Seaspan introduces new remote-controlled Dockboy surface prep vehicle

Seaspan says that Dockboy will be a key tool for large ship maintenance projects at Vancouver Drydock and Victoria Shipyards. Fully containerized, it will travel between the two shipyards so that both can utilize its high efficiency cleaning.     “Dockboy is a great engineering control,” says Chris Welsford, senior safety manager at Vancouver Drydock. “We’re creating space between the operator and the UHP source. We’re positioning our people more ergonomically, eliminating heavy strain, vibrations and kickback from UHP blasting that really wears on the body.”

“It’s also a lot quieter, which is a win for our operators,” he adds. “We’re working closely with the workforce to build out clear, practical SOPs that protect our people while we learn this new equipment.”      “The purchase of Dockboy marks a significant investment in the future of our commercial ship repair business,” said Barry Kas, director of operations at Vancouver Drydock. “We’re upskilling our workforce and bringing the maintenance in-house. We’ve been training and working with the painters and mechanics to develop work procedures. In late 2025, we used Dockboy on our first commercial project, and it was great to see the team in action.”     The investment also marks another major step forward for Vancouver Drydock’s modernization. As one of the most significant technological upgrades in years, Dockboy joins a list of wins from 2025: a third dry dock, the opening of the new Operations Center, improvements to the guardhouse, and an additional parking lot to accommodate the yard’s growing workforce.