Brian Carter has a big job in front of him.
As the newly anointed president of Seaspan Shipyards, the 40-year-old has to figure out exactly how he’s going to invest $150 million to get Seaspan Marine’s three shipyards up to snuff to handle an $8 billion federal shipbuilding contract. A lot of people are betting on that contract to revitalize B.C.’s anemic shipbuilding industry and generate thousands of new direct and indirect jobs.
Despite all that pressure on his shoulders, Carter appears relaxed, quick to smile and determined to reignite Vancouver’s maritime expertise.
After all, it’s the only industry he’s ever really wanted to be in.
“This is a dream gig for me,” Carter told Business in Vancouver during an interview at his office in North Vancouver. “When I was a young engineer in the marine industry, I worked at a shipyard where the president was 40 years old, and I thought that was a very cool thing … so I set that up as a goal.”
Carter joined Seaspan on January 9, two and a half months after the company was named the prime contractor to build the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy (NSPS) program’s non-combat vessels.
The contract includes new joint support ships for the Royal Canadian Navy, science vessels for the coast guard and a polar icebreaker.
Carter sat down with BIV a day after Seaspan signed its umbrella agreement with Ottawa, which established a framework for each subsequent contract Seaspan signs under the NSPS non-combat program.
Although the media fanfare surrounding the contract descended on Seaspan’s shipyards in October when it was awarded the contract, the company has always been quick to point out that it hasn’t won anything.
In November, John Shaw, Seaspan’s vice-president of program management, told BIV his company had won only an “$8 billion opportunity.” (See “$8 billion challenge: Rebuild shipbuilding” – issue 1152; November 22-28, 2011.)
Carter had the same view speaking a day after the company inked the umbrella agreement.
“Today is Day 1 … and now it’s time to get going,” said Carter.
The list of tasks ahead of him would make Santa Claus blush. The company is seeking nearly a dozen senior-level executives to report to Carter and has partnered with local unions to figure out how best to source the workers Seaspan will need to build a host of new ships. On top of that:
•Carter has to figure out how best to invest $150 million upgrading the company’s shipyards so that they can support the NSPS contract;
•Seaspan will be busy in Ottawa negotiating how the design and construction contracts for each vessel come together;
•the company has to invest money in local training programs to stimulate the shipbuilding industry, a requirement of the federal contract; and
•perhaps most importantly, Carter has to ensure the shipyard can still handle the day-to-day maintenance and repair work on commercial vessels – Seaspan’s bread and butter.
He’s careful to point out the company remains open for business despite its federal obligations. After all, it could be as long as a year before workers start cutting steel for NSPS ships.
“We can’t just let all hell break loose, cobble a ship design together and go do it,” said Carter. “We have to step back, build a team, build a process and then execute; finish the ship design before we start construction, finish the detailed design before we start construction and then, and only then, are we ready.”
Carter’s methodical approach to shipbuilding was born out of years in the industry. The Whidbey Island, Washington native grew up sailing, a passion that has continued throughout his life.
After high school, Carter studied economics briefly before he decided to pursue that passion.
“Eventually, I just said, ‘I really like sailing and sailboats and somebody has to design sailboats,’ so I decided I would design sailboats.”
He went on to earn a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from Seattle University and completed the naval architecture and marine engineering program at the University of Washington.
He also holds an MBA from the Rady School of Management at the University of California San Diego.
Prior to Seaspan, Carter spent time with Washington State Ferries and VT Halter Marine in Mississippi before he hit the big time and joined U.S. defence contractor General Dynamics (NYSE:GD).
In San Diego, Carter worked for GD NASSCO, which has more than 4,000 employees and is one of North America’s largest military and commercial construction shipyards.
While there, he created NASSCO’s business development unit, which sought out new contracts at every turn.
Bill Michaud, a marine engineering consultant who also did work with NASSCO, described Carter as a big-picture thinker who uses logic to successfully navigate complex projects. But Carter soon realized that General Dynamics was more of a defence company than a maritime company – and he wanted the latter.
In 2010, he founded a maritime consulting company and soon after helped Seaspan with its NSPS contract bid. Not long after, Seaspan CEO Jonathan Whitworth convinced him to move to Vancouver and join the company full time.
When Carter was hired, Whitworth described him as an “influential maritime industry leader who possesses a proven track record for developing and implementing strategic plans and policies.”
Although Carter has a big job in front of him, he said he’s a “big picture” guy who likes to take on a challenge. “Seeing that process, seeing something go from nothing to a beautiful thing that ends up sailing away from here – that’s what matters.” •
