completed her professional engineering status with APEGBC. Achieving her delegation status in 2010 as a Structural Delegate under the Design Approval Representative Program with Transport Canada, Erika became one of only ten structural DARs in the Pacific Region and started her own engineering company. In 2012, she accepted a position as the Engineering and Quality Manager for the Harbour Air Group of Companies. Erika has over 20 years of experience with modifications to general aircraft and over 15 years spent managing quality systems. Currently, Erika is the Project Manager and Lead Engineer for the Harbour Air electrification of the DHC-2 Beaver project, and has been chosen this year as one of 8 “Women who Inspire” by Elevate Aviation.

Erika Holtz Presentation Slides: HERE

Vince Percy Presentation Slides: HERE

The video can be viewed on our YouTube Channel HERE

As globalization and geopolitical tensions have impacted international trade and Canada’s economy, it has also changed the way we operate our domestic fleets and terminals on the West Coast.

Over the last 40 years the maritime industry in BC has been undergoing a progressive, major transformation. Over the past 100 years, forestry in BC was king and its existence was the lifeblood of the west coast marine industry.

Today, servicing major new coastal energy projects and the expanded facilities in BC ports has led to major investment in highly advanced vessels and the need for highly trained and qualified mariners. This has opened doors to develop the modern mariner, yet comes at a time of local and worldwide shortages of qualified seafarers.

In our second event in the series “Evolution of the Pacific Gateway: Facing the Challenges of a New Era” we discussed the specific challenges faced by the marine industry in attracting and retaining a diverse and skilled workforce when opportunities for workers in all sectors seem infinite.

The Pacific Chapter (CILTNA) hosted a Reception/Presentation featuring:

Panel:

Moderator

Alex Rueben, Executive Director, Association of British Columbia Marine Industries (ABCMI)

Captain Alex Rueben, PEng, MSM, retired from the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in 2012 after 35 years of service. A marine engineer, he held various senior appointments in the RCN concluding as Chief of Staff of the Navy on the Pacific Coast. Upon retirement from the RCN, Alex built and operated the Industrial Marine Training and Applied Research Centre (IMTARC), now known as the Camosun Coastal Centre, serving as Executive Director from 2012 to 2017.

He served as the Chair of a British Columbia Workforce Table on the Shipbuilding and Repair Industry and as Chair of the Board of the Resource Training Organization of British Columbia. Alex was the founder of the West Coast Shipbuilding and Repair Forum and helped found the Association of British Columbia Marine Industries (ABCMI) where he has been the Executive Director since January 2018. Alex also helped found the Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies (COAST) and remains part of its Advisory Council.

Alex has a BEng in industrial engineering from the Royal Military College and an MBA from Queen’s University.

Paul Hilder, President, Council of Marine Carriers (CMC)

Prior to his appointment as President of the Council of Marine Carriers in February 2022, Paul’s career had spanned over 40 years in the domestic and international maritime sector both at sea and onshore in operations support and senior management roles,

He began his seagoing profession on family-owned fish boats working in the BC salmon industry, but realized early on, greater things destined. His career progressed into the marine transportation sector where he spent

time sailing as an Apprentice during the waning days of oil exploration in Canada’s Arctic and later on the BC coast in the domestic tug and barge industry.

Coming ashore in the mid 1990’s, Paul shoreside operations experience include time working with local tug operators and internationally in, the offshore industry, shipbuilding, and specialized heavy lift sectors of the maritime industry. Paul has held positions in Dispatch, Vessel Operations, Chartering, New build construction, and most recently in Executive Management.

During his career, he gained a wide array of knowledge and experience in operations, marine engineering, safety and training, labor relations and auditing management systems such as ISM, OHSAS 18001(Safety) and ISO 14001 (environmental).

Paul’s time at the Council began as the domestic industry enters an exciting period of change, with challenges in workforce recruitment, and as energy markets develop requiring modern fleets of powerful, high tech tugs.

Captain Nathan Boutilier, Vice President BC Coast Pilots

Capt. Nathan Boutilier has born and raised on Vancouver Island in the coastal community of Sayward, B.C. At age 15 Nathan began commercial fishing during the summers, this was the beginning of his marine career. After learning about the role of a BC Coast Pilot, Nathan set his course to become a licensed Pilot. Obtaining the Marine Certificates required for mate and master then transitioning from commercial fishing to tugs and general cargo vessels. Allowing him to gain the required local knowledge and sea-

time on the BC Coast to write the Pilotage Exam. Nathan was successful in obtaining his Pilots’ License in 2013. He takes great pride in his organization’s critical role in protecting the marine environment and supporting the economy.

This highly rewarding career also allows him to work with different vessel and mariners from all over the world. Nathan recalls “Piloting vessels in and out of Vancouver and up and down the coast never gets old, there’s a rewarding feeling for a pilot after each assignment to know they have put the knowledge and training to use, while providing a high level of safety to our coast.”

Michael Lowry, Senior Communications Manager Western Canada Marine Response Corporation

Michael Lowry is the Senior Communications Manager for WCMRC. He is a strategic communications and public relations consultant with more than 15 years’ experience in domestic and international settings across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. He has designed and developed successful communication campaigns for some of BC’s most influential organizations, including Harbour Air, Pacific Blue Cross and Columbia Power.

Michael has a BA in Communications from the University of Calgary and a B.Sc. in Politics and International Relations from the London School of Economics. 

A cinematic production captured the wonderful moments in “The Changing Face of the BC Marine Industry: The Evolution from Forests to Fuels” event on Tuesday, April 18. Thanks to our professional photographer Victor A. Osei – Bonsu (MBA, MILT, CIM) for this work of art. 

The video can be viewed on our YouTube Channel HERE

The US Chapter hosted their US Forum Webinar: “North American Freight Railroads: An update on the state of the industry” with the guest speaker, Jay Shabat on Thursday, February 23, 2023 at 7:30 PM ET/ 6:30 PM CT/ 4:30 PM PT.

Industry analyst and Railroad Weekly publisher Jay Shabat examined the status of the freight rail industry and opportunities and risks for railroads as they look ahead. Rail freight plays a significant role in the US, Canadian and Mexican economies and the industry has been in the headlines for the past 12 to 18 months. From labor disputes to supply chain hold ups, dissatisfied shippers, regulator stand-offs, mergers and board room intrigues there has been a lot going on in the freight railroad industry.

Jay spoke about how the major players in the industry are performing from a business perspective and address the major topics affecting the industry.

The video recording is available to view: [Here].

The presentation slides are available to view: [Here].

On Wednesday, February 15th, 2023 at 12:00 PM ET/ 11:00 AM CT / 9:00 AM PT/ 5:00 PM GMT CILTNA hosted the webinar: “Intelligent Transportation Solutions to Retain and Increase Ridership – The TriMet approach” with guest speakers A.J. O’Connor, Director for Intelligent Transportation Systems at TriMet and Adrian Pearmine, National Director for Smart Cities and Connected Vehicles for DKS Associates.

Transit agencies across North America are facing headwinds to retain and expand their ridership. In the post pandemic world cities have experienced shifts in mobility patterns and needs. Transit needs to meet the mobility needs of communities and be a valuable service that is used out of choice rather than necessity.

Part of a two-part series, this first webinar will look at how TriMet, provider of the bus, light rail and commuter rail service in the Portland, Oregon region, is applying innovative techniques, technology and data driven solutions to meet this challenge. TriMet has long been a leader in innovation in transit, including developing the General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) with Google which has become a transit industry standard for data sharing.

The video recording is available to view: [Here].

The presentation slides are available to view: [Here].

On Monday, February 6th at  8:00 AM PT/ 11:00 AM ET/ 4:00 PM UTC we hosted a CILTNA Webinar: “Scaling Up Sustainability in Transport and Logistics” with guest speakers  Andrea Debbane, Head of Global Sustainability, Kuehn+Nagel and Ronan Chester, Climate Action and Sustainability Leadership, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.

Recent calls to “decouple” US-China trade and concerns over the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) have led to fears of fragmentation and deglobalization. At the same time, there is an urgent need to decarbonize trade and supply chains to get to Net Zero by 2050. Yet, international trade and greater cooperation can amplify global efforts to address climate change and put the planet on a sustainable growth trajectory. Global trade and supply chains are essential to scaling up the green technologies that can ensure sustainable growth, free from carbon pollution.

While there are many obstacles to the energy transition needed to decarbonize our transport systems and supply chains, it is recognized that urgent collective action and leadership is required at all levels – both in business and government. To explore the issues, join us for this next CILTNA webinar in a series on Sustainability and ESG in Transport & Logistics.

The video recording is available to view: [Here].

Andrea’s presentation slides are available to view: [Here].

Ronan’s presentation slides are available to view: [Here]